This is my buying guide on the brightest 168 LED headlight bulbs in 2023. Below is a quick summary of my top recommendations. Scroll further down to read my in depth, hands on reviews for each 168 bulb. See real world tests and photos below.

BUDGET BRIGHTEST

Sealight 168 LED Bulbs

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• All in one unit
• Plug and play
• 600 lumens/set
• 6,000K Xenon White
• +300% brighter than halogens
• Best budget brightest 168 LEDs
• 50,000-hour lifespan
• IP68 Waterproof

BRIGHTEST Overall

Auxbeam 168 LED Bulbs

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• All in one unit
• Plug and play
• 480 lumens/set
• 6,000K Xenon White
• +400% brighter than halogens
• Brightest overall 168 LEDs
• 50,000-hour lifespan
• 10W per set
• IP68 Waterproof

PREMIUM CHOICE

Alla Lighting 168 LED Bulbs

CHECK PRICE

• All in one unit
• Plug and play
• 480 lumens/set
• 6,000K Xenon White
• +350% brighter than halogens
• Runner up for brightest overall 168 LEDs
• 50,000-hour lifespan
• 8W per set
• IP65 Waterproof

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Inside and outside your vehicle are a heap of lights that you take for granted, dome, glovebox, backup, license plate, and trunk, for example.

Just like your headlight and fog lights,= these more obscure lights will eventually blow, and they’ll need to be replaced. 

And that can be a challenge. Why?

There are so many manufacturers of 168 bulbs that it’s hard to know which one to choose.

That’s why I’m here.

With over a decade in the industry, I’ve tried and tested countless 168 bulbs, so I can give you a true hands on opinion on all of them.

First up, you need to upgrade from factory halogens to LEDs. You can find out why in more detail in my FAQs below.

I tested 15 different 168 LED bulbs, and I’ve narrowed the choice of the brightest down to three. 

Auxbeam came out as the overall brightest; check out my test results below.

Then I’ve included a budget option and my runner-up for brightest.

It’s time to look at the brightest 168 LED bulbs. Let’s go.

IMPORTANT! – Make sure you have the correct bulb sizing and fitment so you don’t waste your money, use this handy tool to double check.

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The Ultimate Brightness

When I set out to find the brightest bulbs for both the interior and exterior of a car, the Auxbeam 168 LED bulbs were a hands-down winner.

Lighting Up the Car’s Interior

Have you ever noticed how your factory-fitted glove box lights emit a warm, soft yellow glow? That’s the effect of halogen bulbs, which typically have a Kelvin color of around 3,000. This dim light can be frustrating when you’re trying to see things clearly at night.

What sets the Auxbeam 168 LED bulbs apart are the four available color temperatures. I found the 6000K white ideal for the glove box and dome lights, delivering a crisp brightness that far surpasses the dull yellow hues.

At 240 lumens, they’re approximately four times brighter than your regular halogens.

Illuminating the Car’s Exterior

These 168 bulbs are versatile, performing a variety of functions for the car’s exterior. Your brake lights need to be a red kelvin color for safety. The license plate, side marker, and door lights, however, benefit enormously from the 6,000K white light.

The whiter and brighter your backup/reverse lights, the quicker the drivers behind you can react. Here, the five times brighter and purer white light offered by the Auxbeam 168s is a significant upgrade over halogens.

Durability

Built from top-notch SMD 3030 LED chips, these bulbs boast a built-in constant current IC that prevents burnout during unstable current fluctuations.

With an IP68 rating, these bulbs are both dust and waterproof, which gave me the confidence to drive in all weather conditions, including rain, fog, snow, and sandy environments.

Cooling and Longevity

Impressive heat dissipation and a low power consumption of only 5 watts each—just 1/10th of a standard bulb’s power—characterize these bulbs. They can also last up to an impressive 50,000 hours.

Given Auxbeam’s 1-year replacement warranty, I would expect these bulbs to last at least that long.

