The Best 9004 LED Headlight Bulbs in 2024

Get ready to learn all about the best 9004 LED headlight bulbs.

9004 LEDs are hugely popular, and you’re spoilt for choice. But that’s the problem; there are too many 9004 LED’s choose from.

But don’t worry; I’ve got you sorted. 

I’ve been working with and testing headlight bulbs for over ten years and have seen my share of good, bad, and ugly. I wouldn’t recommend something that I haven’t tried myself.

I’ve tested a stack of 9004 LEDs and narrowed it down to the best three for you.

Hands down, the best ones are the Firehawk 2023 New 9004 LED headlight bulbs. 

These are the best bulbs you can get your hands on for under $100. They last over 50,000 hours and are super easy to install. 

Read all about Firehawk next, followed by two more based on price.

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What makes the Firehawk 2023 New 9004 my top choice? Simple, they are brilliant, like, blindingly brilliant. I’m talking a staggering 20,000 lumens per pair; this translates to an eye-popping 500% brightness and 250% better night vision than standard halogens.

There’s no time lag with these either, they light up instantaneously, making them indispensable in sudden darkness or while driving into a tunnel.

Read our article for more on the Best LED Headlight Bulbs in 2023.

Color Temperature

By now, most of you might know that I’m partial to the 6000K Xenon white on the Kelvin scale. Why, you ask? It’s because white light lends sharpness and clarity to the objects in your path.

The Kelvin scale is quite expansive, starting with softer yellows at 1700K, and escalating all the way up to blues at 27,000K.

Cool Perks

I’ve got to give it to the super-focused beam pattern and the 360° adjustable lock ring. These give me complete control over the direction of my beam.

The anti-glare tech eliminates dark spots or shadows, ensuring you don’t inadvertently dazzle oncoming drivers.

With these bulbs, you can bid goodbye to flashing or flickering; they promise a steady stream of light.

Durability and Lifespan

The 9004 bulbs from Firehawk boast an IP68 waterproof rating, are immune to radio interference, and have been stress-tested in temperatures ranging from -45°F to 150°F. Extreme weather conditions barely put a dent in these bulbs’ output.

Firehawk pegs the lifespan of these 9004 LEDs at around 50,000 hours, and my own testing found this estimate pretty accurate.

Heat Management

Let’s shift focus to the cooling system now. The silent turbofan clocks in at a whopping 12,000 RPM, which translates to these bulbs outlasting halogens by up to 100 times.

Don’t let the fan’s size mislead you. During my tests, the highest recorded temperature was a manageable 122°F, nothing problematic there.

Installation

I must mention the design, which replicates the dimensions of a typical halogen bulb. They fit snugly into your light housing and were a breeze to install. I had them up and running in under 15 minutes.

My Experiment

I tested these bulbs using a lux meter placed 20 feet away, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. I drew comparisons with regular halogens, and the contrast was immediately evident.

Projector Test

The halogens churned out a starting light output of 725 lux, while the FireHawk 9004 bulbs were a formidable 1,332 lux!

I ran the test for 27 minutes, which is the average commute duration in most US cities. Even after this period, they held steady at 88% performance, clocking in 1,172 lux.

Reflector Test

The reflector test was just as promising — a reading of 2,280 lux against the halogens’ relatively measly 910 lux.

During the projector output, I did notice a slight fuzziness in the top center, and predictably, the lower center area was a bit weak as well.

There were two scattering instances, to the right of the top center fuzzy area and again in the lower left, but they weren’t very pronounced.

Street Talk

This 9004 LED bulb has amassed a significant fanbase. With over 5,000 reviews, it holds an impressive average rating of 4.4 out of 5. The recurring praise is about their unparalleled brightness.

However, there were some gripes about the installation process, but others, including me, found it pretty straightforward. I’m guessing the negative feedback probably comes from those with older vehicles.

Wrapping Up

All said and done, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better pair of 9004 LED bulbs under the $100 price bracket. They’re phenomenally bright and are equipped with a top-notch cooling system.

Given their 50,000-hour lifespan, you won’t be burdened with frequent replacements either.

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Shelling out big bucks for 9004 LED headlights isn’t necessary. The Nilight 9004 LED Headlight Bulbs, priced just under $40 per pair, make for an incredibly cost-effective choice.

At first glance, they might come off as average LEDs, but my tests showed that they’re anything but ordinary.

Let’s delve into what these affordable champions bring to the table.

Brightness and Color Temperature

First off, these bulbs are impressively bright. They deliver 10,000 lumens each, making them 350% brighter than regular halogens. Their wide-reaching beam is perfect for multi-lane highways or rural roads, helping you spot any wildlife about to dash across.

These bulbs emit a cool white light, specifically 6000 Kelvin. This results in a clearer and sharper view of what’s ahead. If you’re a fan of softer yellows, you’d need to look for bulbs rated around 2000 Kelvin.

Cool Perks

The hi/lo option provides a super-focused beam pattern with no dark spots or shadows. Most importantly, they don’t produce any annoying glare to irritate oncoming drivers. A beam free of scattered light translates to safer road journeys.

Durability and Lifespan

The Nilight 9004 LEDs come with a built-in driver and are CAN bus-ready. They house a CSP chip with an IP rating of 67, allowing them to perform seamlessly in extreme weather conditions, including snow and fog, sans any radio interference.

Nilight estimates that these 9004 LED bulbs will last an impressive 50,000 hours.

