On August 23, 2025, Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Pi Phone, a $799 smartphone set for a 2026 release, positioning it as a direct rival to Apple’s iPhone 17, expected in September 2025. Musk’s announcement, reported by web:17, mocks Apple’s stagnant innovation, with the Tesla Pi boasting a revolutionary ultra-thin design and a four-day battery life, outshining the iPhone 17 Air’s rumored 0.22-inch frame and compromised battery, per web:11. Fans on X are buzzing, with @TechFan22 tweeting, “Tesla Pi just killed Apple!”

The Tesla Pi, leveraging Tesla’s battery expertise, uses a durable pack that outperforms competitors, per web:4. Musk, who criticized Apple’s “relaxed” design team and indistinguishable iPhone models, per web:5, claims the Pi’s AI integration and Starlink connectivity set it apart. With a 6.7-inch AMOLED display and titanium frame, the phone rivals the iPhone 17’s specs while offering affordability, per web:14. X posts like @GadgetGuru’s “iPhone 17’s battery is a joke!” reflect the hype.

Apple’s struggles, including a lawsuit over OpenAI favoritism, per web:4, and rising iPhone prices—$1,199 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, per web:11—have fueled Musk’s early launch. The Tesla Pi’s $799 price and features like Neuralink compatibility and solar charging, per web:23, position it as a disruptor. Analysts predict a 20% market share grab, per Bloomberg, with Tesla’s 344.265 USD stock soaring 1% post-announcement, per financial data.

Critics on X, like @AppleLoyalist, argue, “iPhone’s ecosystem is unbeatable,” but the Pi’s projected 1 million pre-orders, per web:1, suggest otherwise. Musk’s jab at Apple’s lack of innovation, echoed in his 2025 piano showdown, per web:9, fuels the narrative. The iPhone 17 Air’s reduced battery capacity, per web:11, contrasts with the Pi’s endurance, drawing comparisons to Tesla’s Powerwall, per web:2.

As the Tesla Pi Phone gears up for 2026, it threatens to dethrone Apple’s iPhone 17. With fans chanting “End of Apple!” on X, Musk’s bold move could redefine smartphones, leaving Cupertino scrambling to keep up.