Sorry Kris. I do not agree at all. Matrix LED are one of the biggest enhancements in car head lights. If you drive on dark roads with steady traffic like in Norway, Matrix LED are a very important safety improvement. Are they overpriced? Yes, they are. But I do not regret buying the Matrix LED (they were a bit less pricey earlier). Matrix LED should be standard, but Audi wants to test the after marked revenue streams. Should you rent them instead? I do not think you should rent safety feature. You should have them active all the time. Even in the summer it will get dark at night. I have Matrix LED on the e-Golf. After my first car with Matrix LED, I will not buy a car without it. The e-Golf have an activation speed of 60 km/h. The activation speed on the e-tron of 30 km/h is a large improvement. But Digital Matrix LED are really overpriced.... 55k is way way overpriced

There is no swivel because there's no physical moving parts. In bi xenon you needed this system. But with LED you can just do max width all the time, which you mentioned. The reason why other manufacturers can do swivel with LED is because they narrow down the output to simulate swivel.

Test the new digital matrix light. Maybe that convinces you more. But I don’t agree with your point at all. If this is scam already, then you should never test an Tesla. :) More, I like the Concept, that you can test the function or only book for the darker Periode of the year. Driving now such systems since more then 6years from bmw and Audi and will Never take a car without anymore. The new digital Matrix light in the etron is fun ;)

Do you think the light extras in the plus pack on the Polestar 2 are also just a software thing?

What if I bought a used 2021 with matrix headlights, 16K miles for $40K *US), would you think they are worth it then?

Hi. What are the difference between the matrix (17.800kr) and the digital matrix (55.000kr)?

Kris, great 👍 content! and nice idea on renting as needed .. BTW note that many other automakers does similar things, the car comes with all the hardware but they don’t charge you for it until you want to use it, alike Tesla for example they charge you to upgrade your performance via software enabling features and even to enable rear seat heating etc.. so just remember they don’t charge you for the all the parts on your car depending on the trim etc.. until you want to enable that feature etc...

First I want to clarify that I'm a huge fan! 🙂 But I think that the statement in the title is half right, half wrong. It is wrong because: The difference between MATRIX LED and LED as far as I know is definitely not the brightness. The difference is in the way they work. The MATRIX as you can guess by the name are a matrix of leds that have the ability to turn off some of them to prevent dazzling other cars. So it is no surprise that when you upgrade to MATRIX LED you don't get more powerful headlights. You just get that smart function of turning off part of the leds and this way you can drive almost all the time on country roads with high beams without dazzling anyone. This explain why you get the MATRIX LED only with software update. You have the hardware ( the matrix ) but it is working as a whole unit and adding the software you get the smart function. It is right beacuse: Even this way the cost of this software upgrade is too high. I will give an example to explain why I think that. I have a Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription MY2016. The car have all the hardware needed for the Pilot Assist function but the MY2016 doesn't come standard with it. The software that I had to get to activate this function costed me 1700 euros. And we are talking about much more sophisticated system adding much more complicated functions. So YES I think Audi charge too much ONLY for smart headlights. P.S. I'm really glad that you are BACK with regular videos on KZfaq. And I love the ones that you make with Bjorn. Keep up the good work and have a nice holidays!!!! 🎄

It looks like that this "functions on demand" becomes an extra cash bonus for high class cars. hopefully other manufacurers don't jump on this train.

Good video and a great point raised

Thr Matrix algorithm in Audi turns on individual LEDs which results in bending the light to a different angle when you turn based on the steering angle and also traffic data in order to achieve curve illumination. Lower speed illumination in intersections or roundabouts is achieved by turning on the cornering lights.

I don't see this as a scam at all. Online software upgrades of a car is definitely the future of how you bring the base price down and I would love Audi to have much more features on demand. The ability to buy for example the headlights just the months you need them Is genius.

You should do a side by side comparison, I wouldn’t say these are a scam.

the light doesnt turn, but i noticed on mine... there is a separate light that is directed in the direction I am turning into.

