If you have a 2021 to 2023 Ford F-150 and you want the best aftermarket headlight, this is it. We got our hands on the all-new Morimoto XB Evo headlight, and the coolest part is that it comes in two versions: an entry-level option and the fully loaded one. In this review we tested both, compared them directly to the original Morimoto XB, and put them through Morimoto’s multi-point testing system to see exactly how much of an upgrade they really are. If you are shopping for a serious F-150 LED headlight upgrade, stick with us because these completely blow the old options out of the water.
Stock Halogen vs the Morimoto XB Evo
The original F-150 headlights came in three different styles, and the new Morimoto XB Evo headlights absolutely blow all of them away. We shot some driving footage to prove it. Before, with the stock halogen light, you could hardly see anything down the road, and everything was a dingy yellow color. Once we swapped in the new XB Evo headlights, the difference on the road was night and day, with a bright, clean beam that lit up far more of the road.
We also lined these up against the old Morimoto XB. That was a great headlight in its day, one of the best you could buy on the market compared to almost anything we could find. But it does not even come close to the current brightness of the new XB Evo. If you want to see everything we offer for this truck, check out our Ford F150 LED headlight catalog, and if you like reading about the direct improvements, we broke it all down in our XB Evo vs XB brightness comparison for F-150 and Raptor.
XB Evo vs XB Evo Hybrid: Two Versions Explained
There are two headlights in this family. One is the XB Evo Hybrid version, which has a few less features inside but comes at a more affordable price point. The other is the XB Evo, which is the top dog with all of the good features. Both are excellent choices, but which one you pick depends on how much you care about the extra functions.
If you are truly a nerd about light output and that is the most important thing to you, then you are in luck with the Hybrid, because you get the same light output whether you buy the XB Evo Hybrid or the full XB Evo. They share the same brightness, the same width, and the same shaped beam pattern since they use the same bi-LED projector. The difference comes down to features and appearance, not raw performance.
Daytime Running Light and Turn Signal Options
Let’s start with the daytime running light. On the old headlight, the DRL was pretty inconsistent. Looking at it from an angle it was not as bright as looking at it straight on. The new headlights have a new surface texture on the DRL that keeps the brightness very consistent from any direction, no matter how you look at the headlight. Driving around during the day in DRL mode, they are super bright.
The Hybrid version has a white daytime running light, and you cannot switch that between white or amber. With the full XB Evo, you can switch between white and amber. On the old headlights, you had to choose white or amber at purchase, and you could not flip a switch on the backside to change it.
There are actually four different keys on the back, not just two. So on the XB Evo you can switch between a white and amber daytime running light, and you can also switch between a standard fade off effect or a sequential turn signal. That is a huge deal because you want the headlight to look great on the front of your truck no matter how it is outfitted. You can grab the XB Evo LED headlights direct from Morimoto if you want to read their full spec sheet as well.
Tri-Beam Technology and the Projector
We showed you a bit of the light output, but the new projector deserves a deeper look. On low beam you get a low beam assist, and below it there is a reflector high beam assist. This assists the brightness of the light coming from the projector inside. It is an intelligent way to get the most fullness of light output along with that punch of light down the road. The projector inside is a bi-LED projector, so it does both low beam and high beam, while the reflector assists to get more brightness down the road.
One of the coolest things about these headlights is the all-new tri-beam technology. There is still a bi-LED projector in the middle that produces a very good low beam and a very good high beam, but the reflectors on the top and bottom are completely unique. These are side-specific reflector optics that add targeted light to the left side and the right side of the road, building a beam pattern that feels broader, stronger, and more complete. The result is not just more light, it is smarter light. Compared to OEM LED headlights, which are compliant but narrow and relatively weak, the XB Evo system delivers a much stronger performance profile with an active high beam that builds the foundation with even greater reach and spread. If you want to explore other applications, browse our full lineup of LED headlight assemblies.
Lab-Tested Brightness Scores
We had these tested with the Morimoto multi-point testing system, and the numbers make the case better than words. This is one of the best ways to compare one headlight to another, giving you a benchmark for low beam, high beam, width, and an overall rating.
The stock halogen F-150 headlight scored a 1.8 overall. Its low beam distance zone score was only a 0.5, the high beam was a 3.1, and the width score was a 2.0. Honestly, that is trash. The OEM LED did a lot better, and it is one of the best OEM LED headlights you can get today: a 5.2 low beam distance zone score, a 5.9 high beam, a 12.1 width score, and an overall rating of 7.2. The old Morimoto XB earned a 2.1 low beam zone score, a 4.8 high beam, a 1.9 width score, and an overall rating of 4.0. The new XB Evo delivered a low beam distance zone score of 6.2, a high beam of 8.1, a width score of 6.7, and an overall rating of 7.7. Add the Supercharged Driver and the overall rating jumps to 8.7 (a 6.6 low beam distance zone score, an 11.3 high beam, and an 8.0 width score). Those numbers make it the best aftermarket headlight you can buy for this truck.
