Spotify Car Thing: DON'T BUY Before Read This

In the fast-changing world of car tech, Spotify turned heads by diving into hardware with something called the Spotify Car Thing. At first, it was a bit of a mystery and not widely available but now it’s getting more attention as more people can get their hands on it.

Priced at a reasonable $80, let’s take a closer look at what the Spotify Car Thing is and more importantly, what it isn’t.

What is Spotify Car Thing:

The Spotify Car Thing serves as a Bluetooth remote control for the Spotify app on your phone. Easily mounted on your vehicle’s dashboard through a magnetic and adhesive mount or in the CD slot. This hardware offers seamless integration with the Spotify app.

A Bluetooth pairing process sets the stage for convenient control, allowing users to select their favorite artists, albums and playlists. The device features both a touchscreen and physical controls, including a jog wheel, a back button and five hardware buttons for quick presets.

What Spotify Car Thing Isn’t:

Despite its name, Spotify’s Car Thing doesn’t serve as a bridge between your phone and your car’s audio system. It’s not an alternative to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, particularly if you seek broader access to various audio streaming services and navigation apps. The device is essentially a remote control and if your vehicle lacks Bluetooth support for audio streaming, it won’t enhance your in-car music experience.

Spotify Car Thing Integration:

While Spotify is exploring possibilities for deeper integration with other apps, the current focus remains on enhancing controls within the Spotify ecosystem. Expectations are set on functionalities like play, pause and skip controls but don’t anticipate extensive integration with non-Spotify services.

Should You Buy It:

For ardent Spotify enthusiasts, the Car Thing is an intriguing addition. However, for a broader audience, it might be wiser to wait. Alternatives such as installing a receiver with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay offer a more comprehensive experience, albeit at a higher cost. Alternatively, investing in a reliable dashboard mount for your phone can provide hands-free connectivity using the existing Spotify app.

Android Support:

Android users with the latest OS version or Google Assistant can leverage the built-in car mode on their phones, offering functionality similar to Android Auto. While this feature is free, it is essential to note that it is still a work in progress.

FAQs

Is the Spotify car thing still available?

It appears that Spotify has discontinued the production of Car Thing, a dashboard accessory designed to facilitate the control of the streaming service from a car. This decision, as stated in the company’s recent earnings release, resulted in a cost of €31 million (approximately $32 million USD).

Why did Spotify stop the Car Thing?

The cessation of manufacturing was attributed to factors such as inflation, disruptions in the supply chain, and concerns about the product’s financial viability. Notably, the decision followed the product’s wider release in the US market in February.

Is Spotify car thing real?

While Car Thing can be a useful accessory for avid Spotify users who prefer a physical control dial over using their phones in the car, its advantages may be limited if the car supports Android and Apple CarPlay. These integrated systems provide similar functionalities.

Can you get the Spotify car thing for free?

As of now, Car Thing is available for purchase at a price of $89.99 and requires a Spotify Premium subscription plan, along with a phone equipped with a mobile data connection. Further details on using the device can be found at carthing.spotify.com.

Does Spotify car thing need wifi?

Regarding connectivity, Car Thing relies on Bluetooth to connect to your phone, and it can function even when your phone is in offline mode. However, with limited functionality in offline mode, it is recommended to ensure that Bluetooth is still connected if your data is turned off on your phone.

Conclusion:

As Spotify’s engineers actively work on expanding the Car Thing’s functionality, the product is worth keeping an eye on for potential future updates. However, for now, unless you are a dedicated Spotify user, there are more cost-effective or comprehensive ways to enjoy your tunes on the road. Visit cnet.com for an in-depth review and insights from Spotify’s designers and developers about the product’s future.