Have you tested the Digital Matrix LED? Maybe you can do a comparison between the regular matrix and the digital matrix LED, to see if the digital are worth the 55k?

Can u test out audi’s laserlights?

I have the 2019 Audi A6 premium plus with matrix headlights. I truly appreciate the auto high - low beam functionality. It is actually surprisingly very bright. This is coming from somebody who once made a mod of dual 6k HID on my headlights and fog lights.

Tesla also charges money to enable rear seat heating, although all models have heaters integrated. It will be more and more of this in the future.

Now go try the digital matrix led. why are they more than three times the price of the matrix led? Will they let you see into the future?

Du u see how much light it throws into the curve?? These light does not need to turn into the curve anymore.

The new Mercedes s class has similar matrix technology (with the 1.3 million pixels in each light) but they are tri beam (one low beam, one digital matrix high beam and one far range high beam) so for high beam range they should be very good

I get the point you are making, but calling it a scam is completely off. "Scam" implies cheating or selling you something different than what you paid for, and that's far from the case. Software upgrades and changes to unlock more features have been around for ages (unlocking top speed on RS cars and ECU/EFI upgrades to yield more power are just two). The lights work as intended, so it's up to you of you want to pay for that or not. Nobody is forcing you to purchase them. Whether you pay for a software upgrade or getting actual different headlights is irrelevant, as long as you get what you paid for.

I have not tried the Etron but Q2 with matrix is the best and brightest lighting on a car I have ever experienced.

På 2020 A6 allroad var det enda verre, vi betalte 24000 kr ekstra for HD Matrix lykter.... Men på A6 er det i alle fall forskjellige lykter avhengig av hvilke lys man velger, i motsetning til E-tron

thank you i had this question and you answered it

Who remembers sealed beam headlight upgrades to halogen? cost about €40 a pair and could be fitted yourself :) Those were great.

Was the navigation system on and set on route ? At launch(2013) the matrix would only corner the light if the navigation was on so i would try turning it on than see if it will bend the light before you turn the wheel. Maybe they kept this feature like this since ever.

I have the Matrix LED's on my A5. The comments suggests that they only dip from high beam to low beam automatically, they do a lot more than that. The system turns off individual LED's when a light source is detected effectively providing a dark 'hole' that continually tracks and follows the position of the light source. I am afraid that I can not agree with the comments on the quality or brightness, mine are very bright indeed.

You are paying for the development of the software for the matrix headlights. Car manufacturers have done like that for years.

Sounds like how Tesla scams people 😂

Check my '89 b3s squares with 55w halogen bulbs! Sometimes no one notices when I forget high beam on! Sometimes on dark roads with poor or no markings I really feel like cruising through the MATRIX!

But have you rented the Light Function Package or only Matrix? When you buy Matrix in a new e-tron you get both Matrix and Light Function Package. This explains the price difference too, as the Light Function Package costs about 7000 nok if you order it for unlimited time from the app. It includes turning light and dynamic cornering lights, as well as welcome light etc. Please record a new test in the autumn, with both Matrix and Light Function Package installed. «Lysfunksjonspakken inkluderer følgende tilleggsfunksjoner: - visuelt oppgradert og utvidet kjørelys - blinklys og statiske veikrysslys (lyser opp ut mot siden ved kjøring inn og ut av veikryss) - motorveilys (økt lyslengde ved høyere hastigheter) - kurvelys (økt belysning i kurver) - manøvreringslys (belyser den fremre manøvreringsområde ved rygging) - dynamisk lyssekvens av coming home / leaving home-funksjon Innovativ og dynamisk. Også når bilen står i ro, viser de enestående lyktene seg frem med den nye og futuristiske, dynamiske lyssettingen for Coming- og Leaving-Home-funksjonen»

I have to say that when there's traffic coming towards you, they are great. But when there's no traffic, then these are just worse, as you stated. The middle throw is just too weak. I have the 2019 A6 and coming from LEDs in Lexus, I can see the difference is night and day. Kinda wishing now that I had test-driven Volvo as you said that Volvo was the best in that regard.

