Tesla Model 3 adaptive headlights' high beam visibility tested on country roads and the highway

The long-awaited adaptive headlights feature whose equipment has been lying dormant in the new Model 3 Highland for a good while is now finally unlocked by Tesla with the latest 2024.2 software update. Unfortunately, it's only been granted regulatory approval in Europe for now, so the first recorded test of the Model 3 adaptive headlights is coming from a local Highland owner.

The automatic high beam adjustment test with the Model 3 was carried out in live traffic, both on the highway and in the countryside. Needless to say, these two locations place Tesla's Adaptive High Beam mode in completely different environment, presenting varying challenges. On the highway, the matrix headlights have to switch their pixels off much more frequently due to oncoming traffic, while in the darker countryside their reaction has to be fast and smooth when cornering.

As can be seen in the video tests below, the Model 3 adaptive high beams adjust their glare near instantaneously when detecting other headlights, and illuminate just before the oncoming vehicle. When passed, the Highland extends the high beam scope to its usual reach for better visibility ahead. At no point did a driver flash their beams to warn of blinding, which is another tangential confirmation that Tesla's new headlights function works as intended.

It remains to be seen if the US version of the 2024 Model 3 will get the Adaptive High Beam mode at launch, at a later date, or whether it will arrive at all, since it is not included with the 2024.2 software update on this side of the pond.

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