➤ New phone, which runs on solar energy, will be integrated with Starlink's satellites and can even work on Mars, leaks suggest
➨ Tesla, the world’s biggest electric vehicle maker, is reportedly working on a futuristic smartphone, potentially named Model Pi.
➨ Despite widespread industry leaks and rumours, the Texas-based company has been tight-lipped about the purported device. It has not confirmed production plans yet and is keeping product development under wraps.
➨ However, industry insiders expect the company to launch its first smartphone late next year or in early 2024.
➨ Tesla, which dissolved its public relations department in October 2020, relies on social media — largely Twitter — to make new announcements.
➨ The company’s billionaire chief executive Elon Musk, who has 78.2 million followers on Twitter, has made a number of company announcements on the social media platform, including the company’s move to drop the usage of Bitcoin and new features of its cars. Tesla's own account has 13.6 million followers.
➨ Here is what we know about Tesla’s smartphone so far.
➤ Tesla Pi Phone: Expected Features and Specifications
➨ Following are some of the expected features and specs of the upcoming Tesla Pi Phone.
⇒ 6.7 inch OLED display with 120 HZ refresh rate.⇒ Storage: 8 GB RAM and 512 GB internal storage.
⇒ A triple camera setup with each camera of 50MP.
⇒ Selfie camera of 40 MP with high image quality.
⇒ The device will be available in black colour and weighs almost 240 grams.
5000 mAh battery.
⇒ A pixel density of 458ppi.
⇒ A brightness level of around 1600 nits.
➤ Tesla Pi Phone: Price
➨ Although there is no information about the price of Tesla Pi Phone as of now. However, according to some media reports, it is likely that the Elon Musk's Tesla Pi Phone will be sold at a price of Rs 70,000 to 80,000.
➤ Compatible With Starlink
➨ The Model Pi smartphone is reportedly compatible with Starlink – a satellite-based broadband internet service provided by SpaceX. As of July 2022, the service is available in 36 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and New Zealand.
➨ SpaceX entered the broadband market in 2018 with two missions: to provide high-speed internet to underserved and remote areas worldwide and to do so at a lower cost than current providers. Based on these benefits, a foray into the smartphone market isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. But why is this so exciting?
➨ Starlink’s 3,000 satellites (as of July 2022) orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometers (340 miles), communicate with each other and with ground stations on Earth called ” gateway stations,” and beam internet coverage down to users’ antennas on the surface of the planet.
➨ Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has announced a second generation of the system, Starlink V2, that can directly target mobile phones. This system effectively bypasses cellular network providers.
➨ Model Pi’s compatibility with Starlink will allow users to connect to the network directly from their phone, giving them access to a reliable internet connection no matter where they are. This is a major step forward for the Model Pi and will undoubtedly be a highly anticipated feature for many users.
➤ Integration With Electric Cars
➨ Industry experts say the new Tesla phone will integrate better with Tesla’s cars, giving users more control over vehicle functions. The phone will reportedly let users lock and unlock the car and control the temperature, media, and other features. This will supposedly give drivers more convenience and ease of use when operating a Tesla car.
➨ Some experts believe this move could make Tesla’s cars even more appealing to consumers, making them easier to use. Only time will tell if the new phone lives up to the hype, but it certainly seems like it has the potential to improve the driving experience for Tesla owners.
➤ Support for Neuralink
➨ Neuralink is a technology that could potentially allow users to control devices with their thoughts. The technology is still in the early stages of development, but if successful, the implants could have a wide range of applications.
➨ For example, a user with a disability could use Neuralink to control a computer or a prosthetic limb. In addition, the technology could also be used for more mundane tasks like controlling your smartphone. This is where Tesla’s new phone comes in.
➨ The phone is rumored to have some sort of neural interface that would allow you to control it by thoughts. This would be a major step forward for Neuralink and could help to popularize the technology. Of course, many challenges still need to be overcome before Neuralink can become a reality, but the potential is inspiring.
➤ Support Solar Charging
➨ Tesla is expected to equip its new line of phones with solar charging capabilities. This could be a game-changer for a smartphone industry that appears to have hit a rocky patch in terms of innovation and new features.
➨ Solar charging has been used in other devices, such as calculators, but it has never been integrated into a phone. Tesla’s move could change that. Solar charging would provide an unlimited power source for phones and could be used to recharge the battery faster than traditional methods.
➨ In addition, solar charging would make phones more environmentally friendly and give them a much-needed boost in terms of battery life. Given Tesla’s expertise in solar technology, solar charging for smartphones seems within their capabilities. And if they implement it while maintaining modern smartphone dimensions, it could revolutionize the smartphone industry.
➤ Ability to Work on Mars
➨ At a conference in September 2016, Mr. Musk said that it might take up to 100 years to create a civilization of at least one million people on Mars. Of course, those people would naturally need internet service.
➨ Many reports suggest that Tesla’s new phone could leverage Starlink to be able to work on Mars. Although the technology is already helping thousands of people access the internet worldwide, it is not clear how the system would be adapted for use on Mars.
➨ Starlink has been designed for use in areas with line of sight to satellites, but on Mars, there would be significant obstacles, such as dust storms, that would block the signal. In addition, the satellites are only in orbit for around five years before they burn up in the atmosphere, meaning that a constant stream of new satellites would be required to maintain service. Nevertheless, if the phone does work on Mars, it would be a significant step toward making Elon Musk’s vision of a Martian colony a reality.
➤ Cryptocurrency Mining
➨ It’s no secret that Elon Musk is a fan of cryptocurrencies. In the past, he has been public about his support for Bitcoin and Dogecoin. So it’s not unreasonable to assume that he would want to embed the ability to mine cryptocurrency in a phone.
➨ The rumor is that Tesla’s new phone would mine a new coin called MarsCoin. But for this to work reliably, some serious hardware would need to be implemented. What’s clear is that if Tesla is able to pull it off, it would be a game-changer for the cryptocurrency industry. Only time will tell if this rumor turns out to be true.
➤ Expected Release Date
➨ Even though Tesla hasn’t given an official timeline, industry experts expect Model Pi to enter the market in late 2023 or early 2024.
➨ It’s not too hard to see why Tesla may not be in a hurry to launch the product. Consumers already have many options from well-established brands like Apple and Samsung, and it would take an exceptional product for a newcomer to make a dent in the market.
➨ It will be interesting to see if Tesla can make a splash with its own offering.
➤ It’s a Long Waiting Game… For Now
➨ Though the Tesla phone hasn’t been released yet, and there are no clear announcements on what to expect, there are some signs it will be exceptional. The company has a history of releasing high-quality products, and the phone is rumored to have unique and innovative features.
➨ However, Tesla dissolved its public relations department in 2020; therefore, we don’t quite have a reliable source of information on when you can buy a Tesla phone. We will simply have to wait and see if and when the Tesla phone will become available.
➨ What features would you love to see on the Tesla phone? Let us know in the comments section below.