This evening, while strolling through the "RIVIAN Electric Vehicles Discussion" on Facebook, I came across a post by Derek Seaman. Derek recently sold his Tesla Model 3 and signed a 36-month lease on a BMW i4 eDrive40. While he acknowledges that the i4 is a better car overall, he finds its technology severely lacking compared to Tesla. He’s now holding out for the Rivian R3X but wonders if the R1 or R2 offer the Tesla-like conveniences he loved. Derek writes, "I'm holding out for an R3X, but I sold my Tesla Model 3 yesterday and signed a 36-month lease on a BMW i4 eDrive40. While the i4 is a better car, its technology is severely lacking. The R3X isn't out yet, but I’m wondering if the R1 or R2 have any of the tech features I loved in my Tesla, such as GPS-based automatic garage door control, hands-free phone/watch walk-up and walk-away unlocking (Bluetooth or UWB), and the ability to use an iPhone or Apple Watch as a car key without needing to place it on an NFC pad like in the BMW. I also miss not having an unnecessary start/stop button to drive, proper iOS shortcut support for climate control (rather than just manual controls in the app), an official Apple Watch app from the manufacturer, and Home Assistant integration via a cloud API for home automation." Derek’s post sparked a discussion in the Rivian community, with owners and enthusiasts weighing in on whether Rivian vehicles could match the seamless tech experience Tesla offers. What Rivian Owners Are Saying Santiago Gomez chimed in with a practical suggestion: "Best advice I can give is for you to demo drive an R1S/T. You can see the tech yourself and ask the sales advisor all your questions. They’re usually super knowledgeable & no pressure since you won’t buy through them anyway." Scott Odle provided some direct answers regarding Tesla-like features: "Yes to the second and third features, and partially to the first, the garage button will appear when you're close, but it won’t open automatically (which I prefer). No to the rest, but to me, too much tech can be a drawback, though everyone has their own preferences. Coming from Tesla, you'll find the technology lacking, but as someone who came from a Lexus GX460, I find it amazing." Mark Haelcher compared his BMW i4 M50 and his R1S, noting: "With the i4, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which you'll miss when switching to a Rivian. I have an i4 M50 and an R1S, and while I prefer the R1S overall, it still doesn't come close to the refinement of the BMW." Rivian’s Tech Compared to Tesla and BMW Rivian’s R1 lineup is packed with impressive features, but it still doesn’t fully match Tesla’s tech ecosystem. Tesla’s hallmark conveniences, like GPS-based automatic garage door control, hands-free unlocking via Bluetooth or UWB, and seamless Apple integration, are standout features that set it apart. While Rivian offers a well-executed digital experience, some gaps remain, particularly in Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support and broader smart home integrations.