H1 Bulbs (Halogen, LED & Xenon)

Do you have an H1 bulb in your car headlights? Do you want to replace your old H1 bulbs with new, brighter ones? This guide will help you choose the best H1 bulbs on the market.

The H1 car bulb is the most popular light source for all modern car models. H1 lamp socket is versatile enough, H1 lamps are installed in headlights and fog lights.

What are the brightest H1 bulbs?

In this article, we have chosen for you the brightest H1 bulbs among the halogen LED and xenon HID bulbs on the market.

If you need help choosing an H1 bulb for your car, read our guide to choosing a car lamp, or use the lamp selection for each car model on our website.

H1 Bulbs Guide

H1 Types of bulbs
H1 Bulbs Review
H1 Buying Guide

What is an H1 bulb?

H1 bulbs are versatile enough, such lamps are installed in headlights and fog lights.

Types of H1 Car Bulbs

H1 lamps are most often installed in dipped beams and fog lights. Depending on the light source, H1 low-beam bulbs are available in different versions:

• Halogen H1 bulbs
• H1 LED bulbs
• HID Xenon H1 bulbs

Best H1 Bulb (Editor’s Choice)

Types of H1 bulbs

1. H1 Halogen Bulbs
2. H1 LED Bulbs
3. H1 Xenon Bulbs

H1 Halogen Bulbs

Thanks to new technology, the light sources of motor vehicles are constantly being improved. The most common source of light in the headlights of a car is the halogen h1 bulb for cars. This model of lamp appeared a long time ago, but even today, h1 car lamps are used in headlights and driving lights, as well as in fog lights. Find applications for halogen lamps for cars and h1 and in special light signals, ie warning lights, which are installed on the roof of the vehicle.

The halogen H1 bulb is arranged as follows: the filament is located in a bulb, the material of which is carbide or quartz glass.

H1 bulbs are used to power brighter high beam headlights that illuminate neighborhoods over a long distance.

Because H1 is used as a high beam, which is a more common, higher beam, it is slightly brighter than H7 low beam bulbs.

Main specifications of the h1 12v 55w lamp

According to IEC 60061, the H1 lamp has a P14.5S base. This type of base is a circular metal base with a diameter of 14.5 millimeters. The device is designed so that the H1 bulbs can be installed in headlights of standard sizes. Power comes through the center of the base and the contact size is 6.35 millimeters.

In many countries, the h1 lamp 12v 55w is used. Its luminous flux at 13,2V is 1550 ±15% lumens. In addition, the h1 55w bulb, the price of which is affordable, is the most in-demand.

H1 Headlights bulb

• Emits a bright high beam
• Not used all the time, but on open highways and dark country roads.
• Bright high beam headlights
• Maximum luminance of 1410 lumens

What types of bulbs are used in H1 headlights?

H1 halogen bulbs are mainly used in fog lights. They have a short, flattened bulb on the sides with a long metal base. They are powered by a 12V car battery and rated at 55W, with a maximum color temperature of 4000K, they do not scatter light and the beam is aimed clearly at the road surface.

In fact, halogen bulbs were the first type of bulb to be used in H1 headlights. However, halogens are very fragile and break easily, and have a shorter life span.

The halogen h1 lamps benefit from easy installation, low price, and good technical characteristics. Along with these advantages, halogen lamps have a disadvantage. They heat up to a high temperature during operation.

Halogen H1 Bulbs have a good price to quality ratio, which is the reason for their frequent use. Currently, there are several leaders among H1 lamp manufacturers in brightness levels. These brands are: OSRAM, Philips, SYLVANIA, the brightness of these lamps is 150% higher than the standard lamp. Halogen H1 bulbs are fully approved for on-road use in all states and are warranted by the manufacturer. With 150% more light, these are the brightest incandescent bulbs on the market. These bulbs are easy to install because you replace halogen with halogen and you won’t have any trouble installing them. The disadvantage of halogen H1 bulbs is their lifespan. The brighter the light, the shorter the life of the bulb, this is because there is a filament inside the bulb that burns out quickly. If you want a long life, use LED bulbs.

