If you have been wanting to upgrade the headlights on your F-150 or your Raptor, the all new Morimoto XB Evo headlights are the brightest you can possibly buy. We have been testing headlights for well over a decade, and when we powered these up next to the original Morimoto XB, the difference was immediate and honestly a little shocking. In this comparison we are going to break down exactly why the new headlights blow away the old ones, and help you decide between the entry-level XB Evo Hybrid and the top-tier XB Evo for your 2015-2017 Ford F-150 or 2nd Gen Ford Raptor.
Years ago we said the Morimoto XB was the best and brightest headlight you could buy for these trucks, and at the time that was absolutely true. It beat out every competitor we could find online, and it gave the most comfortable driving experience by a wide margin. But driving with the old XB at night does not look anything as good as driving with the new Morimoto XB Evo headlights. If you want to see the full lineup, you can browse the Morimoto XB Evo headlights F-150 Raptor options and follow along as we go through every feature.
DRL Design and Color Options
Right away, the styling looks a little different. When you get up close, you will notice that the DRL looks a lot different than the DRLs on the older headlights. We are going to start with the DRL because it drives one of the biggest decisions between the two new versions. If you get the entry-level XB Evo Hybrid, you can only get it with a white daytime running light. It is at a more affordable price point, so if you like the white DRL and want to save some money, the Hybrid might be for you.
Back in the day with the old Morimoto XB, if you wanted a white daytime running light you essentially had to buy a completely different headlight. It was available after a while, but you had to choose amber or white at the time of purchase and you could not swap between them. On the new top-tier Morimoto XB Evo headlights, you get a couple of keys on the backside. Plugging these keys into the back controls the color of the daytime running light, so it can run in amber or in white whenever you want.
If you get really close, you will notice the surface texture on the DRL is different from the old to the new. When you turn the old one sideways or look at it from a different angle, it is not as bright, because the surface texture does not do as much work. The new headlights let you see that consistently bright DRL from any angle looking at the vehicle, which is genuinely impressive. All three of these have a true daytime running light that dims down at night so it is not blinding oncoming drivers, and all get really bright in parking light mode. If the white DRL is what you are after, the more affordable Morimoto XB Evo Hybrid headlights are worth a serious look.
Light Output and the D-Optic Projector
Let us be real about light output. The new projectors used in these headlights are insane. On the Morimoto XB Evo, the top dog version, there is also a high beam assist D-optic right in the center. This blows away any other headlight we have tested, and after doing this for about 14 years, we have not seen a headlight as bright as this. Even when we used to pull a headlight apart and do a full projector retrofit, that would not be as bright as what these deliver from the factory. You do not have to touch them.
The old Morimoto headlight had four projectors, and while some of us think more is better, that was not the case here. The new headlights only have two projectors, and one of them is that D-optic high beam assist. It has a little backlight, so when you are driving in low beam it is still illuminated, but it does not do much for performance in that mode. On the Hybrid version, the D-optic is not inside the housing. Instead, it is simply a piano black blank. You do not get that D projector, which is one more reason to step up to the higher end Morimoto XB Evo. The old XB had wider issues too, with less brightness and less comfortable driving. The new ones are a slightly different color at night, but more comfortable on the eyes.
Turn Signal Function
Now let us backtrack to the turn signals. With the old headlights, you could choose between a sequential turn signal or a standard blinking turn signal, but it was a little strange. There was a small connector on the backside that you could plug in or unplug to change the way the turn signal functioned. This is different now. The new headlights use four different plugs that go to the backside. So Morimoto changed the DRL color control on the XB Evo, and they also changed how the turn signal functions. Whether you get sequential or standard depends on the color and configuration you choose, and those plugs determine what features are applied on the headlight.
Styling When the Lights Are Off
These trucks are still cool, especially the Raptors, so styling matters. The old headlights were very blacked out when off, and they looked really cool that way. You can get that same kind of look with the Morimoto XB Evo Hybrid, which is mostly blacked out, though there is a little more detail up in the upper region compared to the fully blacked out old headlight.
The top-tier Morimoto XB Evo looks a lot different when off during the day. It has titanium on the shrouds around the projectors, plus that same cool styling detailing across the housing. It is more expensive than the Hybrid, substantially so, but for styling we would choose the XB Evo. If you are shopping across the whole category, it is worth comparing these to other Ford F-150 Raptor LED headlights to see just how far ahead the Evo sits.