Features You Do Not Normally See
Now let’s dive into things we do not generally see on aftermarket headlights, starting with a heater function. There is a patent-pending heater function that allows the internal temperature of the headlight to heat up to melt snow and ice if all conditions are met. All you do is flash your headlights four times to engage it. It responds by flashing back twice to let you know it is engaged. If it only flashes back once, that means not all conditions are met, maybe it is not cold enough outside.
Another comparison worth noting is how these look when off. The Hybrid headlight has black internals, while the XB Evo has a titanium shroud inside the housing. To us, the XB Evo just looks more defined when off. It looks more aftermarket in a good way, like it was meant to be there, an OEM-plus vibe.
Morimoto also improved the front coating. These have a UV-resistant hard coating that surpasses Toyota’s standard, which is the highest and best standard for a UV-resistant hard coating on the front of the lens. That means if you park outside for years in bright sun, the front face of your headlight will hold up. No sun damage, fading, or cracking like you get from cheaper aftermarket headlights.
The Supercharged Driver Add-On
One thing you may notice is that these are only driven at about 50% brightness. It sounds weird, but Morimoto is sandbagging these headlights because they would be too bright and no longer in compliance if made any brighter. So if you are running your headlights off-road only and want to tap into that extra potential, you can opt for the Supercharged Driver, which essentially slaps onto the backside of these headlights to give you much more brightness.
This is no longer DOT compliant once you install the Supercharged Driver, so it is for off-road use only, but it is still a really cool option. If you want the full potential of brightness and still maintain that 5-year warranty, you can. And I saved the best for last: the startup feature. It does nothing for performance, and honestly a lot of the reason you would upgrade the headlights on your F-150 is just because it looks cool. A lot of aftermarket headlights have a startup feature, but this one is so cool you have to check it out. On the Hybrid version that startup feature is not unlocked unless you buy the additional Supercharged Driver, slap it on the backside, and it will then unlock the startup feature even on the Hybrid.
Final Thoughts
We breezed through the functions, features, and light outputs, but when we say these are the best, they truly are. They are some of the best and brightest headlights you can ever mount on a 2021 to 2023 F-150, and they are more comfortable to drive with than anything we have tested on these trucks. The new beam pattern uses the left side of the road far better than the old lights and a bunch of other options out there that just cut off that dip on the left, and it still does not blind oncoming drivers. If you have been waiting for the right F-150 LED headlight upgrade, this is the one we would put on our own trucks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Morimoto XB Evo and XB Evo Hybrid for the F-150?
The XB Evo Hybrid is the entry-level version with fewer features and a lower price, while the XB Evo is the top-tier version with all features unlocked, including the switchable DRL and turn signal modes.
Do the XB Evo and XB Evo Hybrid have the same brightness?
Yes, according to the transcript, both versions share the same light output, width, and beam pattern since they use the same bi-LED projector.
Can the DRL color be changed on these headlights?
The XB Evo can switch between white and amber DRL and between a standard fade-off effect or sequential turn signal using four keys on the back. The Hybrid version only has a white DRL with no switch option.
What is the heater function on the Morimoto XB Evo headlights?
It is a patent-pending heater function that heats the internal temperature of the headlight to melt snow and ice when conditions allow. You engage it by flashing your headlights four times, and the headlight flashes back twice to confirm activation.
What does the Supercharged Driver do for the XB Evo headlights?
The Supercharged Driver is an add-on that plugs into the back of the headlight to unlock significantly more brightness, raising the overall test rating from 7.7 to 8.7. It is intended for off-road use only since it makes the headlight no longer DOT compliant, but the 5-year warranty is still maintained.
Meet the Experts Behind Headlight Revolution
Chris Nelson – Founder
Before founding Headlight Revolution in 2011, Chris worked as an automotive install technician specializing in lighting, sound systems, and engine performance parts. He has personally tested thousands of lighting products and works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation.
Josh Beberg – Content Production Manager
Josh leads hands-on testing and content production at Headlight Revolution. From beam pattern comparisons to real-world installations, he works directly with lighting engineers to ensure every review is grounded in measured results, not marketing specs.
