LED vs halogen
Halogen delivers excellent color rendering and instant brightness, but consumes 4–6× more energy per lumen and generates significant heat. A quality LED matches halogen visually while lasting 10–20× longer.
Side-by-side comparison
| Property | LED | Halogen |
|---|---|---|
| Efficacy | 60–150 lm/W | 15–25 lm/W |
| Lifespan | 15,000–50,000 h | 1,000–3,000 h |
| CRI | 80–95+ (choose 90+ for best match) | ~100 |
| Color temperature | 2700 K–6500 K (wide choice) | 2,900–3,200 K only |
| Heat output | Low — cool to touch | Very high — 200–500 °C surface |
| Fire risk | Minimal | Real — must maintain fixture clearances |
| Dimmable | Yes (LED dimmer required) | Yes (standard incandescent dimmer) |
| Bare-hand handling | Safe | No — skin oils cause failure |
Fixture-by-fixture replacement
| Fixture / base | LED replacement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recessed downlight — GU10 | GU10 LED | Direct drop-in at 230 V |
| Low-voltage spotlight — MR16 (GU5.3) | MR16 LED 12 V | Verify 12 V driver is LED-compatible; old magnetic transformers often need replacing |
| Canopy / oven hood — G9 | G9 LED capsule | Direct drop-in at 230 V; check enclosed-fixture rating |
| Display / desk lamp — G4 | G4 LED 12 V | Requires LED-compatible 12 V driver |
Verdict
Choose LED when replacing halogen. A CRI 90+ LED at 2700–3000 K is visually indistinguishable from halogen, uses 75–85% less energy, lasts 10–20× longer, and produces far less heat. The only watch-out is driver compatibility for 12 V MR16/G4 low-voltage fixtures.