Hi Kris, I love your videos but I hope you don't mind but I'm afraid I can t agree with you on this one. I had LED Matrix Headlights on my last A6, as standard, and now on my ETron I have the HD version as standard on the 'vorsprung' model in UK. I know the specifications vary hugely for country to country and that they not be available in Norway. However, my main disagreement with you is the quality of the matrix beam. On UK motorways and multi lane roads with vehicles ahead in front and coming towards you in the other direction, the matrix headlights can handle multiple sectors to dim and illuminate giving the driver a 'full' beam except in those sectors which would dazzle another driver. It is far more complex than you imply, especially at 3:36 when you say that the lights 'beam down and then beam up again'. They didn't. They stayed on full beam the whole time but only dimmed those sectors which would have blinded the oncoming driver. In busy situations they are extremely valuable. For example I have been driving behind a vehicle in a multi lane road and the vehicle in the front has been driving in dipped headlights so as not to dazzle the driver that was in front of him. I had my full beam on and but I didn't dazzle the driver in front of me because some sectors of the beam were dimmed, but the remaining undimmed led sectors were powerful enough to illuminated the road on either side and far further than the car in front's dipped headlights. This is good for safety bout also helps when it will illuminate a road sign that would have been our of range of a dipped beam. With regard to the lights turning, Ive had cars that did that too but I find the standard full beam of the LED Matrix is far wider meaning having lights that moved as well would be superfluous. The HD version has 1m sectors per headlight, not just the 8 on the basic LED matrix, so the definition is better, Why not try the LED Matrix headlights in a motorway or higher speed multi lane situation with more traffic? Glad to see you have remained well during the pandemic, and keep up the good work. Best wishes John

For US market. Matrix headlights do automatic hi/low. That’s it. Like cars could do the 60s. All special matrix features are disabled. And will continue to be disabled for 2024. Though approved in 2018.

An Audi Q5 was on my shortlist when I bought a car 9 years ago. As it is a large car, I wanted to have the possibility for the wing mirrors to automatically collapse when parking. It required a total of 7000 euro in options to get that functionality, mainly involving memory seats. I will now probably trade in my Range Rover Evoque for a Model Y. Having said that, the full autopilot option is also a bit of a scam as it will probably never achieve autonomous driving during the lifetime of the car. I guess it is slightly more value than this Audi upgrade.

Very interesting.... Renting headlights... What will car companies come up to next? Rent seat? Wheels? This is absurd in my opinion. Yes it seems that Volvo indeed has some great headlights.

It may only be software but software costs a lot to produce. Think of computer games and the cost of creating and manufacturing those. The difference is that there will be a far higher % of buyers for such things in gaming, than there will be in car upgrades. It's like night vision, ridiculously expensive for what it is and very few buyers will option it. Same with Matix LED. If everybody wanted it, the price would go down. Because few will want it, the price is high to pay for development.

It's not a scam as long as customers are willing to pay the premium for them.

For once, I disagree with you. 🙂 I’m not saying that these regular (non Digital) LED Matrix lights are the best lights out there, but they are probably better than 90%. One of the good things with this car IMO. In open fields, wet autumn/winter weather and damp roads, everything looks weak. I think the good spread is also playing with your eyes. Lights that swivel and have sharp edges may look more impressive. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you see more.. BTW: The LED Matrix lights gets a “boost” at high speeds, above 110 kph (?) according to the owners manual. EDIT: And a feature called synthetic cornering light, I just found out. I think having the option to buy the Matrix lights up front, or not, or have them on demand- is a good thing. It’s actually quite common to sell hardware that needs to be software enabled for full functionality in many industries. Some EVs even have a software limited battery, where you carry around the same physical pack as the more expensive, long range model. Most manufacturers charge extra for matrix style lights. Right? 🙂 I can understand that think they should be standard, or disagree with the pricing. At the same time, I feel this colors your opinion on how they perform. Would be cool with a split screen video, where you compare the lights of different cars in the same conditions with the same camera settings. You could do it with Bjørn. 🙂 It’s also possible to place an object on a long straight and se how close you need to be to see it. And then there’s the Digital Matrix lights, that I still haven’t seen an independent test of.. 🙏 Keep up the good work!! 👍

It is not a problem of all Audis that the lights dont swivel. Its even worse, because the High-Technology E-Tron is the only Audi SUV without Curving Headlights. A cheap Q5 is able to curve in the lights before the car actually turns, because it uses the navigation system. The E-Tron Headlights -even the completly overpriced Digital ones- can't do what all Audi Qs are capable of at all. For german Autobahn the light is good enough but on tight and windy roads I would hate it.

