Introduction
Tesla has always been a leader in the field of technology. Today, they remain leaders in many industries. Tesla’s functions are always discussed all over the world. For example, in our other article you can read about an equally popular feature – Tesla valet mode. From Autopilot to Sentry mode to even Dog mode, interesting feature updates have always been a hot topic in the Tesla community. One such feature is Tesla Premium Connectivity.
On the Internet, you can find many heated discussions about this novelty. Usually, these are opinions that contradict each other. We decided to dig deeper and understand the principles of this function.
Let’s take a closer look at Tesla Premium Connectivity to understand what this feature actually offers for $9.99 per month, and see if it’s worth your attention!
What is Tesla Premium Connectivity?
All Teslas come standard with Wi-Fi and cellular modems. When connected to WiFi either through a home network or through an access point, most Tesla features can be used for free. However, when using your car’s cellular connection, some features are limited to Tesla’s premium connectivity package.
The most important data features are included in your Tesla for free, such as phone notifications, software updates, updated navigation maps, and even optimal real-time traffic-aware navigation routing.
So, the Premium Connectivity package allows you to enjoy all the connectivity features of your car’s cellular network, as well as a few additional features available exclusively to premium buyers.
Let’s look at what is the difference between a standard and a premium connection.
Standard VS Premium Connectivity
| Peculiarity | Standard (Wi-Fi only) | Premium (Wi-Fi, LTE) |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time traffic visualization | ✓ | |
| Satellite maps | ✓ | |
| Stream music | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video broadcast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Karaoke | ✓ | ✓ |
| Internet browsing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Watchdog mode | ✓ |
Additional Features of the Premium Package
Features that require premium connectivity are mostly related to entertainment while parking or traffic jams. Keep in mind that all entertainment features are available to you if you are connected to Wi-Fi or an access point.
Entertainment features that require a premium connection include music streaming, such as Slacker and Spotify. It also includes video streaming services while parking, such as Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and a few others. Keep in mind that some of these services still require a subscription. For example, YouTube is available for free, and Netflix requires a paid subscription. Tesla’s premium connectivity simply allows you to use a car data connection to stream these services.
Additional services included in Premium Connectivity:
- Internet browser – Browse the web to find restaurants, destinations, or other information. The passenger can use it while driving.
- Karaoke is a version of karaoke from Tesla that features hundreds of songs and lyrics displayed on the screen.
- Satellite maps – Your navigation displays satellite images, not just a view of the area with streets.
- Real-time visualization of traffic. A traffic visualization will show you which roads are congested and where the traffic jams are.
How much does Tesla Premium Connectivity cost?
Tesla’s official website offers connectivity for this service today for $9.99 per month, subject to applicable taxes.
Whether this feature is a lot or a little and whether this feature is worth its money, we tried to find out from the owners of Tesla and created a table of their reviews for your convenience.
Premium Connectivity feature feedback
|
FOR |
AGAINST |
| It is much more convenient to pay only $ 10 per month (this is imperceptible) than $ 120 per year
|
If you have unlimited data on the phone with the 5G Premium package really often loses its meaning
|
| Traffic jams are tiring, and streaming music is always so troublesome. The premium package is a great idea for that.
|
Satellite maps on the phone often replace what many pay for – real-time visualization of traffic |
Detailed video review
FAQ
- How do I activate Premium Connectivity?
If your Tesla meets the eligibility criteria, then it’s easy to purchase a Premium Connectivity package using your car’s touchscreen or the Tesla app.
Follow these five basic steps to get a Premium Connectivity subscription from your car’s touchscreen:
- Tap “Control” on the touch screen.
- Click Updates.
- If you are eligible, you will be able to subscribe to Premium Connectivity on the screen.
- Select “Swipe to buy.” If you have an updated version of the software installed on your car, you will have all the features of Premium Connectivity once your car is parked.
- You can complete your subscription purchase in the Tesla app if your billing address or credit card isn’t on file.
You can sign up for Premium Connectivity from the Tesla mobile app by following these five simple steps:
- Open the Tesla app on your phone.
- Click on the “Updates” option.
- Click the Subscribe button at the top of the screen.
- Select the Premium Connection check box.
- Click on the “Subscribe” button again.
- Does Tesla premium connectivity expire?
All vehicles ordered on or before June 30, 2018, receive Premium Connectivity automatically for the lifetime of the vehicle (excluding retrofits or upgrades required for any features or services externally supplied to the vehicle – e.g. telecommunications network).
- Can I connect my Tesla to my phone’s hotspot?
If your mobile phone supports a modem, then connecting Tesla to the access point of your personal phone is very simple.
Just click on the Wi-Fi option and enter the password. You can use all the standard connectivity features by connecting Tesla to your phone’s hotspot.
- Is Spotify free with Tesla premium connectivity?
Currently, Spotify isn’t free on Tesla. So, you can only use Spotify in the vehicle with a paid subscription. Or you can use a Spotify downloader to save Spotify songs to a USB drive for playing in the vehicle.
Conclusion
In fact, there are many alternatives to Tesla premium connectivity. Spotify, Sirius XM (satellite radio), Bluetooth (music), or a simple USB – this is a partial list that can fully or partially replace you with the Premium package on your Tesla.
However, we will not argue that it is convenient enough that all the additional functions are always in the car in one place. After all, in this case, you do not have to use several gadgets. And most importantly – your phone will be free for calls and other manipulations.
$10 doesn’t seem like a big price to pay for all these services per month… Although, if you look from the other side, we will always find where to spend $ 10, right? Especially if you add them to the rest of the monthly expenses.
As a result, having weighed all the pros and cons, you must make a decision for yourself.
By the way, for most Tesla models there are trial versions of Tesla premium connectivity for a period of one month (during which you can find out how much you need this function). And for some models (mainly Model S and X 2018), the trial period is a whole year!
