The bulb may have a heat sink to help maintain the proper temperature of the lights. Some of them have features that make them convenient to install. ….in most situations I believe they outperform the alternative.ītw, the links I provided earlier are really worth a read for those interested. H1 LED bulbs for projector headlights can be of different types.

Having said all of that, I (personally) don’t have a problem with most OEM HID setups I have come across (as an observer) and as a user (I have the HID option in my R/T), I’m glad I got them. ….and given that designs will differ (HID or halogen), it’s really not a “black & white” issue IMO/IME. In high intensity discharge (HID) headlights, such as those used across the Lexus IS range, a mixture of rare metals and gases are heated to produce a bright white glow. There are drawbacks to either lighting solution as well as advantages. Projectors are engineered to collect, focus and maximize the distance of the projected HID beam. The light from the HID is emitted in 360 degrees. I guess my point is that with some of the advantages that HID’s provide, they are not without fault. The life expectancy of HID bulbs is not affected negatively by this environment because the projector was designed to perform with the HID’s operating temperature. ….HID applications can also suffer from backdazzle in inclement weather, increased glare from wet roads, etc. It can also be argued that the increase in foreground light from your typical HID application can actually hinder distance, nighttime vision (making your pupils contract). HID projectors also tend to offer a wider array of projectors and bulbs. On another note (in bwbike’s defense) I would like to point out that not all OEM HID’s perform similarly and individual perception also varies (some are simply more sensitive to the glare/dazzle/intensity observed in certain applications). The benefits of HID Projectors are as follows: -HID projectors tend to give off more light and often shine said light further down the road than that displayed by an LED projector. They perform better (they’re brighter), the glass on the Osram is clear (not tinted) and the quality/difference in manufacturing is noticeable by comparison in the examples I have seen (solder connections, etc.). Led and hid bulbs tend to put out a whiter light than what a halogen is capable of. If anything, I would suggest choosing Osram Siverstars (European version) over the ones sold under the Sylvania name here in the US. While high efficacy halogen bulbs will have a shorter lifespan than your typical OEM bulb, products like Philips XTreme +80’s and Osram Night Breaker +90’s are still a better option IMO/IME. At night, the Xenon HID headlight projects. While YMMV, I agree (based on my limited experience testing those bulbs and reading feedback over the years). Xenon light is whiter, bluish light whereas halogen is more yellowish Xenon headlights produce more light/less heat.

Halogen projector headlights vs hid