Startup Animation and the Supercharged Driver
One of the nice things about the old headlights was the startup feature, and the new ones have that too. The XB Evo has a startup animation that looks epic. It does nothing for performance, but it looks really cool when you fire up your headlights. The Hybrid version does not have a startup feature out of the box, but there is a cool way to unlock it: the Supercharged Driver. It comes in a box with a red supercharge driver inside, and it is a separate SKU. So if you want to save money on the Hybrid and still unlock that startup animation later, you can.
Here is another really cool detail. The new headlights are only driven at about 50 percent brightness compared to what they could actually be. That sounds strange given how much brighter they already look than the old headlights, but they run at that level to stay compliant. If they were any brighter, they would exceed compliance. If you add the Supercharged Driver on the backside, you can get another 30 percent of brightness out of the headlight. At that point, though, they are no longer compliant, so it is strictly off-road use only. You can find the Morimoto Supercharged Drivers F-150 accessory separately if you want that extra output for off-road driving.
The Integrated Heater
The features on the new headlights just keep going. There is an integrated heater in the Morimoto XB Evo specifically, which heats the inside of the housing so the lens gets hot enough to prevent snow and ice buildup in inclement weather. To turn it on when all conditions are met, you flash your high beams four times and the headlight illuminates twice to confirm it is engaged. If it only flashes once, all conditions have not been met, maybe it was not cold enough outside.
This is not a gimmick, it is an important feature. LEDs in aftermarket headlights simply do not get hot enough to melt snow and ice on their own. They are very efficient, unlike an old halogen bulb that ran super hot and melted snow no matter how cold it was outside. Having grown up in Minnesota, we know firsthand how much of a real problem ice buildup can be, and being able to see clearly at night in bad weather is critical.
UV Coating and Warranty
A lot of aftermarket headlights are prone to sun fading, and after a while you can hardly see out of the lenses. The new Morimoto headlights avoid that problem because they use a new UV resistant hard coating on the front of the lenses. It surpasses the old Toyota standard, which set the bar for UV resistant coatings, so even after 5 or 6 years in the sun you should not have any issues. These carry a 5-year warranty, the same as the old ones, which is the leading warranty in this sector for an aftermarket replacement housing on your F-150 or Raptor.
Multi-Point Testing Scores
When we power these up on a table close to a wall, the difference in light output is complete. The projectors are all new and provide a lot more light, and there is more technical engineering going on. The projectors are vertically stacked, and unlike a lot of aftermarket headlights and the old Morimoto, the new ones properly account for projector separation so the output aligns correctly out at distance rather than wasting light. The old style dropped the beam and threw away the rest of the output, while the new projectors dip to avoid blinding oncoming drivers and then raise back up and across the road.
Morimoto’s own multi-point testing tells the story clearly. The original Morimoto XB scored an overall 5.8. The new XB Evo Hybrid scored a 6.3, and with the Supercharged Driver added, that jumped up to 8.3. The top-tier XB Evo achieved a high beam rating of 9.7, nearly a perfect score and far surpassing the old headlights along with factory halogen or LED options. If you want to shop the top-tier version directly, you can look at the Morimoto XB Evo and compare it against the Hybrid to pick the right fit for your build and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Morimoto XB Evo and XB Evo Hybrid headlights?
The XB Evo Hybrid is the entry-level version and only comes with a white DRL, while the top-tier XB Evo lets you choose amber or white DRL using swappable keys on the back. The XB Evo also has a D-optic high beam assist projector, which the Hybrid version lacks, showing a piano black blank in its place instead.
Can you change the turn signal function on the new Morimoto XB Evo headlights?
Yes, the new headlights use four different plugs on the back that let you choose between sequential or standard blinking turn signals, depending on which color and configuration you select, unlike the old XB headlights which used a single connector swap.
What is the Morimoto Supercharged Driver for the F-150 XB Evo Hybrid?
The Supercharged Driver is a separate SKU accessory that unlocks the startup animation feature on the Hybrid headlight and can boost brightness by about 30 percent. However, using it makes the headlight no longer DOT compliant, so it is intended for off-road use only.
Do the new Morimoto XB Evo headlights have a heater feature?
Yes, the XB Evo headlight has an integrated heater that warms the lens to prevent snow and ice buildup in cold weather. You activate it by flashing your high beams four times, and the headlight will flash twice to confirm it is engaged.
How do the new Morimoto XB Evo headlights compare in brightness testing to the old Morimoto XB?
In Morimoto’s multi-point testing, the original Morimoto XB scored an overall 5.8, while the new XB Evo Hybrid scored 6.3, and with the Supercharged Driver added it jumped to 8.3. The top-tier XB Evo scored a high beam rating of 9.7, nearly a perfect score, far surpassing the old headlights and factory halogen or LED headlights.
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.
