Reflector Vs Projector Headlights: Know the Difference

One of the main factors that car owners should take into account when upgrading their headlights is whether they use reflector or projector technology. These two terms are important because they determine the type of bulb you should go for.

Projector headlights are better than reflector headlights because they produce more light, look better in design, and do not blind oncoming traffic. The technology allows car manufacturers to improve illumination at night and the overall safety of the driver. They can be expensive and larger than reflector headlights, but outweigh traditional headlights by far.

They describe the headlight housing that contains the bulb and determine what kind of light your headlights will emit. You’ll either get light that is focused on the road ahead or light that is dispersed. Here is a breakdown of the difference between reflector and projector headlights.

Reflector Vs Projector Headlights

Reflector Headlights

Reflector headlights have been around for decades and are mostly found in trucks and passenger cars. They are cheap to manufacturer and require less space to install. They are referred to as reflector headlights because they feature a bulb contained in a reflective bowl.

The bowl takes the form of a cup-shaped housing. It is chrome painted to make it reflective. When the bulb turns on, the light is reflected straight onto the road. It is distributed at a wide angle to help it illuminate a wide area in front of the car.

Here, the light is usually less focused, less precise, and less intense. As such, if you’re looking to upgrade your reflector headlight bulbs, it’s advisable to switch to LEDs. LED bulbs tend to be brighter and help to compensate for the ‘light waste’.

HID bulbs can also work, but they tend to be less bright when compared to LEDs. They also have a more complicated installation process. This means that you will not get optimum performance. The unfocused light may not be enough when driving through very dark roads.

Projector Headlights

Projector headlights have not been around as long as reflector headlights. Until recently, projector headlights were only reserved for luxury vehicles back in the 1980s. Today, you can find them in just about any vehicle. They are an improvement from reflector headlights which are popular in most cars.

Due to the way they are designed, projector headlights are able to produce more light, illuminate more of the road surface ahead, and shine a greater distance. They also reduce light wastage which is a common phenomenon in reflector headlights.

How Do Projector Headlights Work?

Projector headlights feature a replaceable bulb, a reflector, a shutter, and a lens. The bulb acts as the light source. The reflector focuses the light to the shutter which creates a cutoff line to effectively aim the light on the road. This prevents blinding other drivers.

The lens act like a magnifying glass that distributes the beam over a larger area. Some lenses are designed to soften the harsh cutoff line created by the shutter. Projector headlights are capable of producing more light than traditional headlights.

This is because the bulb used can be much brighter. On top of this, the light can be focused in a way that does not blind oncoming traffic. However, these types of headlights tend to cost more than reflector headlights. They also have deeper assemblies that take up more space

However, they offer better performance and are becoming more popular among car manufacturers. They are more common in higher-end luxury cars.

Projectors feature a reflector inside the headlight just like their counterpart. What differentiates them is that when the bulb shines, the light is passed through a condenser lens before being dispersed in front of the vehicle.

The lens helps to focus the light and project it in a particular direction. As such, the bulb tends to shine brighter and doesn’t waste any light. Projector headlights are very slick in appearance and visually appealing.

They also feature a cutoff shield that helps to angle the light properly. The light is directed more towards the road. If you’re looking to replace the halogen bulbs that came in your projector headlights, it’s advisable to go for HIDs or Xenon bulbs. LEDs do not perform well with projector headlights. They can still work, but will probably be less bright than your halogen bulbs.

Types of projector headlights

Projector headlights are differentiated by the type of bulb they use. All headlight assemblies are typically the same. Below are the most common types of projector headlights that you’ll come across on the road.

Halogen projector headlights

Halogen projector headlights were the first type to be fitted on cars. The halogen bulb uses a tungsten filament that glows when current is passed through. This produces the light needed to illuminate the road ahead. The glass casement is usually filled with halogen gas to preserve the bulb.

HID projector headlights

HID projector headlights use a high-intensity discharge bulb that emits a bluish, bright white glow. They are also called xenon headlights. In place of a filament, these types of bulbs use an electric arc that is placed between two electrons inside a glass assembly. These types of bulbs are usually two to three times brighter than halogen bulbs.

LED projector headlights

LED projector headlights use LED bulbs. They are far more energy efficient and last longer than halogen and HID headlights. They are the latest invention when it comes to exterior car lights. Manufacturers prefer them because they are dynamic in design and produce much more light.

Halo/Angel eye projector headlights

Halo or angle projector headlights create a distinctive halo or ring of light when they illuminate. The rings don’t usually use projector technology. They are made possible using other technologies like LEDs, incandescent bulbs, and cold cathode fluorescent lighting tubes

Projector-Reflector Hybrid Headlights

Cars that have separate high beam and low beam headlights sometimes have a projector-reflector configuration. They use the reflector part for the high beam and the projector part for the low beam.

Now that we know reflector headlights work better with LED bulbs and projector headlights work better with HID bulbs, what should you go for if you have projector-reflector headlights? The answer is both bulb types.

Experts recommend using the LED bulbs for your reflectors and HID bulbs for your projector setup. This allows you to benefit from both worlds. Having both bulb types gives you better results overall compared to having just one type for your high and low beams.

When mixing and matching, the best combination is white LED bulbs for the reflector beam and 6000K bright white bulbs for your projector beam. These bulbs will emit the brightest light and will produce the same color.

How do I know if I have projector style headlights?

It’s quite easy to differentiate a projector headlight from a reflector headlight. The former has a distinctive and unique look. The lens is visible and if you pay close attention, you can tell by the clean, modern, and simple design.

Reflector headlights are less specific in their design. They feature a bulb, a reflector bowl, and are more ‘open’. Unlike the projectors, the bulb is not concealed in a lens. Reflectors are the most common types of headlights so chances are your vehicle has one. If you can’t tell the difference, consult your user manual of call your dealership.

Reflector vs projector headlights: Which one should you pick?

Most people prefer projector headlights to reflector headlights. Projectors incorporate new and innovative technology that allows headlights to produce brighter and more focused light. They also reduce the amount of light wasted when illuminating the road ahead.

Unlike reflector headlights, projector headlights are less likely to blind oncoming traffic. They direct their light downwards which prevents dazzling other drivers. Their ability to give off more even light means that they have lesser dark spots.

However, it’s good to note that they are more expensive to make. They are also deeper when compared to reflector headlights, meaning that they take up more space when installed in a vehicle.

There are some reflector headlights that distribute light in a desired pattern. These types, however, are often specially designed for a particular make or model. The optics needed to facilitate the desired pattern are built into the reflector.

Conclusion

When choosing between projector headlights and reflector headlights in a new car, remember that projector headlights offer more benefits. This includes a more focused beam pattern, a significantly brighter light, no dark spots, and prevent blinding other road users.

While reflector headlights may not provide as many benefits, they are cheaper to manufacture and take up less space in a car. This means that they can significantly reduce the cost of buying a vehicle. They are also more recognizable thanks to their dome interior.

Either way, most car buyers do not take notice of the type of headlight their vehicle has. Some will only come to terms with it when upgrading their bulbs to brighter options. Remember, LED bulbs work better with reflector headlights while HID or xenon bulbs work better with projector headlights.