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  • FSD Supervised vs. a robotaxi ride: what’s actually different.

    FSD Supervised vs. a robotaxi ride: what’s actually different.

    A Tesla running FSD (Supervised) and a Waymo robotaxi can look similar from the back seat, but they’re not the same kind of ride. One still needs you. The other doesn’t need anyone at all.

    Tesla’s FSD is supervised, not driverless

    Tesla is explicit about this on its own FSD support page: “FSD (Supervised) is an advanced driver assistance system that is intended to be used only with a fully attentive driver. It does not turn a Tesla into a fully autonomous vehicle.” The same page states plainly that “none of these advanced driver assistance features make your Tesla vehicle fully autonomous or replace you as the driver.” In an owner’s Tesla, someone still has to sit in the driver’s seat, hands ready, watching the road the entire time.

    Waymo’s robotaxi has no driver at all

    Waymo operates differently. Its vehicles are part of a fully driverless ride-hailing service — Waymo’s own safety page describes its cars as operating “fully autonomously, with no one in the driver’s seat,” available to riders who hail a car through its app the same way they’d hail any other ride-share. There’s no supervising human behind the wheel, because in a Waymo, there is no wheel for a passenger to reach.

    One rider’s take on the difference

    Recharge and Roam gave a passenger a ride in both a Waymo and a Tesla running FSD, then compared the two experiences on their channel on August 21, 2026.

    That video shows one rider’s reaction on one day, in one set of traffic conditions — a useful real-world impression, not a substitute for the official difference in what each system is actually certified and designed to do, described above.

    Photo by Berna.

  • Model 3 vs. Model X: which one actually fits you.

    Model 3 vs. Model X: which one actually fits you.

    Cross-shopping Tesla’s smallest sedan against its biggest SUV sounds like an odd comparison, until you realize how differently they’re priced and built in 2026. One is Tesla’s affordable, high-volume daily driver. The other is what’s left of a flagship that Tesla has stopped building.

    What each one costs right now

    The 2026 Model 3 starts at $36,800 for the rear-wheel-drive Standard trim, moves to $41,700 for Premium RWD, $47,400 for Premium AWD, and tops out at $55,300 for the Performance trim, per Kelley Blue Book pricing updated April 8, 2026.

    The Model X is a different situation entirely. Tesla confirmed in January 2026 that it would end Model X production alongside the Model S, and stopped taking new custom orders as the remaining inventory sold down. Rather than discounting what’s left, Tesla raised prices on it: Cars.com reported, in an article updated April 8, 2026, that the all-wheel-drive Model X now starts around $116,380 with destination, and the Plaid trim around $131,380 — roughly $15,000 higher than earlier in the model year.

    Size, seating, and cargo

    The Model 3 is a compact sedan built for commuting and easy parking, with a small front trunk and a conventional rear trunk that together hold about 24.1 cubic feet, per Kelley Blue Book. The Model X is a full-size SUV with falcon-wing rear doors and up to 91.6 cubic feet of cargo space, also per Kelley Blue Book. The base Model X seats seven; the Plaid trim, with its extra motor, seats six. The Model 3 seats five.

    Range: how far can you go

    The 2026 Model 3 is EPA-rated between 309 and 363 miles depending on trim, with the Performance version trading some range for speed, per Kelley Blue Book. The Model X goes further: Cars.com lists the all-wheel-drive Model X at 352 miles and the Plaid at 335 miles.

    Speed

    Both get quick in their top trims. The Model 3 Standard runs 0-60 mph in a Tesla-claimed 5.8 seconds, and the Performance trim cuts that to 2.9 seconds, according to KBB. The Model X starts quicker at 3.8 seconds for the standard AWD version, and the Plaid trim drops to 2.5 seconds — among the quickest SUVs sold anywhere.

