A game-changing headlamp. Now, all that's needed is support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
It's been a very long time since I've been so completely captivated with and blown away by a product. I don't write reviews often, but I am always willing to commend a product, service, or company on a job well done. In a world that seems to have become saturated with bland "solutions" to manufactured problems and stale products, it is becoming increasingly uncommon to encounter something that catches you completely off guard with how good it truly is and simply say, "Wow."
For the last several years, I've been using a precursor to this product design with outstanding results in two vehicles; the predecessor being a "switchback" design that jumps between two colours when turned on and off: cool white and amber yellow. When I initially purchased those fog lamps, I remember being equally impressed at their ability to switch colours on the fly. When it came time to install a set of fog lamps in a new vehicle, I found these: the latest-generation revision to my favourite headlamps. I have been consistently impressed with Fahren Termitor's products as I have them installed wherever applicable in my vehicles, so I had equally high expectations for these. What I wasn't anticipating, though, was just how far these fog lamps would exceed those already high expectations. Straight out of the box, these fog lamps impressed in both build quality and design. They're built to a seemingly industrial-grade level of quality; the whole package feels more akin to a durable, luxurious good rather than an automotive lighting component. Installation was a breeze, and the integrated CANBUS decoder on each light is a welcomed feature.
It's when you turn these lights on, though, that they *really* start to shine--pun intended. Immediately, I was impressed by the brightness and clarity of their vibrant luminescence. That was before I even opened the app which was, itself, my single greatest source of apprehension in making this upgrade. I was elated to learn that the majority of my concerns regarding the app were short-lived; however, that's not to say that the app is completely without fault.
Establishing a connection between my Android phone and two fog lamps proved to be a quick and seamless process; at least, initially. Upon first launch, the app almost immediately recognised both fog lamps and established a surprisingly stable connection. I tapped one of the built-in lighting presets, and the fog lamps responded to my touch with minimal latency; almost, but not quite, appearing to respond to real-time input. It was in this moment that I really began to be blown away by the performance of the whole package--and then realise its potential. Being able to variably configure colour, brightness, and everything in-between of your lights in real-time and on the fly is GENUINELY a game-changer. I cannot emphasise how impressive this functionality is, and how seamlessly executed its implementation is, especially for a first-generation release--at least, I'm not aware of any other product currently on the market that's either competing with this or frankly anywhere near this good.
With all of that being said, the app does have some incidental quirks that I would like to see ironed out through software patches. For whatever reason, the app will only establish a secure connection to the lights after being force closed and reopened, or from a first-time connection after a long period of nonuse. It struggles to stay connected or reconnect if I swipe home or out of the app then jump back into it. Admittedly, this is only an issue when app usage is disrupted for whatever reason, and it has no bearing on how well it works when connected.
The next thing that I would like to see is Android Auto/Apple CarPlay support, and preferably soon. As one might well imagine, controlling a car's headlights through a smartphone app might be a brilliant first step and all, but it comes with certain safety concerns. Sure, it might be wishful thinking to assume that everyone will simply pick a colour shade before setting off to drive, or that every person who buys these will pull off to the side of the road to change the light settings; however, these wishes are neither practical or pragmatic approaches, and at the end of the day, are exactly that--wishful thinking. Regardless of whether or not all safety protocols are heeded, they still defeat the very solution that these lights were created to solve--dynamically responsive lighting that can be adapted to changing road conditions. Other non-app switchback lights can be controlled by switching the fog lamps on and off; however, this is not a practical approach for more than two shades of light. My proposed solution addresses all of these concerns; it is simply to release an update to the app which supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Control over the lights is fully retained, and it becomes fully integrated into the infotainment system on vehicles with which Android Auto/Apple CarPlay is equipped. To me, this is would be a resounding boon across the board which would give users a focused way to control these lights hands-free.
All things considered, though, these are minor quibbles with an otherwise incredible product and all-new product category. These are extremely impressive headlamps and I am excited to see what's next in store. I can't recommend them enough and, with a few quality of life updates, they'd be pretty much perfect.
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