Nice work, FTG! Your combo video (install, features, and review) makes for one stop watching. I’m sure it won’t work with every product, but it made for a solid overview with this one. I don’t regularly have backseat passengers, so this is most likely a Pass for me. But if I did, (and they were old enough to be able to use that screen without my having to give constant instructions!), I’d give it a consideration. In that situation, I’d be a solid Yes - if the back controls did not change the front settings. Thanks for putting this together!
For my use (older kids in the back who already have phones for entertainment), this offers a pretty implementation and too much for what I need. I don't really need a laggy Android tablet with a clunky set of apps and interface. All I really want is a way for the kids to control their own seat heaters in the back without having to ask me to do so. This is a no no-go for me. Thanks for the video, but I'll keep looking for something simplier.
Finally, an honest review that's not sponsored. Do you know if a screen exists with a cellular sim card? That would eliminate the wifi hotspot issues for me.
I would give it 5/10. Too laggy for me and the fact that it cannot use the cellular data from the car for Netflix is a deal breaker for my family. Hopefully there will be a better version in the future. Thanks for the honest review as usual.
Tesla has the cellular connectivity of the car locked down like Fort Knox due to usage agreements with AT&T. Extra hardware will not be able to utilize the car’s cellular connection until that agreement changes. I was able to get Netflix downloaded onto my rear screen and tether to my cellphone WiFi, which I have unlimited data on. This works fine for watching Netflix on the rear display. The “lagging” is only apparent if you venture into apps- if you’re on the screen that controls A/C, volume, media, etc, there is zero lag because there are no interaction animations. Most people don’t delve into the apps but having access to seat heat and A/C in the rear was well worth it for me. Most media consumption in the back seat for my family would be via an iPad, so having media on this rear display isn’t important for me personally. I’ve had at least 2 dozen people in my back seats comment that “I didn’t know Tesla offered a rear screen for the Model 3! Cool!” They didn’t realize it wasn’t OEM - the fit is absolutely perfect - and in their usage of the temp and seat heat, no lag is apparent.
@Howard McQuilkin you paired and connected their Bluetooth to the car and then selected their Bluetooth connection as the audio input on the Tesla screen? That's all I did to get audio over the Tesla speakers.
This is the previous version with 7.0 inch screen and no Bluetooth. they recently launched a new version 7.2 screen with Bluetooth for headphones and game controllers as well as passenger seat adjustment ( if you have it…I do on my Y 2020.). It’s much improved. The small screen version is dead as well as the 8 inch ugly tablet. I’m from Quebec so it’s way too much money for a seat heater. It’s like 800$CADz I’ll wait for next update with improvements and 350$ less.
Excellent review, but I would skip this product for a couple reasons: - adds few useful features. Yes rear seat occupants can control the temp/fan, but it still requires the front to turn it on first. - too finicky, some things work, some don’t. Slow. Most folks will not want to use this thing since it offers poor experience. - most folks will have kids sitting in the rear, this screen will turn into someone just playing around with the settings. - if you do have an adult back there, they prob won’t know how to use it and ask the driver to help them. - for video or music, rear seat folks will prob rather watch videos on their phone rather than look downwards towards this screen. For music, you can connect via Bluetooth from backseat anyway. The only thing I think is a plus is the coolness factor. It does look pretty neat, but I still think it’s trying to be something it’s not, which is a model S rear screen.
Need help. Bought tesla model y 2023 this april. Bought the rear display. But once i crack the bottom rear console panel, there is no more blue connector harness there. Any idieas where did they route it?
It is a semi old version of Android. If the device is rooted or the version of Android is modified enough to trip the trigger. Certain apps are disabled by the maker of the app, like Netflix who wouldn't want you just screen recording their content.
I just installed this on my M3 last week. After 3 days I removed it and I'm requesting a refund/return. Here are the issues I found with it 1. The sound of a video is off. This means my kids or passengers in the back can not properly watch a movie 2. The screen will freeze and will not respond to touches. I have not figured out how to recreate this bug, but it happens often 3. Can't connect headphones via bluetooth. 4. After having it installed for 4 days, the 12 volt battery in my Model 3 reported that it needed to be replaced. Possibly due to battery use of the rear display(?) 5. The temperature always displays Celsius even after I set it to Fahrenheit 6. The visual display of certain items like the status of the seat heater is out of sync with the Model 3's main display.
I installed it. Easy to install and the added seat control is cool. But it does not work as advertised unfortunately. I left it in for cool factor but it’s essentially useless.
Nice review. One of these makes zero sense for me, as I don't have kids, and wouldn't want to give that much control to passengers in the back. I will say this would be amazing for those with kids though. Just a shame you have to use your phone as a Hotspot though, they should really figure out how to let it use the car's cellular data. It's also a bit on the pricey side, but hey, it's the Tesla Tax I guess.
it is a bad product. whats the reason the driver to open the AC so the people to adjust the climate for everybody? lol.... it is easier to say to the driver to adjust the climate for back... the product is unusable untill they find a way the back to open and close the ac and also adjust their temp without interfier with front., also the vents are smaller and not even have the plastic to adjust left right manual the position. the screen software should have the right working buttons for the car, imagine to have a phone with apps that doesn't work or with buttons that doesn't work coz it meant to be for different country..... so a screen that have a button that doesn't do anything simply tells me that they are looking to put something on the market fast and they dont care about the quality or innovation....
