Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I can tell you bluetooth is terrible. works maybe 80% of the time. the other 20% is frustrating.
More importantly, with BLE "keys" you don't know which side of the door the "key" is located. Does this sound secure ? UWB solves this issue.
 
You can with Apple's CarKeys.

Not compatible with Teslas, unfortunately. And the Apple Watch does not allow apps to use "always-on" Bluetooth (or UWB?) functionality on the Watch, so while there are apps that work as a key, they aren't seamless like the phone keys are: you have to explicitly start the app.

But usually when you go somewhere in your car, you'll have your phone with you. The only scenario a Watch might really help with is the lost phone / dead battery one.
 
More importantly, with BLE "keys" you don't know which side of the door the "key" is located. Does this sound secure ? UWB solves this issue.

It actually works surprisingly well already, though. Even though the Phone's Bluetooth will connect to the car at quite a distance, it doesn't let you actually open the door until you're right next to the car. I've tested this!
 
It actually works surprisingly well already, though. Even though the Phone's Bluetooth will connect to the car at quite a distance, it doesn't let you actually open the door until you're right next to the car. I've tested this!
I'm sure it works great, lets you get in the car and drive. Sometimes other people's cars It just doesn't know which side of the door you are on, they have to guess. I was wondering if people felt safe with BLE keys in this sense.
 
I was talking about UWB, not BLE. Apple never supported BLE "keys" in Wallet so Tesla certainly had to roll their own. Now with UWB, they had an option to implement CarKeys from the start.
I meant they didn’t decide to roll their own solution when there was already a viable existing solution from Apple. Tesla developed the BLE key in 2017 and UWB came later. Your post sounded like they actively chose to ignore apple’s UWB wallet and use BLE instead.
 
Who cares. Give me CarPlay. I'm selling my Tesla when I get back from Europe in July. Just can't deal with the miserable Tesla interface. Three years without CarPlay has done me in.

We'll see what 2025 cars come out in the fall.
I like CarPlay in my work car but the Tesla interface is way better. With the Apple Music integration in Tesla CarPlay is not needed.
 
I like CarPlay in my work car but the Tesla interface is way better. With the Apple Music integration in Tesla CarPlay is not needed.
I liked the Tesla interface and I wish I could agree completely but my biggest problem with the built-in streaming was how unreliable it was whenever connectivity was spotty. Tunein streaming was the worst, it would just skip down the queue if it encountered any issues retrieving data, even if it was in the middle of playing back a podcast. Apple Music had similar problems. I always ran into slow syncing problems so the interface was always out of sync with my latest updates on the phone. Worse was if it had limited connectivity while starting the Apple Music app, it would just force you to login again. I was logging into Apple Music at least once a week or more.

If it works better for you great, but one of the best parts of CarPlay for me is I can manage all my media while I'm out of the car. I don't have to sit in the car and manage my download queue or try to debug when it couldn't download something.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DocMultimedia
I'm a Tesla fan, but they are super late on this one. BMW had it since 2022.
also, no retrofit to current models kind of sucks.

I don't know if I feel comfortable for Tesla App to not just have my address but UWB access.
 
I am confused with the discussion: Does Tesla Model 3 Highland support Apple Car Key or not?

Litmus test: does my Apple Watch open the car even if the watch battery just died and I have no phone with me.
 
I am confused with the discussion: Does Tesla Model 3 Highland support Apple Car Key or not?

Litmus test: does my Apple Watch open the car even if the watch battery just died and I have no phone with me.
No it does not support Car Key from Apple. Your dead watch/iphone will not open the new 3.
The new 3 does have UWB though, which works with the Tesla app.
Apple Key is different.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jole
Well…..I was a holdout; wife got a Model 3 and after one drive I have not missed CarPlay. Interface is WAY better and no bugs for us. Also, unlock has worked great it does know what door your at if you set the settings to unlock not just driver door in your profile. “Watch for Tesla” app unlocks, trunk, climate and just about anything else from the watch with one touch. If you’re not within range you have to verify so you can’t accidentally unlock. If you havnt spent some time with one you wont Get it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: I7guy
I can tell you bluetooth is terrible. works maybe 80% of the time. the other 20% is frustrating.
On my Tesla it has worked every time for the last 26 months have owned the car. Something wrong with yours if that is happening. Still hoping UWB makes it to all the Tesla’s though.
 
I like CarPlay in my work car but the Tesla interface is way better. With the Apple Music integration in Tesla CarPlay is not needed.
I like CarPlay too and would still like it as an option, but I have gotten used to Tesla’s interface now and it does a good job. I want CarPlay though just for Waze.

I do think Tesla media’s interface needs a lot of improvement still. Album art is puny on a big screen. You should be able to sort and delete your favorites too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: I7guy
One thing I’ve noticed with the existing BT implementation is that if I just walk up to my car, it doesn’t necessarily unlock. But if while I’m walking, I pull my phone out of my pocket just for a second and put it back, it seems that it “wakes up” and then when I get to the car it reliably opens every time. Bizarre, but fully reproducible. Could be based on a lot of factors. I have tap and raise to wake turned off, too.
 
I can tell you bluetooth is terrible. works maybe 80% of the time. the other 20% is frustrating.
Mine works 99%+ of time, very rarely I ran into issues. Are you sure you set up correctly on your phone like enable background refresh for Tesla app…etc?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.