by Joshua Thomas
LED pods will help improve visibility when driving, but unlike LED bars, they are much smaller but still very useful at illuminating the road ahead.
Although LED pods produce less light and brightness than LED bars, they are usually easier to install, and one can find more creative applications for them.
However, one issue is that new buyers often get overwhelmed by the different technical terms and labels, making it difficult to choose the right model.
This LED pod review will help you make an informed buying decision by providing a list of the top offers in the market and a buying guide that shows you the crucial factors to consider.
Contents
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Ambother 8542100737 (Best Overall) |
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 | 2. Auxbeam 77718286AX (Most Compatible) |
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 | 3. Auxbeam 70019382 (Best for the Money) |
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 | 4. Moso LED 8542100633 (Best Round) |
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 | 5. Ambother A-LB-01 (Best Waterproof) |
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 | 6. Auxbeam Side Shooter (Best Combo Beam) |
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 | 7. Nilight 60001SB (Best Adjustable) |
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 | 8. Nilight ZH302 (Easiest to Install) |
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 | 9. Bunker Indust 1230FC2 (Flush Mount) |
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Ambother 8542100737 is our best overall product thanks to the high enough light output with a perfect color temperature, long service life, and an excellent beam pattern.
The LED pods provide a total of 12,800 lumens, which combines with a 6,000K color temperature to ensure you get the brightest and most natural light output.
For the service life, these pods last up to 100,000 hours to ensure it will be many years before you need to replace them.
Additionally, they feature a perfect beam pattern with both spot and flood beams. The 15-degree spot and 170-degree flood beams provide far and wide enough illumination for even better visibility.
With these lights, you will also never have to worry about overheating as they have a rapid cooling system that uses thin radiator fins. And these are universal LED pods that you can use on almost any vehicle.
The two pods consume a combined 120 watts. They might seem quite power-hungry, but most vehicles should still handle them, provided they have good batteries. It would also be good to switch between flood and spot beam, but this is still not a deal-breaker.
Pros
Cons
Whether you want something for use on your ATV, UTV, SUV, or any kind of truck, the Auxbeam 77718286AX will be perfect as these are widely compatible LED pods.
Also, assuming all you need for your vehicle is a simple set of LED flood pods that do not cost much, these will be ideal lights for you. They come as a set of two pods, with each producing a 60-degree flood beam pattern. Better yet, the mounting brackets are up to 45 degrees adjustable to make it easy to change the direction of the beam.
These pods are a perfect addition for off-roading, boating, and even heavy-duty equipment as they are also quite versatile. They are well-made and feature aluminum housing with stainless steel mounting brackets.
Each pod comes with six pieces of 3-Watt LED chips to give it a total consumption of 18 Watts. Auxbeam rates their working life at 50,000 hours and an IP67 waterproof rating for use in any weather. Also, they have a highly efficient cooling system to prevent overheating and heat damage.
The downside is that they are not the brightest pods in this review because they deliver at most 1,800 Lumens each. However, this is still enough for most applications. Also, they produce a flood beam only, but it should be good enough for driving in different conditions.
Pros
Cons
Some lighting applications need a unique approach, so if you find yourself desiring more than the standard 2 pieces in an LED pod package, then here's a 4-pack. For a pack of 4 lights, the Auxbeam 70019382 is quite affordable, ensuring you get great value for money.
Each of these pods features 6 LED chips and consumes 18 Watts of power. They can also accept different voltages from 9 to 32 Volts, making it possible to install various vehicles or locations.
The heat will never be an issue with these lights as they have a better heat dissipation that uses aluminum alloy heat sinks. Better yet, these have a durable aluminum body that will last longer and help with dissipating the heat.
Because the lights will use an adjustable mounting bracket, you can quickly adjust the beam's direction.
Cons include the availability of just a flood beam to light up only short and wide areas, as well as the lower 1,800 lumens output of each. However, for their price, both issues should still not be the deal-breakers.
Pros
Cons
Most of the LED pods in this review have been either square or rectangular, but other options like the pleasant round-shaped Moso LED 8542100633 can also work well.
These round pods have 48 LED chips that deliver an impressive output of 14,400 Lumens at 6,000 Kelvins for superior light quality. With the higher IP68 rating, you can be sure this light will be effective at keeping water and dust out. Also, these are shockproof LED pods.
Besides the two round 5-inch pods, the package will include all the necessary installation hardware. They also tolerate 9 to 32 volts, making them ideal for versatile use as they can fit a wide variety of vehicle types.
These LED pods are quite durable, thanks to the aluminum alloy housing. What's more, the mounting brackets are equally durable, and you can adjust them to focus the beam in different directions.
While these lights are relatively pricier, this is because of their superior quality, and you can be sure they will give you good value for money.
