Short answer
In our heat lamp test of 30% films, HITEK Ceramic Ultra blocked 96% of the heat, nearly identical to Autobahn’s top-of-the-line Ceramic i3+ (97%) and well ahead of Autobahn Ceramic i3 (88%), usually at a lower price than i3+. HITEK Ceramic Black blocked 80%. The lamp put 240 BTU through with no film; Ceramic Ultra let 9 through, i3+ 7, i3 28 and Ceramic Black 47. The published specs agree: Ceramic Ultra lists 96% infrared rejection and up to 71% total solar energy rejection.
Heat test results
We put a 30% sample of each film in front of the same heat lamp with a solar power meter behind it, so every film had about the same darkness. With no film, the meter read 240 BTU per hour per square foot. Lower readings mean less heat getting through.
| Film (30% shade) | Meter reading (BTU/hr/ft²) | Heat blocked |
|---|---|---|
| No film (lamp only) | 240 | – |
| Autobahn Ceramic i3+ | 7 | 97% |
| HITEK Ceramic Ultra | 9 | 96% |
| Autobahn Ceramic i3 | 28 | 88% |
| HITEK Ceramic Black | 47 | 80% |
All four samples were 30% films, within about 2–3 points of visible light transmission of each other. Heat blocked = (240 − reading) ÷ 240. One sample of each film under the same lamp and meter at Texas Tinted; a lamp test is a fair side-by-side comparison, not a lab rating.
Autobahn Ceramic i3+7 BTU · 97% blocked 
HITEK Ceramic Ultra9 BTU · 96% blocked 
Autobahn Ceramic i328 BTU · 88% blocked 
HITEK Ceramic Black47 BTU · 80% blocked
What it means: HITEK Ceramic Ultra and Autobahn Ceramic i3+ are within 2 BTU of each other, a very small difference, and Ceramic Ultra let through about a third of the heat that Ceramic i3 did. If you want i3+ level heat rejection, Ceramic Ultra gets you there, usually for less.
Watch the test
What the meters measure, in plain terms
The heat (BTU) meter sits behind the film under a heat lamp and shows how much heat energy gets through. Lower is better: it’s the closest thing to feeling the sun through the glass on your arm.
The light and infrared meter shines a light through the film and reads two things. VLT (visible light transmission) is how dark the film is: a lower number means darker. IR is how much infrared, the part of sunlight you feel as heat, gets blocked: a higher number means more heat kept out.
Put together, the test answers the question drivers actually care about: at the same darkness, which film keeps more heat out?
Published specs side by side
| Film | Infrared rejection | Total solar energy rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HITEK Ceramic Ultra | 96% at 1025 nm | Up to 71% | HITEK’s flagship |
| HITEK Ceramic Black | About 78–85% | Ask for the data sheet | Deep black look |
| HITEK Ceramic IR | 75% | Ask for the data sheet | Entry ceramic |
| Autobahn Ceramic i3+ | Up to 99% at 1025 nm | Up to 74% | Autobahn’s top line |
| Autobahn Ceramic i3 | Up to 93% at 1025 nm | Up to 71% | Three-layer ceramic |
| Autobahn Black Ceramic | Up to 89% at 1025 nm | Up to 63% | Black look |
Manufacturers’ published “up to” values (HITEK, Autobahn). Values change with shade, so compare films at the same darkness.
On paper, Ceramic Ultra and Autobahn’s Ceramic i3 land at the same total heat rejection, with Ceramic Ultra listing higher infrared rejection. Autobahn’s top i3+ line publishes slightly higher numbers than both.
How to read a tint test
- Compare the same shade. A 20% film will always beat a 35% film on a meter. Line up shades first.
- A heat lamp isn’t the sun. Lamp tests are a fair side-by-side comparison, but the numbers aren’t a lab rating.
- IR is only part of the heat. Visible light carries heat too, which is why total solar energy rejected is the best single number. See our TSER guide.
- Ask to see it. We’re happy to run the meters on film samples at the shop so you can see the difference yourself.
Which should you choose?
If you want top-tier heat rejection at a lower price, HITEK Ceramic Ultra is our pick. Both brands back their ceramic films with lifetime warranties.
HITEK backs its ceramic window films with a nationwide lifetime warranty, and any HITEK dealer can help with a claim, not just the shop that installed it. That matters if you move or travel. Find a dealer on HITEK’s dealer map. Ask your installer for the exact terms of the line you choose.
See the price of each HITEK line for your exact vehicle in the instant quote, or call or text (832) 492-5314.
More: HITEK window tint review, XPEL vs HITEK, best ceramic tint brands.
Frequently asked questions
Is HITEK better than Autobahn?
In our heat lamp test of 30% films, HITEK Ceramic Ultra blocked 96% of the heat, nearly the same as Autobahn Ceramic i3+ at 97% and well ahead of Autobahn Ceramic i3 at 88%. Ceramic Ultra is usually priced below i3+.
What is the HITEK equivalent of Autobahn i3+?
HITEK Ceramic Ultra. In our test it let 9 BTU through versus 7 for i3+, out of 240 with no film.
What is a BTU meter tint test?
A heat meter behind the film, under a heat lamp, shows how much heat energy passes through. The lower the reading, the more heat the film keeps out.
What do VLT and IR mean on a tint meter?
VLT is how much visible light passes through, so lower means darker. IR is how much infrared heat is blocked, so higher means more heat kept out.
Can I see the films tested in person?
Yes. Ask at the shop and we’ll run the meters on samples so you can see the readings yourself.
Ready for cooler glass?
Get an instant price online any time, or call or text us. Shop hours: Mon–Sat 9 AM–8 PM, Sun 9 AM–7 PM at 2401 Fountain View Dr, Floor 1, Houston, TX 77057.