In the U.S., the rules of the Eurasian Economic Commission remain unrecognized. Here, the rules set by the American government apply. In America, the power of H1 lamp is 65 watts with a light output of 1410±15% lumens.

If you have already decided to buy halogen h1 bulbs, then be sure to pay close attention to the bulbs manufacturer Philips H1 and Osram h1. The high quality of these models will allow you to increase the electric lighting of your vehicle. Osram H1 bulb article is 64150, H1 Philips – 12258.

Purchased halogen h1 lamp, the price of which will suit you, will serve for a long time.
It should be emphasized that the h1 low-beam bulb, as well as the h1 high beam bulb – reliable lighting sources, justifying the price.

The advantages of halogen H1 lamps are many:

they are inexpensive;
improve illumination;
elementary design;
do not require installation of automobile correctors and headlight washers.

What are the characteristics of the best halogen h1 bulbs?

The most common base in the headlights of passenger cars h1, so it is these bulbs are in the greatest demand among motorists. When choosing a suitable option, everyone wants to know quite reasonably what the best halogen h1 bulbs, what their features and what manufacturer to give preference. To do this, carefully analyze the market of lamp products, studying the technical and performance characteristics, because only in this way the h1 high beam bulb can be chosen correctly.

Today, car h1 lamps are produced by different manufacturers, but the most famous are Osram, Phillips and Neolux. A good h1 car lamp is characterized by a number of factors:

– Luminous brightness (350 or more Lm)
– Color spectrum (3000-5500 K)
– Power Consumption
– Features of halogen gas

The best h1 lamps are made of extremely strong quartz glass, where the inside of the bulb soldered bromine gas and elements of iodine, reinforcing the glow. In addition, high-quality low-beam h1 lamp lasts several times longer, and is more resistant to vibration and fluctuations in ambient temperature. A good store necessarily provides a quality guarantee on the purchased products.

Best H1 Halogen Bulb

H1 LED bulbs

The luminous flux of an H1 LED bulb is cone-shaped. LED H1 bulbs are usually much brighter than halogen bulbs. They use less energy, last much longer, and are very easy to install.

However, they are banned for use in some states.

LED H1 bulbs are a great choice for those looking for clean, bright white light. Today they are considered one of the best.

This fact is due to their following advantages:

• Low power consumption
• Resistant to mechanical fluctuations
• Increased service life

A lighting bulb based on LEDs is suitable for both low and high beam.

LED lamps from halogen lamps to differ from the fact that the latter are point light sources. LED bulbs consist of a cylinder on which the LEDs are installed.

The most popular manufacturers of H1 LED bulbs are HIKARI, OSRAM, Philips, Aukee, BEAMTECH, Cougar Motor, Fahren, NINEO, AUTO ONE, CAR ROVER, and others.

Best H1 LED Bulbs

Best H1 LED Fog Light Bulbs

H1 Xenon Bulbs

The h1 xenon lamp consists of a gas bulb and two electrodes. The h1 headlight glows due to an electric arc between the electrodes.

Original H1 xenon headlights are sometimes standard on some vehicles but are often offered as an optional extra when you purchase a car.

Xenon headlights work differently than standard halogen bulbs, requiring two main components to work: the bulb itself and the ballast.

Compared to other automotive bulbs, xenon bulbs have the following features:

• High intensity of light
• Bright white color with a touch of blue that does not dazzle oncoming drivers
• Impervious to mechanical vibration

Xenon auto h1 lamp has disadvantages:

• When installing it requires additional installation of the ignition unit (ballast)
• High cost

Because of the disadvantages, the xenon H1 bulb is used less frequently than the halogen h1 bulb.

