Tesla's 2021 Holiday Update: 6 New Features to Explore

Tesla has launched its much-anticipated 2021 holiday update, and it brings with it a host of new features, both useful and fun. Here are the best...

While Tesla updates its software regularly, once a year, it rolls out a big holiday update. And 2021 is no exception.

Tesla's 2021 holiday update is rolling out now, and it brings with it a number of quality-of-life improvements as well as some fun feature, including th ability to play Sonic the Hedgehog.

Here's what to expect from the 2021 Tesla holiday update...

1. New Apps and Games

Now, whenever your car is parked, you don’t have to reach for your smartphone to entertain yourself. Instead, you can play games and browse social media straight on your Tesla.

The new update carries a variety of old-school games and fan-favorites to suit every taste. You can play Sudoku, Sonic the Hedgehog, and the Battle of Polytopia with multiple players on the Tesla Arcade.

And what better way to make time fly when you're parked up than watching TikTok videos straight from your touchscreen while your car is parked?

Related: TikTok Starts Tagging Self-Driving Videos as Dangerous

2. A Fully-Customizable Experience

Tesla has slowly but surely been allowing for more personalization on their vehicles’ main touchscreen.

And in keeping with that trend, the new 2021 holiday update comes with a fully-customizable app launcher. You’ll get to arrange your favorite apps as you want with simple drag and drop motions. You’ll also have the option to customize the menu bar and change the order of commands.

And let’s not forget the most underrated feature an interface could have: a dedicated dark mode. Now you can change your display to a dark theme straight from the Display and Appearance settings.

3. Easier Access to Controls

Unlike smartphones and tablets, Tesla’s user interface is that of a car. So all the controls and commands need to be easy to access to not distract the driver.

Related: Tesla Activates In-Car Monitoring to Ensure Drivers Are Paying Attention

The main screen’s display has been greatly simplified in order to focus on navigation, media, and the primary controls of your choosing. For instance, in-vehicle temperature control is now easier than ever to access by swiping up from the bottom of the screen to access the climate controls.

4. Advanced Climate Controls

How hot or cold it is inside your Tesla isn’t something you need to worry about every time you drive. The 2021 holiday update supports automatic heat regulation for first row seats based on the cabin environment the general climate control temperature you set.

Furthermore, you no longer have to worry about your heating and cooling settings being prioritized over essential features when it comes to the battery charge. When your battery is running low, you’ll be able to precondition the cabin’s climate, and the climate section will remain unavailable until the next charge.

5. Navigation and Map Improvements

When you’re driving, you don’t want to be distracted by all the details on the map. Tesla's 2021 holiday update enables you to simplify your navigation map with a single touch.

Additionally, the navigation app now lets easily reorder and add multiple destinations to your route and adjust the arrival times accordingly.

6. More Control Over Your Car's Cameras

Deleting dashcam clips is now easier than ever and can be done directly through your touchscreen in the Safety settings. You can also set your main screen to automatically shift to a live camera feed of your car's blind spot to offer a safer driving experience.

Tesla Goes Above and Beyond for Drivers

Time after time, Tesla has proved that its vehicles aren’t just a smarter version of ordinary cars. A Tesla provides its driver with a luxurious experience, and the company is far from subtle about showcasing their excellence.

So much so that Tesla's 2021 holiday update even lets you watch your own Tesla dance to a choreographed light show through the Toybox to impress your friends. Even Elon Musk would be impressed.

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