Tesla Theater vs the browser vs screen mirroring
By Lation, Model Y owner · Updated
Tesla Theater is the easiest way to watch in a parked car. The browser opens almost any video site, also only in Park. Screen-mirroring apps put your phone's screen on the car, but encrypted apps show black and sound is often missing. Gigaplay plays YouTube on the center screen in Park or while driving, with nothing to install.
Side by side
| What it plays | Moving | Quality | Setup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Theater | Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Twitch, TikTok and more | Pauses, audio continues | Up to 1080p (Netflix 720p) | Built in |
| Web browser | Most video sites; Max and Prime Video go full screen | Pauses, audio continues | Depends on the site | Built in |
| Rear screen | Theater apps | Keeps playing | Up to 1080p | Built in on newer cars |
| Screen mirroring | Whatever is on your phone, except encrypted apps | Varies by app and update | Limited, often no sound | Phone app plus hotspot, often paid |
| Gigaplay | YouTube | Keeps playing | Up to 1080p with sound | Type an address, scan a code |
Tesla Theater
Theater is a set of streaming sites shown full screen, with the browser chrome hidden. It needs Wi-Fi or Premium Connectivity and only plays with the car in Park. Since August 2026, more services (Max, Paramount+, Peacock and Apple TV among them) open in the same full-screen view.
Best for: watching while you charge or wait.
The web browser
The browser plays most video sites, and since update 2026.26 it goes full screen on sites like Max and Prime Video. Like Theater, video pauses outside Park.
Best for: anything Theater doesn't have, parked.
Screen mirroring
Apps such as TesDisplay, Tesla Display, TslaMirror and Car Cast connect your phone to the car through its hotspot and show your phone's screen in the car's browser. Some claim to work while moving. Reviews are mixed, though: encrypted apps (Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu) show a black screen, and some can't send sound.
Best for: showing an app that has no website.
Gigaplay
Gigaplay is a website built for the car screen. Go to gigaplay.app, tap Open, scan the code with your phone and approve with your Google account. Video plays in up to 1080p with sound through the car speakers, and it keeps playing when the car leaves Park.
Best for: the front passenger, while driving.
Related: Netflix, Hulu or Disney+ while driving · Why video stops in Drive