Installation

Installing the Auxbeam 168 LED bulbs was a breeze. Their identical size to stock bulbs meant they fit in perfectly. The bulbs also work regardless of polarity, which simplifies the installation process.

Be aware that hyper-flashing is a common issue when using these bulbs for exterior lights. A load equalizer should prevent this from occurring.

My Experience

I relish testing Auxbeam products—they seldom let me down, and these bulbs were no exception.

Typically, factory-installed halogen 168s have a lux rating between 8–16. With my lux meter set at 20 feet, mine registered 12. Once I switched on the Auxbeams, I got a whopping 49! That’s an impressive 400% improvement in brightness.

The stark clarity of the 6,000K white light was a welcome change from the yellow 2,700K halogens. 

Another standout feature was the consistency of the beam—no patches or blackouts. This is where the Auxbeam range truly shines.

Customer Reviews

The Auxbeam 168 LEDs hold a commendable 4.4/5 star rating on Amazon.

Many drivers praised the easy installation and the significant improvement in brightness compared to the factory halogens, especially for the interior lights.

Hyper-flashing was a common issue in the negative reviews, but installing load equalizers can easily solve this problem.

Wrapping It Up

If you’re considering an upgrade from halogen to LED for your car’s interior and exterior lights, the Auxbeam 168s are the brightest I’ve tested so far. Don’t wait—brighten up your drive with these today.

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Impressive Challenger

Coming in a close second in my search for the brightest 168 LEDs are the 168 bulbs from Alla Lighting. They compete admirably in terms of brightness and whiteness with the Auxbeam bulbs.

Lighting Up the Car’s Interior

The Alla Lighting 168 LED bulb is available in red, yellow, and white Kelvin colors, ensuring an ideal fit for every part of your vehicle.

Personally, I found the 6,000K white perfect for interior lights. No more struggling in the faint yellow glow of halogens to find something. 

At 240 lumens, these LEDs offer a similar brightness to the Auxbeams, presenting a colossal upgrade from traditional halogens.

Illuminating the Car’s Exterior

The Alla Lighting 168 LEDs have got you covered, whether it’s red for the brake light or white for the backup/reverse lights.

Replacing your amber-yellow halogens with 6,000K white significantly improves clarity. I was able to see objects much more clearly when reversing. 

Durability 

Each bulb is equipped with four 1616-SMD LEDs and also incorporates a built-in smart IC driver, ensuring stable current control that prevents burnouts and enables a longer lifespan.

With an IP65 rating, they fall a bit short compared to the Auxbeams. Keep in mind, IP65 means water-resistant, not waterproof, so bear this in mind if you’re planning extended drives in rain or snow.

Cooling and Longevity

Equipped with an aluminum heat sink, Alla Lighting’s 168 LEDs aim to deliver efficient heat dissipation.

However, in my tests, I found that these bulbs tend to run hot.

Although advertised with a 50,000-hour lifespan, I have some reservations. The 1-year guarantee gives me confidence that they should last at least that long, so expect to get a few years out of these overall.

Installation

At 2.5 inches, they’re the same size as factory halogens, making them a straightforward plug-and-play install for me. Make sure to click the ‘Amazon Confirmed Fit’ button at the top of the product page to verify their suitability for your vehicle’s make and model.

My Experience

Given Alla Lighting’s reputation for quality products, I had high expectations for the 168 LEDs. To a degree, I was satisfied.

Using the same setup with my lux meter at 20 feet, my factory halogens registered a 12 lux rating. The Alla Lighting’s recorded 46 lux, a bit less than the Auxbeams, but still a substantial 350% improvement.

The real challenge arose when I went to remove the bulb—it was very hot to touch. This heat issue, which is unique compared to other bulbs in the market, raised concerns for me. For instance, I wouldn’t want them in my glovebox with papers and plastics stored there.

I’m not entirely sure why they run so hot, considering each bulb is only 4 watts. It’s most likely related to the aluminum housing not being as heat resistant as advertised.

