Claim:
There has been a lot of recent buzz that Tesla is said to be releasing a “Tesla Pi phone” towards the end of the year, with features that include a battery never in need of charging, Starlink internet connectivity, and coverage all over Earth, the Moon, and even Mars.
Fact:
The rumors have no basis. Tesla has no plans to release a smartphone, and technology to support these features does not exist today.
The Truth About the Rumor of Tesla’s Pi Phone
It has been some weeks since social media started abuzz with the excitement of yet another new smartphone, the “Tesla Pi phone,” claimed to be filled with many advanced technologies from Tesla. However, something has yet to be said or announced, neither by Tesla’s official channels nor by any other established sources. So, let’s clarify what fact and fiction are.
Social Media Hype:
Online posts state that the Tesla Pi phone will provide groundbreaking features, including:
- A non-drawable and recharges battery
- Access to the internet using Starlink
- Earth, the Moon, and Mars coverage
- Of course, all these have already fired up the public’s attention with an accumulation of excitement, but interestingly, these announcements are apparently from fan theories with speculative discussions rather than any actual statements from Tesla.
Tesla and Smartphones: Fact
Until October 2024, neither Tesla nor its head CEO, Elon Musk, has yet to make any confirmation or announcement for making smartphones. Tesla remains committed to focusing on electric vehicles, energy products, and autonomous technologies. Rumors of a “Tesla Pi phone” have been circulating since 2021 but appear to be more fans’ creativity than any real Tesla strategy or plan. Musk has publicly dismissed the idea of creating a Tesla smartphone and even shared his disinterest.
In a recent town hall Q&A in Philadelphia, he said:
“The thought of building a phone kills me. But if we are to build a phone, we will do it but we will hope not to.”
Reviewing the Major Claims:
Self-Charging Battery: The claim that the Tesla Pi phone had a battery that wouldn’t ever need to be recharged was a lie. While Tesla claims to be the leader in battery technology for their electric cars, an autonomous battery on any phone is one step ahead of what they can do now. Mobile phones, tablets, and other devices will always need recharged batteries. No science in any developed field may suggest the existence of any “forever battery” on cell phones.
Starlink Internet Connectivity: The Starlink Internet is a product developed by Musk’s SpaceX, targeting satellite-based global internet. Current cell phones still work based on cellular towers. In essence, hooking Starlink technology into a smartphone would require leaps and bounds in advancement. Though Starlink has made progress, it has yet to come close to existing technology that would connect directly to cell phones, and no information has been reported that Tesla is working on this.
On Earth, Moon, and Mars: It is highly speculative that the Pi phone would connect seamlessly on Earth, the Moon, and Mars. SpaceX has ambitions to explore Mars aggressively. Communication infrastructure on another planet must be set up for at least the next several decades. It would still be science fiction to create reliable networks on the Moon or Mars till now.
Tesla’s Current Focus and Products:
Tesla remains a firm believer in sustainable technology. The company deals mainly with electric vehicles and renewable energy. These are Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y. The company also has energy products such as Powerwall, Powerpack, and Solar Roof. In automotive innovation, Tesla is working on Cybertruck and Tesla Semi, which are all breaking sustainability boundaries, unlike smartphones.
Where Did These Rumors Start?
The rumors over the Tesla Pi phones started in 2021 in fan-made concept videos and speculative tech articles. Given Tesla’s background as an innovator, the fans’ imaginations were enough to envision a Tesla smartphone. Claims started to spread around social media about self-charging batteries, Starlink, and interplanetary connectivity, among others.
In summary, rumors that a Tesla Pi phone exists are viral; such news is fake. People may have fun trying to guess, but as yet, Tesla has not aired such news, and it is also not remotely possible to have those breakthrough features. Stick to what you see on Tesla to avoid being misguided by fake news on social media.