    Which one is actually for you

    Choose the Model 3 if you want an efficient, well-built daily driver and don’t need three rows or SUV cargo room — it’s the far more affordable entry point into Tesla ownership, and the more practical pick for most first-time buyers. Choose the Model X only if you specifically need its seating capacity, cargo space, or falcon-wing doors, and you’re comfortable buying from a shrinking pool of leftover inventory at a price that’s gone up, not down, since production ended. For most shoppers in 2026, the Model 3 is the easier, cheaper, and more available answer. The Model X is now a purchase for buyers who want a three-row Tesla before the remaining stock is gone.

    Photo by Borys Zaitsev.

  • Tesla has discontinued Solar Roof.

    Tesla has discontinued Solar Roof.

    Tesla has stopped taking new orders for Solar Roof, the shingle-style solar tile product it has sold since 2016. The company confirmed to third-party installers that solar roof tiles are “no longer available to order,” and will supply only its conventional solar panels going forward.

    What Tesla told installers

    Tesla’s decision was first reported by Electrek on August 20, 2026, which cited communication to certified installers stating the tile product “is not financially viable.” The economics never scaled: Solar Roof tiles require far more labor to install than standard panels, and shading or roof-shape limitations made the product a workable option mainly for larger, more expensive homes.

    Evidence the wind-down was already underway

    The discontinuation wasn’t a sudden announcement so much as the confirmation of a trend. Tesla’s own Solar Roof page now redirects visitors to its standard solar panels page, and “Solar Roof” has been removed from the Energy section of Tesla’s site navigation. Tesla also quietly stopped breaking out Solar Roof installation numbers in its quarterly shareholder reports starting in early 2024. Since its 2016 debut, tied to Tesla’s $2.6 billion acquisition of SolarCity, the tile roof reportedly reached only around 3,000 U.S. installations in seven years — a small fraction of Tesla’s overall solar business.

    What this means if you’re considering solar for your Tesla

    If home solar was part of your plan for charging a Tesla more cheaply, this doesn’t take options off the table — it narrows them. Tesla still sells and installs standard solar panels, and its home battery, Powerwall, remains available and is what actually stores solar power for charging overnight or during an outage. If you were specifically drawn to the tile aesthetic of Solar Roof, that path now runs through other manufacturers rather than Tesla. Anyone with an existing Solar Roof system isn’t affected by this change in the way a new buyer would be; Tesla’s announcement was about future orders, not currently installed systems.

    Photo by Budget Bizar.

  • How far does the Model Y L really go, and how fast does it charge?

    How far does the Model Y L really go, and how fast does it charge?

    The Tesla Model Y L carries an EPA-estimated range of 325 miles and can add up to 164 miles in 15 minutes on a DC fast charger, according to Tesla’s launch pricing page and early charging data reported by auto press.

    Official EPA range: 325 miles

    Tesla’s six-seat, long-wheelbase Model Y L launched in the U.S. on July 2, 2026 with an EPA-estimated range of 325 miles on the all-wheel-drive Launch Series trim, starting at $61,990. That number comes from a standardized EPA test cycle used to compare vehicles, not a guarantee of what any one driver will see on a given trip.

    Charging speed: fast at first, then it tapers

    Early charging data reported by TopElectricSUV puts the Model Y L’s peak DC fast-charging rate at 256 kW, reached around 13% state of charge, with up to 164 miles added in 15 minutes under favorable conditions. Like most EVs, the charging rate is not flat. It climbs quickly on a low battery, peaks early, then slows as the pack fills, so the last 20% of a charge typically takes longer than the first 20%.

    What changes these numbers in the real world

    Cold weather, highway speed, cabin heating, and how depleted the battery already is all affect both range and charging speed. InsideEVs explains that cold temperatures lower efficiency and slow charging unless the battery is preconditioned first, which is why Tesla’s navigation system automatically warms the pack when a Supercharger is set as the destination. None of this makes the EPA figure wrong. It just means real-world results move around it depending on conditions.

    Dirty Tesla put those numbers to the test on August 20, 2026, running a real-world charging and range session in a Model Y L.

    The video shows one driver’s results on one day, under one set of conditions. It is a useful real-world data point, not a substitute for the official EPA range and charging figures cited above, which vary from trip to trip.

    Photo by Reinhard Bruckner.