I think you missunderstand the turning point. Working together with sat nav - before sharp turn or junction - they can put on corner light. No one ever said they will turn like bi xenons used to do.

Funny... I remember joking to a friend about 40 years ago that we will probably come to a point in time at which every car will have air-conditioning, but the switch to turn it on will cost 2 grand...

I have physical headlights with no Matrix, and they work ok, like in days of yore. Beware that 'renting' Matrix on etron 55 is not available yet! And maybe never will... On behalf of Audi, having just one physical implementation of car components, but differing software based features, makes a whole lot of sense, simplified parts bin aso. Just not for the car owners who feel they lack a feature/have payed to much.

Is that dry roads? Havnt seen dry roads in 3 weeks...

I did not know they did not show around the corner. That’s very poor considering that function was on cars 50 or more years ago

I really do not agree. The matrix lights on the E-tron are one of my favorite features. I don't like driving at night and these lights completely solve this issue for me. Maybe they updated the software since you posted your video.

You know they publicly mentioned this . In Belgium their subscription service is hightly promoted. Not sure if you want the option you don't take it. It is cheaper to manufacture 1 type than to customize however innovation costs money. There are many features on Audi like this. BMW and Mercedes do exactly the same for years...

Are you sure that there is no hardware difference between the two lighting system? The optics may be the same, but is the same LED setup behind them? Has the same hardware installed which controls the LEDs? You know, if they can spare 2 dollars with mire simple electronics, they will install that in your car if you don't buy the extra parts. You may be right, I don't exclude totally that Audi can upgrade your software and boom, you have matrix high beam, but to decide this by purely look at how the headlight looks like is just wrong. Anyway, I have an Opel Astra with much worse Intellilux headlight, but I tell you, I would make matrix high beams mandatory. Maybe, even the top part of the low beam as well, because the LED low beams can be stupid bright. Not as bright I would like to have, but in a bumpy road it can bother the oncoming traffic very much.

I have signed a lease for the E-tron so for me the rental option is excellent. I do 80% of my driving on lit roads anyway so I could pay for the Matrix only during the 2-3 months per year when I actually need it. If I notice a difference, that is.

Obvious to me that it is a scam. Another reason for audi to apologize. It is not clear, obvious that no hardware difference between matrix and the standard light.

Other automakers don't charge you for software updates, but they charge you for the lights.... Audi make it in different way, so if you would miss that equipment you can get it by software update for that price (18000nok) insted of going to service center and get them change with new lights for even more money, and ''throw'' away the old ones that you have payd for it also.. If its in the car its doesn't mean that you need to get it for free... Over all the Matrix led are very good lights, and work extremely well in the dark roads with still much traffic. Everything Cost, remember its audi. :) For some music haters it's can also be a scam to pay 14000nok for Bang and Olufsen.. Overall great videos Kris just start wonder that maybe you have buy a wrong car, but because of that Etron many of us are here..

LED’s are nice but I’m an HID kinda guy. Hand me some bi xenon projectors and some Phillips xv2’s and im happy

I agree totally Kris, it's a complete scam. No manufacturer would include any hardware in their vehicle which would mean it would be sold at a loss. As much as I don't like this practice, I'm afraid this is the direction the automotive industry is heading in. I think recently BMW announced that they would be charging a monthly fee for heated seats, but they got a lot of backlash and therefore took back their decision. We have to blame Tesla for this!!!!

