The Tesla Pi phone, set to hit the market by late 2024... become a millionaire đ¸đ¤
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| Ilon musk |
There's a lot of buzz about a potential Tesla phone, supposedly named Model Pi or P. However, after researching all the rumors and using some common sense, I'm convinced the evidence isn't there. Still, it's interesting to consider what a smartphone from this highly successful automaker might look like.
When Will the Tesla Phone Be Released?
Tesla has a reputation for introducing unconventional yet fitting products, such as the Cybertruck-inspired EV for kids and a stainless steel whistle. So, it wouldn't surprise me if news broke that Tesla is coming out with a phone. The problem is there isn't any reliable news to back this up!
There are a few reasons I'm suspicious this phone is due for an actual release:
- Most of the rumors come from an ADR Studio Design YouTube video from 2021. But they clearly state those are the designer's ideas, not real leaks or details from Tesla. Most of the stories around this topic appear to be based on just that one source.
- We'll get into these more below, but the ideas for this phone are a bit too advanced to be realistic right now, like Neuralink support and connectivity on... Mars. Those capabilities don't have to be in the phone's first iteration, so a device could still be in the works without them. But being skeptical is reasonable when those ideas are thrown around this early.
- If one of the ultimate side effects or even plans of brain-connected technology like Neuralink is to phase out phones altogether, putting work into one would be counterproductive.
If those reasons aren't enough, consider this comment from Telsa's CEO on the future of smartphones:
Smartwatches & phones are yesterday’s technology, Neuralinks are the future.
Musk is on record saying he will "make an alternative phone" in response to a post about X (then called Twitter) being removed from Apple and Google app stores.
Also, in response to an X comment about Tesla making a "Grok phone," Musk said they "might need to do that". Grok is a chatbot developed by Musk's company xAI.
Tesla Phone Price Rumors
A phone with all the advanced tech described below would cost more than a few thousand dollars. Subsequent versions could come down in price as more people start using the technology, but I wouldn't expect the first iteration to be affordable for most people.
Assuming the phone is real (again, there's no reason to believe so) and that it would start relatively basic with just a few of the rumored features, a Tesla-branded phone might cost $800-$1,200.
Pre-Order Information
An announcement would likely come many months before the phone's official
release, so pre-orders could start early. But without a release date to reference, nobody has any idea when pre-orders for Tesla Pi 5G could start, or if they ever will.
Tesla Pi 5G Features
Considering Tesla's over-the-top features in their existing products, like the Cybertruck's nearly impenetrable exoskeleton and bioweapon defense mode in some of their other vehicles, the rumors about this phone aren't surprising.
Depending on its features, I could see it falling in the rugged smartphone category, but as these mockups show off, it could also be designed as a sleek, premium phone with Tesla owners in mind.