  • Model 3 vs. Model S: which one actually fits you.

    Model 3 vs. Model S: which one actually fits you.

    If you’re cross-shopping Tesla’s two sedans, the choice used to be simple: pick how much luxury and range you want to pay for. In 2026 there’s a second factor, because one of these two cars is no longer being built.

    What each one costs right now

    The 2026 Model 3 starts at $36,800 for the rear-wheel-drive Standard trim, moves to $41,700 for the Premium RWD, $47,400 for the Premium AWD, and tops out at $55,300 for the Performance trim, per Kelley Blue Book pricing updated April 8, 2026.

    The Model S is a different situation. Tesla confirmed in January 2026 that it would end Model S and Model X production, and it stopped taking custom orders as the last units rolled off the line — a change noted on Kelley Blue Book’s Model S page. Rather than discounting the leftover inventory, Tesla raised prices on it: Cars.com reported, in an article updated April 8, 2026, that the all-wheel-drive Model S now starts around $111,380 with destination and the Plaid trim around $126,380, roughly $15,000 higher than earlier in the model year, with Tesla bundling in Full Self-Driving (Supervised), a service plan, and free Supercharging to help justify the jump.

    Size and everyday practicality

    The Model 3 is a compact sedan sized for daily commuting and easy city parking. The Model S is Tesla’s flagship — longer, wider, and roomier inside, with a liftback trunk instead of a conventional sedan opening. According to a Yahoo Autos review published May 21, 2026, that liftback gives the Model S about 28 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats plus a 3-cubic-foot front trunk, enough to swallow large boxes or a stroller and luggage together without folding the seats down. The Model 3 has its own separate front trunk, but a smaller, traditionally shaped rear trunk.

    Range: how far can you go

    The 2026 Model 3 is EPA-rated between 309 and 363 miles depending on trim, with the Performance version trading some range for speed, per Kelley Blue Book. The Model S goes further: KBB lists the all-wheel-drive Model S at 410 miles and the Plaid at 368 miles. That gap matters most if you regularly drive long distances between charges.

    Speed and performance trims

    Both lineups get quick as you move up. The Model 3 Standard runs 0-60 mph in a Tesla-claimed 5.8 seconds, and the Performance trim cuts that to 2.9 seconds, according to KBB. The Model S starts quicker at 3.1 seconds for the standard AWD version, and the Plaid trim — which adds a third motor — drops to 1.99 seconds, among the quickest production cars sold anywhere.

    Tech: yoke, screens, and other differences

    Per the Yahoo Autos review cited above, the Model S offers a yoke-style steering wheel as a no-cost alternative to a traditional round wheel, a 17-inch main touchscreen that swivels toward the driver or passenger, and a 9.3-inch rear-seat display. The Model 3 keeps things simpler, with a conventional round steering wheel and a single center touchscreen — less flashy, but also nothing new to adjust to if you’d rather skip the yoke.

    Which one is actually for you

    Choose the Model 3 if you want a well-built, efficient daily driver without paying for range or cargo space you won’t use — it’s the more affordable entry point into Tesla ownership and the more practical pick for most first-time buyers. Choose the Model S only if flagship range, liftback cargo room, and Plaid-level acceleration are worth six figures to you, and if you’re comfortable buying from a shrinking pool of leftover inventory instead of ordering a car built to spec. For most shoppers in 2026, the Model 3 is the easier, cheaper, and more available answer. The Model S is now a purchase for people who specifically want what’s left of it before it’s gone.

    Photo by I’m Zion.

  • New York still pays you to buy a Tesla. Here’s how much.

    New York still pays you to buy a Tesla. Here’s how much.

    New York has a state-level rebate for electric vehicles, and in 2026 it applies to several current Tesla trims. The Drive Clean Rebate, run by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), knocks up to $2,000 off the price of a qualifying electric car at the dealership, with no application or tax filing required. More than 200,000 New Yorkers have used it since the program launched, according to NYSERDA’s program page.