Pros
Cons
With an IP68 rating, the Ambother A-LB-01 is complete water, dust, and shockproof pair of LED pods that you can use with no issues in any environment. And they also have a durable die-cast aluminum shell to ensure long service life.
Also, with a working voltage of 10 to 30 volts, they are versatile lights you can use on a wide variety of vehicles. Better yet, you never have to worry about the lights overheating as they have a rapid cooling system that makes use of thin radiator fins.
You will never be restricted to just one lighting mode with these pods as they allow you to choose from 6 different modes that include white and amber lights.
Switching between different light modes is not very smooth, but the good news is that you still end up with the output you want. While some users might not like that they draw less power than advertised, this is more positive than a con because they still produce lots of light as it makes them more energy efficient.
Pros
Cons
By combining a 30-degree spot beam with a 60-degree flood beam, the Auxbeam Side Shooter ensures you never miss anything when driving as it illuminates both wide and far out.
These lights do not disappoint when it comes to the construction as they feature a highly durable die-cast aluminum housing and PC lenses that will not scratch or shutter easily.
Because they use some adjustable mounting brackets, you can adjust the beam's direction easily, hence making these pods super convenient. What's more, they have an efficient cooling system, provide more stable lighting, and are highly energy-efficient.
The few drawbacks of these lights include that they provide only one light mode and do not harness. Luckily, the white light is often what many motorists need most, and the harness is quite cheap and easy to get.
Pros
Cons
With the adjustable mounting brackets that come with the Nilight 60001SB LED pods, you can easily focus the light in different directions as you can adjust them by up to 45 degrees.
These pods include some die-cast aluminum alloy cooling fins that cool them down to ensure they serve you for a long time. And to make them even more durable, they feature a rigid military-grade aluminum construction.
You can use these lights on a wide variety of vehicles as they can work under different voltages. Better yet, besides vehicles, they will be ideal for other household lighting applications like in the garage when working on your vehicle.
Because these lights provide a spot beam only, they illuminate far out but not very wide. However, you should still get decent light coverage for safe driving.
Pros
Cons
Whether you have installed similar LED pods before or not, you can be confident that you will have an easy time setting up the Nilight ZH302. What makes them some of the easiest to install is that they come with sliding mounting brackets to allow for an easy fit.
The overall construction is also more durable than most others in their price range. They have an aluminum housing, top-quality LED chips, and a PC lens.
Because the lights have a perfect beam pattern that combines flood and spot beams, you can be sure of getting the ideal light spread for excellent illumination. Better yet, the light has an excellent color temperature of between 6,000 and 6,500K.
Despite feeling a little weak, the mounts should still hold up well as they are aluminum. Furthermore, they help keep the weight of the lights down.
Pros
Cons
The Bunker Indust 1230FC2 is a pair of flush-mounted LED pods that will give you more flexibility when it comes to installation as you can install them freely in any position you desire.
Besides the flexible flush mount design, the two pods in the package deliver a combined 12,000 lumens, making them bright enough for use in any driving condition. These lights can also accommodate 9 to 30 volts, making them suitable for various vehicles and devices.
You will never have to worry about water and dust when driving as they have an IP68 waterproof rating. What's more, these pods have built-in oversize heat sinks to ensure they will never overheat.
With these pods, you get wider and longer illumination distance as they have perfect combo beam with 30-degree spot and 170-degree flood LEDs.
The housing is a lightweight plastic material, but it is surprisingly quite sturdy and should last a long time. Better yet, the small gauge wiring should hold up well with proper installation.
Pros
Cons
The first issue that you need to consider is the LED pod's compatibility with your vehicle. This includes power availability and how easy it is to run cables to the light.
A typical LED pod's power needs can range anywhere from 20 to 120 watts, so you need to make sure that you have enough power available from your alternator.
LED pod light has two main characteristics, which are brightness and temperature. Brightness is the light's intensity, and it is measured in lumens. You will find LED pods with lumen ratings from slightly over 1,000 to 10,000 lumens, and more.
Color temperature refers to how warm or cool the white light appears, and it's measured in Kelvins. Lower temperatures around 2,000K appear yellowish or orange, while higher temperature ones from 6,000K and above offer the bluish and bright white light that LED pods are known to deliver.
Another important consideration is the LED pod mounting options and a corresponding spot on the vehicle where the light will fit perfectly.
Most LED pods come with mounting brackets that make it easy to mount on most metal surfaces. Most lights also make it possible to adjust the light in different positions, while some don't.
It's left for you to check out these features and make sure the light that you're about to buy will fit in where you want. Flush-mount models like the Bunker Indust 1230FC2 offer more flexible installation as they can fit almost anywhere.
The beam pattern is the shape of the light that comes from the LED pod, and it determines the visibility the light offers. Some LED pods offer two beams, while others have just one, so it's left for you to choose what you like best.
