If you’ve spent any time on X recently, then you’ll likely have come across posts about a supposed Tesla smartphone.
Although neither Tesla nor Elon Musk himself has confirmed the existence of the Tesla Pi Phone, that hasn’t stopped countless rumours and fake news from spreading across the internet.
We dive deeper into the Tesla Pi phone hoax below and explain how clickbait stories and convincing X users have added fuel to the fire.
Is Tesla making a phone?
At the time of writing, Tesla has not publicly revealed any upcoming plans to release a smartphone, much to the disappointment of many X users. In fact, in an interview last year, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk said that “the idea of making a phone makes me want to die.”
However, as reported by The Standard back in October last year, Musk caveated this by saying, “but if we have to make a phone, we will, but we will aspire not to make a phone.”
So, of course, we may not know what’s really happening behind the scenes, but it seems as though the Tesla Pi Phone is just a pipedream at the moment.
What is the Tesla Pi Phone?
The Tesla Pi Phone is the full name of the rumoured yet unconfirmed smartphone made by Tesla.
Tesla Pi Phone rumours
So just why was it so exciting to believe that Tesla was making a phone? It’s mainly down to the rumoured price and specs of the Tesla Pi Phone, both of which piqued the interest of many.
Firstly, some sources have claimed the Tesla Pi Phone would retail at just $100, which would theoretically place the smartphone into our best budget phone guide. However, other rumours have claimed the Pi Phone is “more likely” to retail at $789, which would slightly undercut the iPhone 17’s $799 starting price.
But where did these so-called “sources” even get their numbers from? It seems as if all the figures provided were devised purely for clickbait purposes.
We’ll dive deeper into the rumours from so-called sources, but do remember that neither Tesla nor Elon Musk himself has confirmed any iteration of a Tesla smartphone – and pricing is often one of the final decisions to be made.
These rumours, at least at the time of writing, are pure speculation. Unlike the likes of Mark Gurman, a renowned Apple analyst, Tesla doesn’t seem to have a reliable source of its own.
According to multiple X users, the standout feature of the Tesla Pi Phone would be its Starlink Connectivity. Essentially, Starlink is a satellite internet technology that’s operated by Musk’s space technology company, SpaceX, and promises to keep users connected even in remote locations without mobile signal.
There are even rumours that SpaceX is developing an iteration of Starlink that could work on Mars. Yes, that means you could bring your Tesla Pi Phone on your next trip to Mars, and not worry about having to order an eSIM to stay connected.
In addition to Starlink, the Tesla Pi Phone is thought to be powered by Tesla’s own AI chip, offer solar charging support and pro-level cameras too.
Finally, some sources have hopefully assumed that the Pi Phone would incorporate Neuralink technology too. Another brainchild from Musk, Neuralink is a chip that is implanted into your skull and enables you to control devices with your thoughts.
All of this is, of course, nothing but wishful thinking.
Opinion
The Tesla Pi Phone rumours shows just how easy it is for fake news to spread and appear convincing enough to be true. Despite no confirmation from Tesla, that hasn’t stopped creepy AI-generated videos and design concepts from sweeping the internet. However, the lack of any communication from Tesla and Musk is only fuelling the rumours.