You could look at this from the opposite perspective: Audi, like all other manufacturers, set their pricing according to what they believe the market will pay (and they generally have a pretty good idea). And Audi has given us the opportunity to save 17 000 NOK if we don't want the matrix function. As you say, other manufacturers include this as standard, so they don't offer this opportunity. They make you pay for it anyway. Audi offers a discount of 17 000 NOK, almost 18 000 NOK for those who don't want this function. That being said, I do share your disappointment with regards to the functionality of these head lights, but Audi probably wants people to buy the digital matrix lights instead, at almost 3 times the price, 55 000 NOK. So they want to make sure there is another significant step up with regards to "vorsprung" and "technik".

Mazda rowniez posiada swiatla matrycowe dynamiczne a kosztuja 500€ a wcale gorzej nie swieca

Unfortunately here in the United States, the best features of the matrix headlights are turned off. So for U.S. buyers don't bother.

Not all scam. Even if the harware They did still have make software for it. And not many car maker matrix as standard. Name two?

Kris, the lights are good, but their marketing is great. ;)

I think this is not just related to the headlights. The whole Audi sales concept is a scam. Everything costs extra, every detail is an extra.

That’s not entirely true, it’s not all software, you are required to have some further hardware I believe.

What about pedestrians walking.

To pay 17" NOK for software update is not any strange. Tesla does the same. But I agree that they should swivel.

I love my a5 and has the best lights ever

In Tesla you are payiing just for sofrtwear unlocking and it is not called SCAM.

Hey guys lemme save you 11 whole minutes , these lights work great & have cornering lights that turn on separately , and are good enough yes , matrix lights given by Bmw and Mercedes-Benz are better but this is no scam its also pretty useful

Renting car options doesn't make any sense , i would simply avoid these car brands.

Polestar 2 has way better headlights.

@Kris Rifa Point of English: I think you want to say the the Audi pricing for the optional Matrix LED lights is a rip-off. That is: very bad value for money. A "scam" is more like actual fraud, a crime.

Jesus christ some people are just soo delusional... how can someone tell so much trash and still look desd serious lol...

You do understand that software costs to develop and takes years to do it right? And NO the competitors dont have thm for free (bmw and mercedes ...those are the only big competitors) Tesla doesnt even have them at all. I tried them on some other cars (not bmw, merc and audi) and the difference in night and day.

Volvo XC40 P8 does not have Matrix function

I drive the Etron as my daily driver, and I love the car. Best car I have ever had of any kind. BUT, I am angry at AUDI for being such dicks regarding the matrix lights. Almost all (if not all) Etrons in Denmark come with the matrix lights installed, yet you have to "unlock them" by paying either per day, month, half year, year or one full time purchase. This is a trend that started with Teslas self-drive, where you can either pay a bit when you need it (for holidays/roadtrips) or one big purchase for a lifetime on the car. AUDI copied this, but in the worst way possible. The big difference being, Tesla has an office full of coders sitting and working on self-drive making it better by the day. Its the best self-drive in the world, and you are constantly getting more and more features, better safety and easier driving. This is a constantly improving service, hence I can see why it can be a subscription. Furthermore, since the initial purchase is quite high, some might want to wait until self-drive is at the point they would like before committing, which is also OK. But with AUDI matrix headlights, the tech is there. They aren't really improving on it all that much, and the mechanical parts are litterally already installed. Furthermore, its a safety feature! There are litterally accidents every year from drivers either being blinded by others and crashing, or them not using high-beams and hitting a deer or what ever. The fact that AUDI withholds safety equipment behind a fake paywall infuriates me. They might aswell install the emergency brakes, but turn them off until you pay extra. Thats INSANE. A horrible business model. AUDI has already covered the cost off installing it, but want to milk their clients a little bit more. My next car (in some years), I will judge the company on their ethics and policies and not just the cars specs and price.

