We just got our hands on the new Profile Pixel RGBWA DRL LED boards over at LED Concepts, and we could not wait to show them off. These are one of the coolest ways we have seen to upgrade a stock daytime running light, and after spending some time with them on the bench we came away impressed. If you have ever wanted full color changing daytime running lights without giving up a legal white mode or a proper turn signal, these boards check all the boxes. In this spotlight we will walk through how they work, the modes we tested, and what makes them worth a look for most modern makes and models.
What Are the Profile Pixel RGBWA DRL LED Boards?
At their heart, the Profile Pixel RGBWA DRL LED boards are designed to replace the OEM daytime running light inserts inside your headlights. Instead of just having a basic white daytime running light, these boards add full color changing RGB function as well as a switchback turn signal function that of course is amber. That means the same board handles your daytime running light duty, your color changing show, and your turn signal, all in one clean package that lives inside the headlight housing.
We think of these as a natural step up from a plain white DRL. If you have browsed our RGB options before, you will feel right at home. For anyone shopping around, these fit within our broader lineup of DRL upgrades, and you can see similar products in the RGB & Switchback LED DRL Boards category.
True RGBW Chip With Serious Brightness
The first thing we noticed when we powered them up is how bright they are. These boards are based on a true RGBW chip rated at three watts of power per chip. That extra dedicated white output is a big deal because it means the white mode looks clean and bright, not the washed out pastel white you sometimes get when a board tries to fake white by mixing red, green, and blue. With a true RGBW chip you get real color when you want it and real white when you need it.
During our testing the color transitions were smooth and the output stayed strong across the spectrum. Whether we dialed in a deep blue, a bright red, or a cool white, the boards held their own in the daylight, which is exactly what you want from a daytime running light that is meant to be seen.
Bluetooth Control Through the Morimoto XB App
All of that color changing magic runs through Morimoto’s XB Bluetooth app. We had these boards linked up with the XBT app on an iPhone 8, and as we changed the app the color of the daytime running light board inside the headlights changed right along with it. It is genuinely that simple. This is the same app we use with all of our RGB products, and it has picked up tons of features and recent updates that make it a pleasure to run.
One of the standout points is that you can have up to 12 different channels with this thing, which is pretty crazy for a DRL setup. That kind of flexibility means you can group and control multiple RGB products together if you have other Morimoto RGB lighting on the vehicle. If you want to read up on the hardware behind the app, the Morimoto XBT Bluetooth RGB Controller is the brain that ties everything together.
Legal White Mode When the App Is Off
Here is a detail we really appreciate. When the app is turned on, you have full control of the color changing function. But when we slid the brightness bar all the way to the bottom or simply turned the app off, the RGB shut off and the boards defaulted back to their normal white mode so you can drive down the street legally. That is exactly how it should work. You get to play with color when you want, and the moment the app is off, the boards behave like a proper white daytime running light.
This default behavior takes the worry out of running RGB lighting on a daily driver. You do not have to remember to switch anything back before you leave the driveway, because the safe, legal white is the fallback state.
Dim White Mode for Daytime Running Light Function
When the boards are in their white mode, they also have a dim mode. This dim white is meant for the daytime running light function specifically, for when the headlights are actually turned on. It is a smart touch because your DRLs are supposed to step down or dim when your main headlights come on, and these boards handle that transition on their own.
We tested the transition from full white to dim white and it was clean, giving the boards a proper OEM style behavior that plays nicely with how your headlights are meant to function.
Switchback Amber Turn Signal
Rounding out the feature set is the amber turn signal, which is a switchback. This function interrupts both the white and the RGB when you use your turn signal. When we activated the signal, the amber took over, and when the signal stopped, the white or the RGB returned to whatever color it was set to previously. We ran this test with the app on and off, and it behaved the same way every time. Whatever color you had running, the turn signal interrupts it, then it returns to that exact color once the signal ends.
If the whole world of switchback and RGB lighting is new to you, we put together a Complete Guide to Switchback and RGB Lighting that breaks down the concepts and terminology so you can shop with confidence.
Fitment for Most Modern Makes and Models
One of the biggest strengths of the Profile Pixel platform is how broadly it applies. These boards are available for most modern makes and models, cars and trucks from Dodge, Toyota, Ford, and Chevy, you name it. Because they are designed around replacing the OEM daytime running light inserts, the concept carries across a huge range of vehicles.
If you want to see how the Profile Pixel and related DRL boards look on specific applications, there are a few examples worth checking out. We stock the Lexus IS Profile Pixel Switchback DRL Boards for that platform, and if you are after a sequential style board, the Universal Profile Pivot Sequential DRL Boards are another option in the same family. For a popular muscle car application, you can also look at the Camaro Profile Pixel DRL Boards at Headlight Revolution.
When Can You Get Them?
We are excited about these boards, and so are the folks at LED Concepts. At the time of our look, the team announced they were looking forward to start shipping the Profile Pixel RGBWA DRL LED boards by the end of October. If you have been waiting for a color changing DRL upgrade that keeps a legal white mode and a proper amber switchback turn signal, this is the release to keep on your radar.
Our Take After Testing
After running these boards through their paces, we came away confident that this is one of the more complete DRL upgrades out there. The true RGBW chip gives you real brightness and real color separation. The Morimoto XB app makes control effortless with up to 12 channels to work with. The automatic default to a legal white mode when the app is off means you never have to sweat compliance on your commute. The dim white mode handles the headlights-on scenario like a factory setup should, and the switchback amber turn signal ties it all together by interrupting whatever color you are running and returning to it afterward.
For enthusiasts who want to personalize the front end of their vehicle while keeping everything functional and street legal, the Profile Pixel RGBWA DRL LED boards are exactly the kind of upgrade we love to test and install. We will be keeping a close eye on availability as these roll out across more makes and models.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vehicles fit the Profile Pixel RGBWA DRL LED boards?
According to the video, these boards are available for most modern makes and models including Dodge, Toyota, Ford, and Chevy.
What do these boards replace?
They replace the OEM daytime running light inserts inside the headlights, adding full RGB color changing function instead of a basic white DRL.
What kind of LED chip do they use?
The boards are based on a true RGBW chip rated at three watts of power per chip.
How do you control the colors?
They link up with Morimoto’s XB Bluetooth app on a smartphone, allowing full control of the color changing function with up to 12 different channels.
How does the turn signal function work?
The boards include a switchback amber turn signal that interrupts the white or RGB DRL color when activated, then returns to the previous color once the signal stops.
Meet the Experts Behind The Retrofit Source
Tyler Jordan – Technical Writer
Tyler works directly with the TRS product R&D team, bringing over a decade of automotive aftermarket lighting experience to every article. An avid enthusiast with hundreds of personal installations under his belt, his content is built on hands-on knowledge from the workbench, not spec sheets.
Caleb Morgan – Marketing Manager
Caleb brings over a decade of automotive lighting industry experience and works with TRS customers daily on the front lines. With hundreds of personal lighting installations and a direct feedback loop from real buyers, his content addresses the questions and problems that actually matter.