Best H1 Hid Xenon Bulbs

H1 Bulbs Review

What H1 bulbs to choose?

Most often, lamps with an H1 base are installed in vehicles with high mileage, that is, the optics are no longer in the best condition. After all, over time, the reflector and diffuser become turbid and dim. The best solution for such cars will be the choice of lamps with increased light output. They should be installed primarily in the head optics.

You should avoid using H1 lamps which are too bright since their heat may cause cracking of the lens. After all, fog lights more often than other headlamps are dipped in cold water. Not insignificant when choosing a lamp to pay attention to and light distribution, as high brightness can be very strongly blinded the drivers of oncoming traffic.

It is impossible to determine how any particular lamp will shine in particular headlights. However, when choosing, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the packaging had information on the conformity of products to the standard.

Brands with a worldwide reputation necessarily indicate on the packaging information about the purpose of the lamps. In this case, it is indicated by the label For off-road use only, which translates as for use off the public road.

These bulbs can be installed in a headlamp or headlamp luminaire in an off-road vehicle. Instructions and packages of products of Korean and Japanese brands contain minimal information, so to make sure whether a given lamp is suitable, it is better to look for its tests.

The color temperature of H1 lamps is selected according to their preferences. But immediately, it is worth noting that too bright white glow with bluish very much fatigues the eyes. In addition, these lamps and illuminate are not the best way. The saturated yellow glow is also not the best option – it is better to leave it for fog lights with a transparent diffuser, and in the headlights to install lamps with white light. This combination allows you to reveal all the advantages of a yellow and white glow because both colors have their pros and cons.

It is not recommended to install LED and xenon Asian lamps, as headlamps made under the halogen lights are not designed for pinpoint directional light. Xenon H1 lamps will behave in the lens optics still more or less, but the LEDs with multiple crystals can start shining in any direction – even into the ground, even into the sky.

If you still really want to install it in the fog light LED lamps, the headlights should be replaced by those that are designed specifically for this light source. To do this, for example, suitable Osram LEDriving FOG.

LED H1 bulbs, of course, have undeniable advantages such as cost-effectiveness and less risk of cracking when doused with water. However, there is a disadvantage – the purchase of high-quality headlamps, designed for LED lamps, the pleasure is not cheap.

A review of H1 bulbs can boil down to a few parameters

Lamps with an H1 base are used for cars with high mileage, which means that the optics will not be in the best condition: faded reflector, cloudy diffuser. In this case, the most interesting option for purchase is lamps with increased luminous efficacy. First of all, it concerns head optics. In fog lights there is a nuance – they are dipped in cold water more often, and the “enhanced” lamps are usually hotter than the standard. This means that the risk of cracking the diffuser is higher. Careful when buying bulbs with increased brightness and need to be to their light distribution – if they will start to “blow” on the oncoming lane, the drivers there will be much more noticeable.

The normal practice among well-known manufacturers to indicate on the packaging that the lamps are designed exclusively for off-road use only (for off-road use): For example, such lamps can be put in the headlight-seeker or headlamp “chandelier” raid car, but on the road, they really have nothing to do.

As for the color temperature, of course, you can choose any, except that white, going into a bright blue. However, the saturated yellow glow is still better left for the fog lights with transparent diffusers, the main light to make whiter: each color has its own advantages, and here in this combination they are best revealed.

Car headlights should illuminate the road as much as possible without blinding drivers walking in front of you. Especially if you use a dipped beam. Lensed optics helps in this, but without a source it is useless.

Previously, the range was limited to incandescent bulbs. They gave a yellow tint and could not boast of the range of illumination, stability, and durability.

Today, they have been almost completely abandoned, moving to more advanced systems:

• H1 halogen lamps
• HID Xenon H1 lamps
• LED H1 lamps

The first two use the familiar incandescent filament, but it is heated in a gas environment. It is the gas that increases the flow of light, saving incoming energy. In the LED models, respectively? works the crystal, and it is the best option in terms of durability and resistance to external influences.

