Spotify has been the go-to digital music service for millions of listeners worldwide. It keeps growing and evolving, entering new markets and providing a more effortless listening experience. One of their latest innovations is the Spotify Car Thing: A device specifically designed to optimize the use of Spotify in your car. But what exactly is this “Car Thing,” and what isn’t it?

What Is the Spotify Car Thing?

The Spotify Car Thing is a smart music player designed primarily for use in your car. Its purpose is to streamline the experience of using Spotify while driving, ensuring safe, distraction-free access to your favorite tunes and podcasts on the road.

Key Features:

1. Voice Control: The Car Thing comes with built-in microphones that allow you to use voice commands to control your music. Just say “Hey, Spotify” followed by your query, and it will be ready to help.

2. Easy-to-Read Screen: The device features a color display that clearly shows album art, playlists, and song titles. The screen can be adjusted for horizontal or vertical orientation.

3. Controls: Apart from voice control, Car Thing offers physical buttons such as play/pause and track skip. Additionally, it includes a rotary knob that allows scrolling through playlists comfortably.

4. Compatibility: The Spotify Car Thing pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth and operates through an AUX input, USB cable, or any other car audio input supported by your vehicle.

5. Dashboard Mounts: The device comes with various mounting options, including a dashboard mount, air vent mount, or CD slot mounts.

What Isn’t It?

1. Not a Standalone Device: The Spotify Car Thing requires a smartphone with a mobile data connection to function properly since it doesn’t have built-in cellular connectivity.

2. Subscription-Based: To get the most out of Car Thing, you must have an active Spotify Premium subscription.

3. Limited to Spotify: The primary purpose of Car Thing is to play Spotify content. It won’t work with other music streaming platforms or services like Apple Music, Amazon Music, or Tidal.

4. No FM Radio: Car Thing is not a replacement for your car radio as it only works with the Spotify App and does not offer FM radio functionality.

5. Exclusivity: It’s currently available in limited quantities in the United States, and there’s no set date for when it will become more broadly accessible or hit international markets.

In conclusion, the Spotify Car Thing is a unique device tailored to enhance your in-car listening experience with Spotify. It ensures simpler and safer navigation through your playlists and podcasts while on the road. Although it has limitations like exclusive support for Spotify and reliance on smartphone connectivity, it’s an interesting gadget for those who are passionate about music and use Spotify regularly during their daily commutes or long drives.