There are two main types of headlights on the market today: reflector and projector headlights. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to know which one is right for your vehicle.

What are reflector headlights?

Reflector headlights are the most common type of headlight on the market. They use a reflector bowl to bounce light off of a bulb and into the lens. This type of headlight is very efficient, but it can create a hot spot in the center of the beam, which can be distracting to oncoming drivers.

A reflector headlight has a light bulb encased in a steel bowl. Mirrors are placed within the bowl to direct light onto the road. The form of the light beam was determined by the lenses in front of older reflector headlights. Moreover, the light beam was often not very wide, and it often did not reach very far down the road.

Your reflectors are parabolic. A parabola is an open-ended U shape. The steel bowl that holds the headlight bulb is curved in a way that’s similar to a parabola.

The term “parabolic” comes from a Greek word that means “to break apart.” A parabola is a mathematical curve that can be used to model things like the trajectory of a projectile or the path of light reflecting off a mirror.

Overall, the benefits of reflector headlights are that they’re inexpensive, easy to replace and offer good light output. However, the disadvantages are that they can create a hot spot in the center of the beam and they don’t offer as much control over the light beam as projector headlights.

What are projector headlights?

Projector headlights use a lens to focus light from a bulb onto the road. This type of headlight offers better control over the light beam, which leads to improved visibility. However, projector headlights can be more expensive than reflector headlights and they can be more difficult to replace.

A projector headlight has a light bulb that is placed in front of a concave (curved inward) lens. The lens focuses the light from the bulb onto the road. The light beam is more controlled than a projector headlight, and it can be wider and reach further down the road than a reflector headlight. Projector headlights are often found on newer vehicles, but they can also be retrofitted (installed after the fact) to older vehicles.

Projector headlights are similar to reflector headlights. A bulb in a steel bowl with mirrors is used as a reflector in projector headlights, much like reflector headlights. A lens placed between the light source and the mirror surface also serves as a magnifying glass, increasing the brightness of the beam.

The benefits of projector headlights are that they offer better visibility and more control over the light beam. However, the disadvantages are that they can be more expensive than reflector headlights and they can be more difficult to replace.

Reflector vs projector

So, which is better to use and how do you know which one is right for your car? You can use reflector headlights if you want a more affordable option that is easy to replace. However, projector headlights offer better visibility and more control over the light beam. If you are looking for the best possible option, then projector headlights are the way to go.

Most drivers want the brightest headlights feasible without causing distractions for other motorists when looking for the ideal headlights. Projector headlights are brighter than reflector headlights and are less likely to blind oncoming traffic.

Moreover, projector headlights can be fitted with HID (High-Intensity Discharge) bulbs which are much brighter than regular halogen bulbs. They also produce a light that is closer to daylight, making it easier for drivers to see at night.

HID bulbs are available in different colors, but most projector headlights come with HID bulbs that produce white light. The color of light produced by HID bulbs is measured in Kelvins (K). The lower the Kelvin rating, the more yellow the light will be. A higher Kelvin rating means the light will be whiter.

Are projector headlights better than reflector?

They're definitely brighter. Projector headlights are many times brighter than reflector headlights. They're less likely to distract other drivers. Because projector headlights point downwards towards the road, they don't blind others' eyes. This is especially important when driving at night or in foggy weather.

Projector headlights can be fitted with HID bulbs, which produce a much brighter light than regular halogen bulbs. The light produced by HID bulbs is also closer to daylight, making it easier for drivers to see at night. However, HID bulbs are available in different colors, so make sure to get the right color for your projector headlights.

Can you convert reflector headlights to projector?

If you have reflector housing, on the aftermarket is a projector retrofit choice. You'll probably have one of the following halogen light bulbs: H11, 9005, or 9012 single-beam halogen light bulbs, regardless of what transformation you choose for your car.

Your reflector headlights are likely to use H11, 9005, or 9012 single-beam halogen light bulbs. You can upgrade to a projector headlight by getting a projector retrofit kit. This will give you the brightness and clarity of a projector headlight without having to buy a new car.

Moreover, such kits are used to improve the light output of your reflector headlights. A projector retrofit will also give you the opportunity to add HID bulbs to your headlights. This will give you even more brightness and clarity when driving at night or in foggy weather.

However, before you buy a projector retrofit kit, make sure that your reflector headlights are compatible with the kit. Otherwise, you might not be able to install the kit properly and it might not work correctly.

Installing a projector retrofit kit is not a difficult task, but it is important to follow the instructions carefully. If you're not comfortable installing the kit yourself, then take it to a professional mechanic or headlight specialist.