Interesting point. So you mean that every software upgrade, which it is, not an update, is a scam. So Autopilot on Tesla is a scam as well then. Navigationupgrades on every car, if possible, are scams. You know there are a lot of other upgrades (not updates) you can do that are looked upon as technology upgrades which cost money. Safetyequipment, lighting upgrades (inside outside car), enginesoftware upgrade (in ICE cars). Since so much is decided by software these days, they will charge you for software upgrades. This is not a scam, it's a pricing policy, and yes you have the option of renting, so why you even can call this a scam, when they already have a solution for doing this cheaper for people who don't need it in a daily basis, means you don't know what a scam is. By the way, this information was informed me when I bought the car, and I've been waiting for the update who could give me Matrix headlights on rent. They even told me that the lights was better without the Matrix lights solution, but you wouldn't have the usability and functionality of the matrix-lights if you don't order them. So I didn't order them. So the biggest scam in the motor/car business, really? Are we supposed to take you serious, or did you run out of videos to make?

Why are you crying about this? This looks magical compared to normal headlights!

God you just like complaining don't you. I've got it on my A3 Edition One, and they're absolutely perfect.

Really? just by comparing pictures instead of whats instead the headlights your saying its a scam. WOW. I wont like to see a comparison of LED vs Matrix LED for some proof to what your saying. Everyone got their 2 cents, but a side by side comparison would be solid proof.

I’m sorry but this makes no sense. You’re saying “software” like you’re saying “shit”. Why is it so “insane” (you seem to like that word) that you’re paying for a feature that is software-driven? You realize that software costs A LOT of money to research & develop, right?….

Audi is best

Der Typ hier hat den Unterschied nicht verstanden 😂😂

I understand your POV is very subjective but cmon, Volvo has the best Matrix Lights? Haven't you ever sat in an S-Class? Holy smokes, turns night into day. And from a technical POV Mercedes is with it's new W223 way ahead of anyone. Test if out yourself

Since 1 month I have the 2020 ETRON 55 Launch Edition and I am quite disappointed what is missing. I was driving an A3 Etron and that had way more functions than this 40% more expensive car. Automatic Highbeam - NO, reading Traffic Signs - NO, Matrix Headlight - NO; An adjustable arm-rest - NO; The stupid plastic box under the panel in the trunck?? - NO! so now I cut my hands while grabbing the charger cable and all kinds of wires hang free, as a Audi driver for 15 years this is really disappointing. PS. The car drives wonderfully and the full electric is superb. But what keeps buzzing is these stupid details that most are a tick in the software onboard. Audi Stop copying Tesla, please!!

Totally disagree. This is actual Clickbait. I think the matrix led's are perfect in not blinding other road users. width is amazing and I have never had anything like these.

don't get why you're complaining. they are actually standard on the e-tron (expect on your market), they are the normal matrix-lights, not the HD-matrix-lights and not even the digitial-matrix-lights, it's their most basic system that they introduced in the A8 D4 facelift 8:39 - even more bs. there is no matrix system on the iX3. the only BMW with matrix lights is the G30 5-Series LCI and the iX. seriously make some better videos and not bs to spread lies and to get more clout.

It's a ripoff, not a scam.

Vote with your wallets, folks. If you do not approve of a company's practices, do not give them your money.

What’s the point of this video it’s not a scam

Lol 'in the video they are good, but in person they are bad' okay well maybe get a better set up. This just sounds like someone throwing a hissy fit from the start. Very odd video

its called function-on-demand, calm down.

scam? you`re delusional buddy.

Disagree! Works great!

CLICKBAIT

Only Scam i can see here is this guy….

You don't know anything about cars.

It's beyond understanding how naive and blind to simple marketing tricks some people are falling to. Advance threw technology. When people see Audi running LED turning signals they are so impressed. For them this is the cream of the crop highest tech possible. And they fall into the easy trap made by Audi for idiots. Underneath the car is so cheap. Interior made of cheap plastic and cheap Chinese tablets. I did test drive to Q4 E-Tron and I couldn't even take it to motorway. 200m and back. Horrible car. But people are impressed by big dash tablets and LED blinkers....

My man - you just explained why they are the best then contradicted ridiculous reasons (for example one moment you say that you love the fact that the light is so wide that it covers the sides, then a few seconds later complain that the lights don't swivel? Are you for real? Both your sides are already illuminated - what are you expecting them to do at this point?). Wasted many people's time watching this pointless bashing.