The HID headlights have been around longer and are more mature technology. But even though LED headlights are newer on the scene that are overtaking in terms of efficiency, technology, and popularity.
From the brightness perspective too, LED headlights are better. Some HID headlights can illuminate at par with LED lights. But LED lights are better than any mode of illumination.
The HID headlights offer a wide color spectrum from 3000 – 30000 K and more. While LED headlights are available from 3000 – 10000 K. As most people choose between 4000 – 6000 K this is a moot point. They choose this range of illumination and visibility as it mimics daylight with better color rendering. This makes then popular for night time illumination on the car.
HID headlamps have a brief warmup period of around 5 seconds. LED headlamps switch on and illuminate immediately. It goes from darkness to full brightness as soon as it is switched on. There is no fluctuation in illumination due to voltage fluctuation too.
HID headlights produce infrared light which may be beneficial to people in cold regions. It can assist melt ice and clear roads. LED headlights do not emit infrared or UV light. Some manufacturers blow hot air onto the headlamp lens.
Both – LED and HID headlamps are available as kits. The LED headlamps will last up to 30000 hours and HID lamps will last around 2500 hours.
Another fact to be noted here is that LED lights are brighter than the HID or halogen lamps of the same wattage. But LED lights are not available in high wattages. Thus, they have to be replaced with a greater number of LEDs to make up. Even in this scenario they are 80% more efficient and save power.
In conclusion, watt for watt LED headlights emits more lumens than HID headlamps.
A 1 – 2-watt LED will produce 220 lumens, as much produced by a 25-watt incandescent bulb. HID headlamps have the same working principle as incandescent bulbs. A 25 to 28-watt LED bulb produces as much light as a 150-watt incandescent HID bulb which is 2600 lumens of light. Thus, LED headlights are brighter and more energy-efficient compared to HID headlights.
In other words, if you light a 40-watt HID headlight against a 40W LED the difference in the lumens will be 3550LED vs HID Headlights in 2020 compared to 200 of the HID.
This is due to the following factors; the HID headlights have a filament that glows due to electrical resistance between two tungsten electrodes. The filament wears off in 1500 – 2500 hours. Whereas the LED headlamps last 15000 – 50000 hours. This is because these lights do not have any working parts that move or break. Besides the current flows smoothly with 90% more efficiency bettering their output and prolonging their life.
The brightness of the LED headlamp can be compared with the incandescent HID lamp using a light sensor. It measures the brightness in lumens. The brightest HID headlamps put out 3350 lumens ±300 while the brightest LED headlights put out as much as 12,400 lumens.
