* Users will need a Premium account to use the device. These include Night Mode, which dims screen brightness in the evening, and an Add to Queue command, which lets you queue up your favorite music and podcasts by simply using your voice. Car Thing is now available to purchase for $89.99 and requires a Spotify Premium subscription plan along with a phone with a mobile data connection. You can find more details about how to use the device at. We heard from drivers some requests that we are working to incorporate into future Car Thing updates. Here’s how Spotify describes the beta period for it’s new hardware and how you can in theory get in on it.ĭuring our exploration phase, we discovered a lot about how people listen in the car, and for many users, how Car Thing can help improve that experience. As the hype train prepares to leave the station again, I think it’s worth revisiting what the Spotify Car Thing is and, more importantly, what it’s not. Recently CNET took a look at what it’s like to live with the device, but with sales locked behind an invitation system for select Premium subscribers, most consumers wouldn’t get an opportunity to find out for themselves what the Car Thing’s deal is. With a reported two million people on the waitlist it’s easy to wonder “what is this thing that’s so different from my iPhone that it should cost $90 a month?”ĬNET Roadshoww can help you figure out what it is and whether you want one.
If Spotify doesn’t listen any better than Siri does, there are also “simple taps, turns, and swipes” for your seamless in-car experience.
If you’re tired of arguing with Hey Siri, you can switch to Hey Spotify voice commands.
Now,the device is available for purchase in the U.S. In October, the company did a limited release of Car Thing to Spotify Premium users. In April 2021, Spotify announced their exploration of a smart player for the car.