HW3 (left) vs HW4 (right)
With Tesla vehicles including Model S, Model X and Model Y rolling out with new Hardware 4 Autopilot cameras, we now have a hands-on first look at side repeater cameras comparing both generations.
According to images shared by Reddit user u/menormedia, who owns an electric vehicle shop, they said they just received the HW4 side repeater camera into their inventory. The user posted some detailed side-by-side images of the new cameras.
Looking at HW3 (left) and HW4 (right) side by side, we see the new camera’s housing is now slightly smaller in the back as components seem reduced. The turn signal LED light strip also looks thinner than before.
The lens location on HW4 looks to be pushed back a bit compared to HW3.
Here, we see HW3 (top) and HW4 (bottom) from the back of the side repeater. The rear component layout has changed, with the light pipe connectors showing now in grey and a different design:
We also learn that HW4 power consumption is 16V and 0.9W, down from HW3’s consumption at 2.2W. That’s a big reduction in energy use, due to the 16V lithium ion battery used in vehicles instead of a traditional 12V lead acid.
HW3 part number is 1495865-20-D, while HW4 part number is 1820735-00-C and costs about $140 USD each from a Tesla authorized shop.
According to u/menormedia, it doesn’t look like you can “plug and play” to replace a HW3 camera with HW4, due to new power requirements and connectors. It’s likely we may soon see more teardowns of new HW4 camera hardware soon. Stay tuned. Tesla continues to iterate and improve its vehicles at a fast pace.
Will we soon see new high definition radar on Model 3 and Model Y soon, following in the footsteps of Model S and Model X?