Customer Reviews

On Amazon, the Alla Lighting bulbs earned a robust 4.6/5 rating.

The standout features for users were the super-brightness and the clear white light.

Just as I found in my testing, the heat generated by the bulbs was a shared concern amongst many drivers.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to sheer brightness and a range of Kelvin colors, the Alla Lighting 168 LEDs are a strong competitor. However, the heat issue is something you’ll need to consider.

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Sealight 168 LED Bulbs

Top Pick for Budget Buyers

Just because you’re on a budget, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the quality of your replacement bulbs. Priced around $10 per set, the Sealight 168 LEDs are a fantastic option.

Illuminating the Car Interior

Unlike my other two suggestions, the Sealight 168 bulb offers two Kelvin colors: 6,000 white and 2,700 amber-yellow. 

There are those who prefer a softer light, and in that case, the amber-yellow serves as an excellent substitute for factory halogens of the same color. Personally, I would strongly advocate for the 6000K variant. It was significantly brighter and lit up the inside of my car flawlessly.

These LEDs come in at 300 lumens, suggesting they should be brighter than the others, but my own tests suggested otherwise.

Lighting Up the Car Exterior

For the car exterior, the 6000 kelvin was just perfect. It’s simply impossible for other drivers to miss you. My car was significantly more visible at night. 

Durability

Each bulb comes equipped with five 5050 SMD LED chips. Their shock-resistant base is crafted from hard, impact-resistant ABS material. 

With an IP868 waterproof rating, these lights can endure water, snow, and sand, giving you the confidence to drive in any weather.

Cooling and Longevity

The Sealight 168 LED bulbs are constructed with an entire aluminum body for efficient cooling. 

Though they’re marketed with a 50,000-hour lifespan, I have my doubts, and it seems customer reviews echo my skepticism. I don’t think they’ll last for 50,000 hours, but maybe 20,000 or 30,000.

Installation

These bulbs are plug-and-play and fit most 168/194/T10 sockets. It would be a wise choice to install a load equalizer to avoid any hyper-flash. Overall, I found the installation process quite straightforward.

In the Field

Maintaining my standard testing setup, I positioned my lux meter at 20 feet. My factory halogens clocked in at 12 lux. The Sealight 168 LEDs registered a 38 lux rating, which is just over 300% brighter than the halogens.

Unlike the Alla Lighting bulbs, they don’t heat up as much, so I would have expected them to last longer. Like the Auxbeam, they are only 10 watts, so they shouldn’t burn out quickly. However, it seems the advertised durable material might not be as sturdy as claimed.

Customer Feedback

Amazon drivers give these bulbs a 4.4/5 rating. 

Given the price, most users were extremely satisfied with the brightness and the easy plug-and-play installation.

A few drivers expressed disappointment that the bulbs didn’t last the advertised 50,000 hours and that the amber-yellow color leaned more towards yellow than orange.

Final Thoughts

At $10 a pair, the Sealight 168 LEDs are an excellent budget option. However, they may not last as long as the others, so if you can stretch your budget a bit more, it could save you in the long run.

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Frequently asked questions about 168 LEDs

Why should I use 168 LEDs instead of halogens?

There are two reasons why I recommend upgrading your 168 bulbs from halogens to LED: brightness and color.

Factory-installed halogen 168 bulbs come as a standard 2,700 Kelvin color amber-yellow. While some people are happy with this, I’m not, and I love the clarity that the 6,000 white provides. Trust me, when you’re trying to find something on the floor of your car at night with a yellow dome light, you’ll wish you had white ones.

Brightness is vital with exterior lights. Don’t you want your reverse/backup lights to be as bright as possible so drivers behind you can see what you’re doing? With 300–500% more illumination, 168 LEDs are considerably brighter than halogens.

Can you use a 168 bulb instead of 194?

A 168 bulb can replace a range of interior and exterior lights, such as the 194 and the T10. The significant difference is that the larger the number, the higher the number of watts the bulb needs to draw from the power source.