Elon Musk might have found his next big venture, as the tech billionaire has spoken out about the idea that he could get into the smartphone game. With his fingers in many pies, Musk’s businesses include everything from electric vehicles to rockets, artificial intelligence to tunnel construction.

The world’s richest man has promised to get back into Tesla after stepping back from politics, and although his EV baby has faced some massive losses since he spectacularly claimed President Donald Trump was named in the Epstein Files, he’s hoping to turn his fortunes around.

It’s not just electric vehicles coming off the production line at Tesla, with Elon Musk showing off the company’s ambitious Optimus robots. Tesla has plenty of futuristic tech at its disposal, so could it be a matter of time until Mr. Musk tries to take on Apple and Google with his own smartphone?

Musk has confirmed whether Tesla is working on a smartphone (Bloomberg / Contributor / Getty)

There have been wild rumors that a so-called ‘Tesla Pi’ phone could be on the way to rival the likes of the iPhone. As well as connecting to Musk’s Starlink satellites, there are sensationalist claims that the Tesla Pi would be able to work on Mars, as Musk hopes to send humans there. That might seem pretty far-fetched, but among its innovations, one of the most popular ideas is a supposed ‘perpetual battery’ that would mean we never have to charge our phones again.

When grilled on the idea of a Tesla smartphone in October 2024, Musk downplayed the idea but admitted he’ll do it if he has to. Addressing the crowd in Philadelphia, the billionaire admitted: “Man, I sure hope we don’t have to make a phone. That’s a lot of work. The idea of making a phone makes me want to die. But if we have to make a phone, we will, but we will aspire not to make a phone.”

Highlighting the work of key competitors, he continued: “You know, I do think that the various companies and Apple and Google, Android and whatnot, they need to make sure they don’t have a heavy hand in the app store and whatnot, or they will create a forcing function for there to be a competitor.

“But man, I dread the idea of making a phone. But if that turns out to be necessary, we’ll do it, but hopefully it is not necessary.”

He also spoke about it on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, concluding: “No, we’re not doing a phone…We could do a phone. The operating system of Tesla is Linux-based, but we’ve written a massive amount of software on top of that.”

It’s true we’ve seen other tech giants try to muscle in on markets and fail spectacularly (remember when Microsoft’s Zune tried to take on the iPod?), so we can understand why Musk might be cautious.

For the time being, Tesla’s focus remains on EVs, autonomous tech, and energy solutions. By the sounds of it, potential iPhone rivals will have to wait.

Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest and arguably most ambitious entrepreneur, has ignited a firestorm of speculation after fielding questions about the possibility of Tesla entering the smartphone market. With his sprawling empire already spanning electric vehicles, reusable rockets, brain-computer interfaces, and AI, many are wondering if Musk’s next big leap will be taking on the likes of Apple and Google with a so-called “Tesla Pi” phone.

Rumors of a Tesla-branded smartphone have been swirling for months, fueled by viral concept videos and sensational claims that the device could connect directly to Musk’s Starlink satellite network—or even function on Mars. Some of the more outlandish ideas include a “perpetual battery” that would never need charging and seamless integration with Tesla vehicles and Optimus robots. While these features sound like science fiction, they’ve captured the imagination of tech enthusiasts and investors alike.

However, when pressed on the subject during an October 2024 appearance in Philadelphia, Musk was quick to pour cold water on the excitement. “Man, I sure hope we don’t have to make a phone. That’s a lot of work. The idea of making a phone makes me want to die,” Musk said candidly, drawing laughter from the audience. “But if we have to make a phone, we will, but we will aspire not to make a phone.”

Musk’s reluctance seems rooted in the dominance and complexity of the current smartphone landscape, which is tightly controlled by giants like Apple and Google. He warned that if these companies become too restrictive with their app stores, it could force Tesla’s hand to develop a competing device. “They need to make sure they don’t have a heavy hand in the app store… or they will create a forcing function for there to be a competitor,” Musk cautioned.

The billionaire also addressed the topic on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, reiterating that Tesla is not currently developing a phone, but could if necessary. “The operating system of Tesla is Linux-based, but we’ve written a massive amount of software on top of that,” Musk explained, hinting at the technical foundation that could support such a project if the need ever arises.

For now, Tesla’s priorities remain firmly rooted in electric vehicles, autonomous driving technology, and renewable energy solutions. Despite the buzz, it appears that a Tesla smartphone is not on the immediate horizon. Still, given Musk’s track record of turning wild ideas into reality, the tech world will be watching closely for any sign that the Tesla Pi phone might one day become more than just a rumor.