Watch Audi's New Micro LED Digital Matrix Headlights in Motion. Indeed, They Remain Illegal in the United States.

      Screenshot Jerry Perez

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      I recently had the opportunity to drive the new 2026 Audi Q3, and I was struck by how well designed it is, particularly for an entry-level crossover from a German luxury brand. One feature that really impressed me was the new Digital Matrix LED headlights. Normally, I would have just received a detailed presentation on the technology without the real-world experience, as media test drives typically happen during the day. However, Audi arranged a night drive to show us exactly how they function—and they are really impressive.

      Like earlier versions of this headlight technology, the new system can illuminate the road ahead, distribute light where it's most needed, and prevent blinding other drivers, whether they're in front of or approaching you. There’s now an extra technological feature called Light Guidance, which utilizes micro LED technology to project various images or graphics onto the road ahead to enhance safety.

      Each headlight is equipped with two projectors—one for high beam and one for low beam—each containing 25,000 micro LEDs. To clarify the size of a micro LED, Audi's Head Light Guy (a clever title) Stephan Berlitz mentioned that each one is half the thickness of a human hair. Berlitz’s official title is Head of Development Exterior Lighting, but Head Light Guy is more memorable.

      These headlights not only provide completely glare-free high beams but also actively assist while driving in dark or wet conditions. For instance, one of the new features helps guide you on unfamiliar country roads. As you approach a curve, the camera-based system detects the lane markers well ahead and translates that into a graphic projected on the road in front of you. If the road turns right, an arrow made of one of two projected bars will appear pointing to the right.

      Another feature called Lane Light acts as a kind of visual lane-keeping assistant. If you find yourself distracted or slightly drowsy, wavering between lane markers, the car will alert you through on-road projections when you're getting too close to the edge. If you drift too close to the right lane, the right bar will become wavy, and the same applies if you're consistently near the left lane marker.

      I also experienced a blind-spot assist feature during a rainy night in Scotland. While on the highway, as I activated my turn signal to change lanes, I noticed another vehicle speeding in the lane I wanted to merge into. The Matrix lights activated a graphic warning me of the approaching car (or one in my blind spot).

      Experiencing this and other features of these adaptive headlights was incredibly impressive, and it’s easy to see their real-world advantages. Even if you might consider these extra features to be mere gimmicks—which they certainly are not—the reduction of glare for surrounding vehicles is a significant benefit. Honestly, I’m fed up with being blinded by every other car out there just because I drive a basic Honda Civic instead of a massive pickup.

      I even tried to purposely tailgate the Q3 in front of me to see if I could dazzle its driver with my headlights like a certain brand, and it was utterly impossible. The closer I got to the car ahead, the smaller the projected “box” of light became, effectively lowering the beams so that they never shone above the license plate of the car in front of me.

      I also discussed with Berlitz the current U.S. regulations, and despite a recent update, Audi (and essentially every other automaker except Rivian, which has adjusted its hardware to comply with U.S. regulations uniquely) is still unable to implement its system in the U.S. due to strict laws that apply the same light distribution standards to both high beams and low beams. Additionally, these regulations regarding glare are notably stringent, which is ironic given that any Jeep Wrangler can light up my chest with its headlights when it passes behind me. It’s worth noting that the U.S. is the only country in the world with such specific language in its headlights laws.

      Check out the video above.

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