A spot beam is a narrow beam with a 15 to 30-degree angle. Its main advantage is that it produces a more focused light that travels farther into the distance.
Flood beams, however, have wider angles of up to 170 degrees, and they offer a broader illumination for the immediate surrounding.
If you can't choose between the two types, simply get a LED pod with a combo beam like the Ambother A-LB-01 and many others on our list.
LED pods conventionally get installed externally, so they must have enough protection from the weather. The protection level is given as the IP or Ingress Protection rating, with higher numbers meaning a better-protected device.
Therefore, with LED pods, you should look for IP67 or IP68-rated products, with IP68 rated pods like the Bunker Indust 1230FC2 being the better-protected product.
A manufacturer warranty shows how much confidence the company has in its product. Therefore, a longer warranty should also give you some assurance the product will last.
LED pod manufacturers offer everything from a 30-day guarantee to multi-year warranties. It is up to you to choose between a lower-priced product with a shorter guarantee and a higher-priced one with a long warranty.
Nilight - 60001F-B Led Pods 2PCS 18W 1260LM Flood Led Off Road Lights Super Bright - Walmart Link
Auxbeam 4" LED Pods 18W Flood LED Light Bar 1800lm Driving Light Off Road Lights for SUV - Walmart Link
BEAMCORN Led Light Bar 4 Inch Led Pods 120W 12000Lm Waterproof Cube Spot Flood Combo Off - Walmart Link
Nilight - 60001S-C LED Light Bar 4PCS 18W 1260lm Spot LED Pods Driving Fog Light Off Road - Walmart Link
LED Pods, AAIWA 4 Inch 120W LED Light Bar, 2PCS 12000LM Spot Flood Combo Off Road Light - Walmart Link
LED Pods, Moso LED 5 inch Dually Sided Side Shooter Quad Row LED Fog Lights LED Spot - Walmart Link
Flush Mount LED Pods, Nirider 2PCS 84W Bumper Lights 5 Inch Spot Beam Driving Lights LED - Walmart Link
LED Pods, Turboo 4 Inch 60W LED Light Bar, 12000LM Spot Flood Combo Off Road Light Triple - Walmart Link
AUTOSAVER88 5D LED Pods Light Bar, Round 4" 60W 6000LM Spot Off Road Super Bright - Walmart Link
the Auxbeam Side Shooter - Walmart Link
The Bunker Indust 1230FC2 - Walmart Link
the Bunker Indust 1230FC2 - Walmart Link
Nilight - 60001F-B Led Pods 2PCS 18W 1260LM Flood Led Off Road Lights Super Bright - eBay Link
Auxbeam 4" LED Pods 18W Flood LED Light Bar 1800lm Driving Light Off Road Lights for SUV - eBay Link
BEAMCORN Led Light Bar 4 Inch Led Pods 120W 12000Lm Waterproof Cube Spot Flood Combo Off - eBay Link
Nilight - 60001S-C LED Light Bar 4PCS 18W 1260lm Spot LED Pods Driving Fog Light Off Road - eBay Link
LED Pods, AAIWA 4 Inch 120W LED Light Bar, 2PCS 12000LM Spot Flood Combo Off Road Light - eBay Link
LED Pods, Moso LED 5 inch Dually Sided Side Shooter Quad Row LED Fog Lights LED Spot - eBay Link
Flush Mount LED Pods, Nirider 2PCS 84W Bumper Lights 5 Inch Spot Beam Driving Lights LED - eBay Link
LED Pods, Turboo 4 Inch 60W LED Light Bar, 12000LM Spot Flood Combo Off Road Light Triple - eBay Link
AUTOSAVER88 5D LED Pods Light Bar, Round 4" 60W 6000LM Spot Off Road Super Bright - eBay Link
the Auxbeam Side Shooter - eBay Link
The Bunker Indust 1230FC2 - eBay Link
the Bunker Indust 1230FC2 - eBay Link
There is no doubt that LED pods will be handy to have in your vehicle as, besides illumination, they add to its aesthetic appeal. Like any other vehicle light, you still need to find the best LED pods to ensure good service and value for money.
While every option on our list is top-notch quality, the Ambother 8542100737 is our best overall as it offers a super-long service life of up to 100,000, a perfect combo beam, a universal fit, and much more.
For the motorists looking to get the best value for their money, the more affordable but still top quality Auxbeam 70019382 should be a perfect buy.
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About Joshua Thomas
Joshua Thomas just simply loves cars and willing to work on them whenever there's chance... sometimes for free.
He started CarCareTotal back in 2017 from the advices of total strangers who witnessed his amazing skills in car repairs here and there.
His goal with this creation is to help car owners better learn how to maintain and repair their cars; as such, the site would cover alot of areas: troubleshooting, product recommendations, tips & tricks.
Joshua received Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at San Diego State University.
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