    How the rebate is calculated

    The amount depends on two things: the car’s EPA-rated electric range and its base MSRP. According to NYSERDA’s consumer FAQ, any plug-in electric vehicle with an MSRP over $42,000 qualifies for a flat $500, regardless of range. Vehicles at or under that $42,000 line are split into three tiers: $2,000 for more than 200 miles of range, $1,000 for 40 to 199 miles, and $500 for under 40 miles. The FAQ confirms leases qualify if the term runs at least 36 months, and outright purchases carry the same 36-month minimum ownership expectation. The rebate is applied at the point of sale by the dealership, so you don’t file for it yourself and there’s no separate paperwork after signing.

    What this means for a Tesla buyer

    NYSERDA’s eligible models list, current as of this writing, includes six separate Tesla listings, each with its own MSRP and rebate tier:

    • Model 3 RWD: MSRP $36,990, 321-mile range, $2,000 rebate
    • Model 3 Premium and Performance: MSRP $42,490, 272-363 mile range, $500 rebate (about $490 over the cap)
    • Model Y RWD and AWD: MSRP $39,990, 294-321 mile range, $2,000 rebate
    • Model Y Premium and Performance: MSRP $44,990, 279-337 mile range, $500 rebate
    • Model S: MSRP $84,990, $500 rebate
    • Model X: MSRP $89,990, $500 rebate

    The pattern: base Model 3 and Model Y trims land under the $42,000 cutoff and qualify for the full $2,000. Move up to a Premium or Performance trim, or add enough options to push your configured price past $42,000, and the rebate drops to $500 no matter how much range you get. Model S and Model X sit well above the cap either way, so they’re locked into the $500 tier. Because the eligible-models table lists MSRP by trim rather than by every option combination, check your actual build price against the $42,000 line before assuming which tier applies, and confirm current listings directly on NYSERDA’s eligible models page, since vehicle listings and program rules can change.

    How much New Yorkers have actually collected

    Tesla is the single largest automaker in NYSERDA’s own rebate records. Torque News reviewed New York’s public Drive Clean dataset, which covers rebates issued since 2017 with data current through March 31, 2026, and found 102,021 Tesla rebate records worth $82.7 million combined. The Model Y accounts for 61,431 of those records at an average of about $650 per rebate; the Model 3 accounts for another 30,952 records averaging about $1,224 each. Together the two models represent roughly $77.8 million in rebates paid out. This is historical data, not a guarantee of what a specific trim qualifies for today, but it shows Tesla vehicles have had a steady, repeat presence on New York’s eligible-models list for years.

    The fine print

    This program is New York State only. You have to be a New York resident, business, or government entity, and you have to buy or lease from a dealership registered with the Drive Clean Rebate program. NYSERDA’s program page shows no funding pause or “rebates exhausted” notice as of this writing, but state EV rebate programs run on limited annual budgets and can run dry before the fiscal year ends, so confirm availability with your dealer before counting on it. It’s also one of the few EV purchase incentives still standing this year, now that the federal $7,500 tax credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025.

    None of this is financial advice. Treat it as a starting point for a conversation with a participating New York dealer, who can confirm your exact configuration and rebate tier before you sign.

    Photo by Luke Miller.

  • Tesla’s Caraoke Feature Now Scores Your Singing

    Tesla’s Caraoke Feature Now Scores Your Singing

    Tesla’s 2026 Summer Update, released as software version 2026.26 and refined in a follow-up 2026.26.1 patch, adds scoring to Caraoke, the automaker’s in-car karaoke app. The official release notes describe it this way: “Caraoke now scores your singing while in Park. Earn stars and track your high scores in the My Karaoke tab.”

    How it works

    The scoring feature only works when the car is stopped. Tesla Oracle, which covered the update on August 4, quotes the release notes stating: “Caraoke now scores your singing while in Park. High scores are saved to your Tesla profile.” So you cannot pull up a live score while driving — the car has to be shifted into Park first. Once it is, your saved profile keeps track of your best results in the My Karaoke tab.

    The release notes also mention a rear-display update: passengers can tap a queue button to bring up a QR code, scan it with their phone, and add songs to the queue themselves.

