Your Phone Needs a Home in Your Tesla, CarPlay or Not: Four Mounts, Chargers and Hubs Compared
By EV Bandit | Updated October 17, 2026
Key takeaways
- Two developers got CarPlay running natively on a modified Tesla, per Not a Tesla App and autoevolution. Tesla has announced nothing.
- None of the four products compared here enable CarPlay. They are about where the phone sits and how it charges.
- The 3Y Cradle-Free Phone Mount ($39.99) holds a phone in landscape with magnets; the Tesla MagSafe Car Mount ($49.99) folds away behind the screen.
- The Wireless Phone Mount ($69.99) is the only mount here that the listing says charges.
- The USB Hub 4-in-1 ($39.99) fits the refreshed 2021 Model 3 and Y console only.
A developer demo put Apple CarPlay on a Tesla screen this week, and it will not reach your car through a shopping cart. What you can control today is where the phone sits and how it charges. Here is a straight comparison of four ways to do that.
The news, for context: Not a Tesla App reported on October 14 and autoevolution on October 15 that two developers got CarPlay running natively on a modified Tesla. Tesla has announced nothing, and the two outlets disagree on whether an official version is coming. We went through the claims in our claims ledger. None of the products below enable CarPlay. They are about the phone itself.
| Product | Price | How it holds the phone | Charges it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3Y Cradle-Free Phone Mount | $39.99 | Magnets, landscape; plates for non-magnetic phones | No |
| Tesla MagSafe Car Mount | $49.99 | Magnetic, behind the screen, folds away | Not stated in the listing |
| Wireless Phone Mount | $69.99 | Clip-on arm that opens and closes by sensor | Yes, listed as a wireless charger |
| USB Hub 4-in-1 (2021+ console) | $39.99 | Not a mount | Adds ports for charging and data |
1. You want it simple and cheap
The listing describes a cradle-free magnetic design for landscape view, and the box includes two non-magnetic plates, extra adhesive and a removal tool. If your phone is not magnetic, the plates are the workaround.
2. You carry an iPhone and want it out of sight
The listing says it sticks behind the center screen with a 3M pad and folds away when unused. It advises waiting 24 hours after installing before use. It names iPhone 12, 13 and 14 compatibility, so check your model against that list, and note the metal ring for other phones.
3. You want a mount that charges
This is the clip-on option: the arm opens and closes on a sensor, rotates between landscape and portrait, and the listing describes a hidden storage box behind the screen. It is the only mount here that the listing says charges.
4. Your problem is ports, not the mount
This one solves a different job. The listing says it adds two USB 3.0 ports and two Type-C ports and fits the refreshed 2021 Model 3 and Y console only. Check that match before ordering.
Bottom line
If CarPlay does arrive officially someday, you will still want a place for the phone and a way to charge it. If it never does, nothing here changes. Pick by habit: magnets and no charging, iPhone and hidden, charging built in, or more ports.
Frequently asked questions
Is Apple CarPlay coming to Tesla?
Tesla has announced nothing. Not a Tesla App reported on October 14 and autoevolution on October 15 that two developers got CarPlay running natively on a modified Tesla, and the two outlets disagree on whether an official version is coming.
Do any of these phone mounts add CarPlay to a Tesla?
No. None of the products compared here enable CarPlay. They are about the phone itself: where it sits and how it charges.
Which Tesla phone mount charges my phone?
The Wireless Phone Mount ($69.99) is the only mount here that the listing says charges. It is a clip-on arm that opens and closes by sensor.
Does the Tesla MagSafe Car Mount work with my iPhone?
The listing names iPhone 12, 13 and 14 compatibility, with a metal ring for other phones. The MagSafe mount costs $49.99 and folds away behind the center screen.
Will the 4-in-1 USB hub fit my Model 3 or Model Y?
It fits the refreshed 2021 Model 3 and Y console only. The 4-in-1 USB hub costs $39.99 and adds two USB 3.0 ports and two Type-C ports.
Would you use CarPlay in your Tesla if it worked? Weigh in with the Tesla Model Y Owners group.