Tech: 2024 Tesla Model 3 Review, Part 4 - The Bells and Whistles

The Model 3 I bought is the cheapest car Tesla sells right now, but it still features most of the gimmicks and doodads you'll find in models that are twice the price, like the Model S or Cybertruck. Here are some of the extras that I've found fun or useful.

Actually Smart Summon

With Tesla's ASS (juvenile, I know), you can hold a button on the mobile app to have your car drive itself from a parking space to your current position in a parking lot, even if there's traffic and pedestrians around:

It's pretty astonishing to see the car moving around with no one inside, though the slow speed of the summon means that it's only useful if it's raining or you have something you don't want to lug back to the car. You also need to have FSD active (via purchase, subscription, or trial) to use ASS.

Tesla Theatre

While the car is parked, you can play YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and a few other streaming services right from the main touchscreen, with audio running from the car speakers. It's a lot nicer than using your phone, and it's ideal if you're sitting in the car for whatever reason (charging, eating a meal, etc.).

Some drawbacks: there's a limited selection of streaming services on the Tesla Theatre page (though you can use the browser to access others), and your car needs to either have a Premium Connectivity subscription or be connected to Wi-Fi somehow.

Tesla Arcade

Same idea as above, only with video games.  You can play some great (Cuphead, Vampire Survivors) and not-so-great titles using the touchscreen, the steering wheel, or a connected controller (an old PS4 or Xbox One controller works great for this). There aren't many games to choose from, though new ones do sometimes appear - the recent holiday 2024 update added Boomerang Fu.

Tesla Toybox

This is where you can access the famous "fart noise" feature, but there are far more interesting gadgets in the Toybox, like a sketchpad (handy for in-car planning on trips) and sounds from the car's external speakers.