    Do you need a subscription

    Yes. The release notes list Caraoke with Scoring as a feature that “Requires Premium Connectivity”, Tesla’s paid data plan that runs about $10 a month in the US and also covers music and video streaming, live traffic maps, and satellite view. The scoring feature also needs the newer AMD-based infotainment computer that ships in the current Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, and Cybertruck, according to the release notes.

    Not every car has it yet

    Like other Tesla software releases, the Summer Update is rolling out gradually instead of landing on every car at once. As of Tesla Oracle’s August 4 report, the update had reached roughly 15 to 20 percent of the fleet, and the outlet noted that some Hardware 3 cars running FSD v14 Lite and Hardware 4 cars on FSD v14.3 had not yet received it. If Caraoke scoring hasn’t shown up in your car, check your software update settings — Tesla typically keeps expanding a rollout over the following weeks.

    Photo by pedro furtado.

  • Model S vs. Model Y: which one actually fits you.

    Model S vs. Model Y: which one actually fits you.

    The Model S and the Model Y sit on opposite ends of Tesla’s lineup. One is a low sedan built for speed and range. The other is a crossover built to haul people and cargo, and it outsells every other Tesla combined. Here is how they actually compare if you are choosing between them.

    The price gap is not close

    The Model Y starts at $39,990 for the rear-wheel-drive base trim, or $41,630 once you add Tesla’s destination and order fees. Move up to the Premium trim and you are at $45,990 to start, and the Performance trim runs $57,990, or $59,630 with fees, according to a July 2026 pricing breakdown.

    The Model S starts around $70,000 higher. Tesla ended Model S production in early 2026 and, days after announcing it, raised the price on every remaining unit by about $15,000. As of April 2026, the base all-wheel-drive Model S runs $109,990, or $111,380 with destination, and the Plaid trim runs up to $124,990, or roughly $126,380 with destination, according to CarsDirect. Those prices include Tesla’s mandatory Luxe package, which bundles Full Self-Driving (Supervised), Premium Connectivity, and Supercharging into every remaining car.

    That means you are no longer buying a new Model S in the normal sense. You are buying from a shrinking pool of leftover inventory, and Tesla is pricing it accordingly.

    Range and speed favor the Model S, on paper

    The base Model S is EPA-rated at 410 miles of range, and the Plaid trim is rated at 368 miles with a 1.99-second 0-60 time, per CarsDirect’s review. The base rear-wheel-drive Model Y is rated at 321 miles, and the Model Y Performance is quicker than it used to be but still slower than a Plaid, hitting 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, InsideEVs reported after driving it. If straight-line speed and maximum range are what you are paying for, the Model S still wins. But you are paying six figures for that edge, and the Model Y is not far behind on range for a fraction of the cost.

    The Model Y fits more people

    The Model S seats five, full stop. The Model Y now offers more flexibility. Tesla brought back a third-row option on the standard Model Y, adding two child-sized seats for $2,500, though it is only available if you order the Premium all-wheel-drive Long Range trim, Electrek reported in January 2026. If you need a real third row, Tesla now sells the Model Y L, a stretched, six-seat version with captain’s chairs, starting at $61,990. It is rated for 325 miles of range and a 4.4-second 0-60, InsideEVs confirmed at launch in July 2026.

    Which one actually fits you

    Buy the Model S if you want the fastest, longest-range car Tesla builds, you do not need a third row, and price is not the deciding factor. Just know you are buying into a discontinued lineup with dwindling supply, not an ongoing model. Buy the Model Y if you want a Tesla you can actually load up with people or gear, at a price that starts under $42,000, and you are fine trading some top-end speed for a car Tesla is still building and improving every year. For most buyers cross-shopping these two, the Model Y is the practical answer. The Model S is for people who have already decided they want a sedan and can afford the final-year premium.

    Photo by HRK Gallery.