I’m a big fan of their energy-saving feature. These bulbs consume 65% less energy than other LEDs, thanks to the premium aviation aluminum heat sink and a powerful, yet silent, 10,000RPM turbo cooling fan.

Installation

These bulbs mirror the dimensions of standard halogens, making installation a breeze.

My Experiment

Now, for my usual test. I positioned my LED 20 feet away from the bulb, and here’s what I found.

Projector Test

I was pleasantly surprised! The Nilight 9004 LED headlight delivered a reading of 1,437 lux, nearly twice as much as a standard halogen. Incredible!

Even after the ‘golden’ 27 minutes, they held strong, giving me a reading of 1,173 lux. These are certainly above-average results for 9004 LEDs.

There was a bit of blur at the top and some weakness in the lower center area, which is pretty standard for headlights, so nothing to worry about there.

Reflector Test

The results from the reflector output were equally compelling. I got readings of 2,690 lux initially and 2,196 lux after 27 minutes.

I noticed that the light was well-managed, slightly broader and deeper than regular halogens.

After the 27-minute mark, the maximum temperature was 129°F, which is a tad higher than average, but nothing to cause concern.

The light from the reflector was surprisingly well-controlled, with a slight scattering on the lower right side, but it’s negligible.

Street Buzz

The Nilight 9004 LED bulbs consistently feature in the Top 20 LED headlights, and the reviews lean heavily towards the positive side. With nearly 7,000 reviews, they hold an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5.

The rave reviews largely applaud these bulbs for being a significant upgrade from stock halogens.

The critique, on the other hand, suggests that some adjustments are required to the light fittings in vehicles over ten years old to ensure proper installation.

Wrapping Up

Despite their modest price, the Nilight 9004 LED headlight bulbs don’t compromise on performance. They’re definitely worth your attention if you’re looking for a high-performing, budget-friendly option.

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TOP TIER PICK

Scaling up to the pricier end, we have the Hikari Future Titanova 9004 LED headlight bulbs. Although classified as ‘premium’, they won’t break the bank, costing around $130 per set.

Brightness

These bulbs boast six LED chips, a step up from the typical three.

Hikari advertises these as delivering 65 watts and a stunning 30,000 lumens per set. Yes, they’re incredibly bright, which comes in handy when you’re navigating off-road after dark.

Hikari claims that these bulbs offer 15,000 lumens each, a claim that I find hard to swallow. To date, I’ve yet to test any bulbs that reach such dizzying heights. But stick around for my test results further down.

The DOT stamp on the driver might lead to some confusion. The Department of Transport doesn’t actually endorse items, and I suspect that lights this bright might face usage restrictions in certain locations.

Color Temperature

The Kelvin color clocks in at a cool white 6000K, providing a great deal of vertical light. I’m a huge fan of this color. If you’re more into blues, you’d need to look for something rated at 15,000 Kelvin or higher.

Cool Perks

These bulbs provide a customized light beam that maximizes coverage without contributing to glare for oncoming traffic. Thanks to their sophisticated CAN bus system, flickering is a non-issue.

Durability and Lifespan

One feature that really sets the Hikari 9004 LED headlight apart is the braided cables connecting the external driver. They are designed to detach from each other, so if one fails, the other remains functional.

Another major bonus is the absence of LED burnout, a frequent problem of the past due to the high startup current.

These Hikari bulbs come with a 6A overload capacity, triple the standard, effectively eliminating this burnout issue.

Hikari purports that these 9004 LEDs will last a whopping 100,000 hours, a claim that I personally find somewhat doubtful.

Installation

I had no trouble installing these bulbs. The bulb and driver slotted into the most recent car models quite easily.

My Experiment

I had high expectations for the Hikari 9004 LEDs during my tests, and they didn’t disappoint.

Projector Test

A startling 2,220 lux! These bulbs are seriously bright. What stood out to me was that, even after 27 minutes, they retained 85% of their brightness, maintaining around 1,887 lux. This puts them among the brightest bulbs I’ve ever tested over this time period.

As for the promised 15,000 lumens per bulb, I remain sceptical about their ability to deliver such high brightness. It might be wise for Hikari to temper their claims.

I found the light stability to be commendable. Even the typical weak spot in the lower front wasn’t as noticeable as with other LEDs.

Reflector Test

The results from the reflector were equally impressive! The bulbs kicked off with a 3,590 lux rating, reducing only slightly to 3,052 lux after 27 minutes. The light band was full, providing much more vertical light than your standard halogens.

Although Hikari claims 65 watts, my tests showed almost 57, which isn’t far off. After 27 minutes, the temperature reached 195°F. Considering the level of brightness, this temperature is pretty impressive.

The unique design of the Hikari Titanova 9004 LED creates a controlled light pattern. There was some thinning at the top and bottom right, but otherwise, the light was full, providing a significant amount of vertical light.

Street Buzz

Users seem to favor these 9004 bulbs. With over 2,000 reviews and a rating of 4.5 out of 5 (with 77% giving it five stars), the consensus seems largely positive.

Many customers praised their brightness and ease of installation.

The criticism was in line with my own scepticism; the claimed lumens and lifetime hours seem to be somewhat inflated.

Wrapping Up

The Hikari brand has generated quite a buzz when it comes to headlights. In the past, I found their offerings a bit lacklustre, but this time, the 9004 Titanova LEDs truly lived up to the hype.

If you have a bit more to spend, these bulbs are definitely worth considering.

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