As for the lamps from the category H1, it is a design with a special socket base. It is standard, having a cylindrical base with a diameter of 14.5 millimeters. Such systems are used in most modern cars, so you just need to choose a light source and manufacturer. And in order not to get lost in the huge range presented in the modern market, we will carefully study the popular models in our rating, which got only the best lamps in three categories.

Best Halogen H1 Bulbs

In fact, the halogen system is a continuation of the ideas of the incandescent lamp. It also uses a filament heated by an energy source, but, unlike the outdated bulbs, here it burns in a gas environment. This allowed manufacturers to significantly reduce the size of the design and at the same time increase its efficiency. It was also possible to change the light index and completely move away from the yellow flux, which did not meet all safety requirements. The H1 halogen lamp can be used in both low and high beam. It fits any lens optics and its small size allows installing the bulb in the headlights of almost any car.

Best LED bulbs H1

H1 LED bulbs are the best modern solution used in all the latest generations of cars. Unlike conventional bulbs, there is no filament, and the main element of the light is a crystal, whose lifetime is incomparably higher, and resistance to external influences further increases the overall lifetime. Also, the manufacturer has the ability to radically change the index of illumination and regulate the power flow. Therefore, H1 LED lamps can be both near and far. Also, the advantages include the absence of blinding flux and no matter what lensed optics are on your car.

H1 Lamp socket

Make sure you buy the right type of bulb for your car. H1 bulbs are bulbs for a car headlight or for fog light. You can determine what type of bulb you need for your car by checking this information in your owner’s manual. You can also find out what type of bulb you need by using the bulb selection by make and model of your car using our website. On the car bulbs finder page you will find information on what type of bulbs you need to use.

H1 Bulbs Buying Guide

Once you’ve determined that H1 bulbs are what you need, you can start searching for the brightest H1 bulbs. When choosing an H1 bulb, you need to consider the following factors:

• Light distribution on the road
• Power consumption
• Luminous flux
• Compliance with light distribution with established standards

Power of H1 bulbs diode

The power of the LED depends on the brightness of the light it emits, and the higher the quality of the diode, the higher its efficiency will be. We do not recommend that you choose the most powerful and brightest models for your vehicle.

Dependence of power from the cooling system H1 bulbs

An LED generates a lot of heat when it emits light, and the higher the wattage of the lamp, the more heat the lamp produces. Poor cooling or poor quality results in the LED not being able to operate at full power.

The noisiness of the H1 bulbs cooler

If your choice fell on a powerful lamp with active cooling, then note that the cooler’s poor quality lamps are not only more likely to fail but also create a certain noise and vibration, which can be heard in the cabin. Constant monotonous barely audible hum sooner or later will drive even the most sedate driver crazy.

The brightness of H1 bulbs

It is customary to measure the brightness of a lamp in lumens, this value indicates how much light you get from the lamp. Lumens indicate the amount of light distributed by any light source. The more lumens, the brighter the light from the lamp. At the same time, fewer lumens give less light.

Color temperature H1 bulbs

The most popular LED bulbs have a color temperature of 5000-6000K, such a bulb is suitable for most cars. If you prefer the yellow color of the headlights, it is better to choose a lamp with a temperature of 4000K, such a lamp will be less bright, but more natural for the eyes. Brighter light sources with a temperature of 5000-6000K provide better visibility in rainy weather when the lamp is properly focused than similar light sources with a yellow spectrum. Do not raise the color temperature of the lamp too much and choose lamps with 7000-8000 K, regardless of optics and focus, they will not provide the same quality illumination. Modern H1 LED lamps are capable of producing light with different color temperatures:

1. Warm white (up to 3500 K)
2. Neutral white (4200 to 5000 K)
3. Cold white (temperature 6000 to 10000 K)

The choice of H1 auto lamps for the dipped beam is a responsible matter because it determines the safety on the road.