Morimoto XB vs. AlphaRex Nova: The Ultimate F-150 Headlight Showdown
Share
The 2015–2020 Ford F-150 is a fantastic truck, but Ford dropped the ball on one thing: The Lighting.
Unless you shelled out $60k for a Lariat 502A or Platinum, you likely have dim, yellow halogen headlights. They look cheap, and frankly, they make driving on unlit highways dangerous.
You want the modern "C-Clamp" LED look. You want crisp white projectors.
This brings you to the two titans of the aftermarket: Morimoto (the established king) and AlphaRex (the innovative challenger).
Both offer full LED replacement assemblies that transform the front of your truck. Both require removing the grille to install. But which one has the better beam pattern? Which one has the cooler start-up animation? And is the Morimoto really worth the extra cash?
In this guide, we put the Morimoto XB and the AlphaRex Nova head-to-head to help you decide which lights belong on your build.
Compare Lighting Upgrades
Bulb Swap or Full Assembly?
|
Upgrade Type |
Cost |
Install Difficulty |
Visual Impact |
Best For |
|
LED Bulb Replacement |
$ (Low) |
Easy. Twist-in. |
Medium. Whiter light, but same housing look. |
Budget. Just want to see better at night. |
|
Full Assembly (AlphaRex) |
$$ (Mid) |
Hard. Bumper removal usually required. |
High. Adds DRL strips & projectors. |
Style. Getting the "Lariat" look on an XLT. |
|
Premium Assembly (Morimoto) |
$$$ (High) |
Hard. Bumper removal required. |
Max. OEM+ quality; 5-year warranty. |
Performance. The best beam pattern money can buy. |
|
Fog Light Pods |
$ (Low) |
Easy. Reach under bumper. |
High. Yellow/White pods cut through rain. |
Utility. Replaces useless factory fogs. |
Frequently Asked Questions (Lighting)
Will LED turn signals cause "Hyperflash"?
Yes, unless prevented. LEDs draw less power than halogens, tricking your truck into thinking the bulb is burnt out (causing it to blink fast). You have two fixes:
- Buy bulbs with Built-In Resistors (like Lasfit).
- Use FORScan (software) to program the truck to ignore the bulb outage signal.
Do I have to take the bumper off to change headlights?
To change the Housing? Yes. On the 2015-2020 F-150, you must remove the grille and the fender flares/valance to unbolt the headlight assembly. It takes about 1-2 hours.
To change just the Bulbs? Usually No. You can reach the bulbs through the wheel well liner, though it is tight.
What is the "AlphaRex vs. Morimoto" difference?
Morimoto is widely considered the premium benchmark (brighter output, OEM-grade materials, high price). AlphaRex is the strong challenger (often more aggressive styling, "Start-Up" animations, slightly lower price point). Both are massive upgrades over stock halogens.
See what you've been missing.
Upgrade to crisp, modern LED output. Shop our verified collection of [2015–2020 F-150 LED Headlights & Bulbs].