Design assets labeled "gen3" were found inside a recent Android version of the Tesla app and extracted by a community member. Images showed Gen 3 alongside the older Gen 2.5 prototype. The files were posted briefly on X and then removed, and at least one validation source inside the coverage confirmed the assets are official app models.
The leaked renders portray a robot that reads more like a manufactured product than an exposed lab build. Concrete visual differences reported in the assets:
- Exposed mechanical linkages and the gold-plated knees/shins seen on Gen 2.5 are covered on Gen 3 by matte-black fairings on the lower legs.
- The torso and limbs use smoother, more contoured body panels in a champagne-gold tone, and the panels fit more tightly than previous units.
- Hands—previously noted by Tesla as having 22 degrees of freedom—appear more refined in the renders compared with earlier prototypes.
These changes align with the idea of a robot built for factory or industrial settings rather than only demos on a stage.
What the app assets reveal about Tesla's software plans
Optimus-related code for months. Reported app elements beyond the renders include:
- A dedicated robot phone key concept.
- A consent screen for collecting video and spatial data while Optimus works inside a home.
- An alert system for low battery and mechanical faults.
The presence of finished 3D models alongside that code suggests the app's interface is moving past placeholders toward an integrated owner experience.
Manufacturing signals cited in the report
Tesla has been preparing factory space and supplier relationships in parallel with design work. Specific moves mentioned in the coverage:
- Fremont: Original Model S and Model X production lines were removed to make room for Optimus production, with a cited planned capacity of one million robots a year at the site.
- Giga Texas: A steel frame for a dedicated Optimus factory is reported to be nearing completion, with a targeted 2027 start and an eventual output figure cited in the story.
These manufacturing steps suggest Tesla is aligning facilities and supply chains alongside the Gen 3 design evolution.
Elon Musk said on March 31 that Optimus Gen 3 was walking but required "some finishing touches" before it could be shown publicly. He later indicated Tesla would hold the design until closer to production to deter competitors. The article does not provide an announced reveal date.
- Whether the app renders match final, shipping hardware.
- Exact production timing, testing milestones, and customer availability dates.
- Final performance, durability, and use-case details for factory or consumer deployment.
The app-discovered renders describe a cleaner, more enclosed Optimus design and coincide with app-level work to manage robot ownership and operations. The combination of updated design files, app interface elements, and factory retooling points to Tesla preparing both product and production, while key questions about final hardware, schedules, and availability remain open.