  • What upgrading a Hardware 3 Tesla to AI4 actually involves right now

    What upgrading a Hardware 3 Tesla to AI4 actually involves right now

    If your Tesla runs on Hardware 3, there is no way to buy a Hardware 4/AI4 computer upgrade today. Tesla’s own plan for HW3 owners is still years out, and the retrofit making headlines this month is a proof of concept built by independent tinkerers, not a product you can order.

    What Tesla has actually promised HW3 owners

    Tesla has confirmed that Hardware 3 vehicles will not be capable of unsupervised Full Self-Driving, because the hardware lacks the computing power and camera resolution for it, according to Not a Tesla App’s coverage of Tesla’s Q1 2026 earnings call. The upgrade Tesla has described involves more than swapping a board: new higher-resolution cameras, an updated vehicle computer, and rewiring for the added data bandwidth, done at dedicated conversion facilities rather than regular service centers. Owners who paid for FSD are expected to get a trade-in discount of roughly $4,000–$6,000 toward a new AI4-equipped vehicle, with everyone else eventually offered a paid upgrade estimated at $3,000–$5,000. None of it has a firm date — the new AI4+ computer isn’t expected in production until at least mid-2027.

    The retrofit making headlines is not a Tesla product

    The story getting attention this month is a 2022 Model 3 that had its HW3 computer physically swapped for an HW4 unit, completed and reported on August 15, 2026, per Basenor’s writeup of the retrofit. It was done by independent tinkerers, not Tesla, and required electronic control unit modifications plus adapters to connect the car’s existing HW3-generation cameras to the new computer. The first camera was confirmed working, but as the article puts it, “this is not a kit” — there is no purchasable HW4 retrofit product today, and Tesla has never offered an official HW3-to-HW4 upgrade program.

    For anyone shopping used right now, the practical takeaway is simple: a Hardware 3 car is not going to get unsupervised FSD through any upgrade you can buy this year, official or otherwise, and Tesla’s own paid path is still tied to a computer that hasn’t shipped yet.

    Kim Java covers this retrofit story on her channel (published August 2026):

    The video shows one person’s take on the story; the sources linked above are the evidence for the facts about Tesla’s upgrade plan and the retrofit itself.

    Photo by Vladimir Srajber.

  • How Tesla’s FSD software actually handles rain and standing water

    How Tesla’s FSD software actually handles rain and standing water

    Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software has specific, documented behavior for wet roads: it automatically restricts how aggressively the car can drive when it senses a hydroplaning risk, and the version shipped in early August added a vision upgrade aimed at low-visibility scenes.

    The car locks itself into a slower driving profile

    Starting with FSD v14.3, Tesla added an automatic safety lockout for wet roads. Not a Tesla App reported on April 11, 2026 that when the system detects “a possibly hydroplaning surface,” it restricts the car to the Chill or Sloth speed profiles, graying out the more assertive Standard, Hurry, and Mad Max options until conditions improve. The outlet also noted early reports of the detection being oversensitive, occasionally locking the car into a slower profile during light drizzle on mostly dry roads.

    What actually changed in the version tested here

    The video below was filmed the day after Tesla shipped FSD v14.3.7. Tesla’s official release notes for that build, dated August 1, 2026, describe an “upgraded neural network vision encoder, improving understanding in rare and low-visibility scenarios, strengthening 3D geometry understanding, and expanding traffic sign understanding.” That’s a general perception upgrade rather than a rain-specific feature, but it’s the change that shipped right before this test.

    Camera obstructions still matter most

    Because FSD relies entirely on cameras rather than radar or lidar, water on the lenses is still the main failure point in heavy rain. Tesla addressed the diagnosis side of that in the same v14.3 cycle: Not a Tesla App reported on April 13, 2026 that an obstructed-camera alert now shows a larger pop-up with a photo from the affected camera and the instruction to “clear all dirt, debris, or water from camera,” replacing a smaller, less informative warning.

    Dirty Tesla put FSD v14.3.7 through heavy rain and flooded roads in a video posted August 2, 2026:

    This shows one person’s experience on one drive; the mode-lockout and camera-alert behavior described above is documented separately in the sources linked.

    Photo by Lukas Rychvalsky.