Automotive reporter Sawyer Merritt announced on X that Tesla vehicles with Hardware 3 (HW3) and older Intel Atom chips will not receive key features in Tesla’s Spring Update (2025.14.1). This news impacts EVXL’s audience of Tesla owners and enthusiasts, spotlighting the growing divide between Tesla’s older and newer hardware ecosystems and raising concerns about long-term support for early adopters.

Features Excluded for HW3 with Intel Atom Chips

Merritt outlined specific features unavailable to HW3 vehicles with Intel Atom chips in the Spring Update. These include the inability of side cameras (B-Pillar) to record to Dashcam and Sentry clips, which would have expanded camera views from four to six, and a lack of enhanced rearview camera functionality for a wider field of vision and better rear cross-traffic visibility.

“Tesla with HW3 and older Intel Atom chips WILL NOT be getting the following new features in Tesla’s Spring Update (2025.14.1),” Merritt stated.

However, he noted that these vehicles, despite being “over 6 years old,” will still receive “almost all of the other new features” in the update, which he described as “awesome.”

Why Intel Atom Chips Can’t Keep Up

The exclusion stems from the limitations of Intel Atom processors, used in Tesla’s infotainment systems before the shift to AMD Ryzen chips in 2021. These older chips struggle with the increased processing demands of the update’s camera enhancements, such as managing additional video streams and advanced image processing for wider fields of vision.

AMD Ryzen processors, integrated into newer Tesla models, offer superior performance with multi-core architectures, enabling these features. Merritt shared a method to check chip type: “Select ‘Controls’ > ‘Software’ > ‘Additional Vehicle Information’ to confirm Autopilot computer type.” A screenshot he posted confirmed an AMD Ryzen processor in a newer Tesla, underscoring the hardware gap.

Industry Implications: Hardware Longevity in EVs

Tesla’s transition to AMD Ryzen aligns with its push for advanced features like Full Self-Driving (FSD) and enhanced interfaces. However, this leaves older HW3 vehicles—introduced in 2019—with reduced functionality, potentially impacting their resale value. A 2019 Model 3 with HW3 may now be less appealing than a 2022 model with Ryzen, even if both support FSD. This hardware disparity could drive demand for newer Teslas as buyers prioritize long-term software compatibility. Regulatory bodies like the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) may also scrutinize how Tesla communicates such limitations, given the growing reliance on OTA updates in the EV sector.

Tesla’s Spring Update (2025.14.1) introduces valuable camera improvements, but HW3 vehicles with Intel Atom chips miss out due to hardware constraints, as Merritt reported on April 9, 2025. This underscores the challenges of balancing software innovation with hardware longevity, with implications for resale value and consumer trust. Tesla owners must stay informed about their vehicle’s capabilities as OTA updates redefine the EV ownership experience.

EVXL’s Take: Transparency Is Key for Tesla

For EVXL readers, this news highlights the importance of understanding your Tesla’s hardware. The gap between older and newer models risks alienating early adopters, especially if they expected broader update support. Tesla should enhance transparency by proactively informing owners about hardware-specific limitations with each update. Without such clarity—or potential solutions like hardware upgrades—the divide will widen, frustrating loyal customers. For now, HW3 owners with Intel Atom chips must adjust expectations for the Spring Update, even as they access its other enhancements.

Photo courtesy of Sawyer Merritt.