Tesla Optimus Gen 3 design possibly revealed in Android app

Tesla’s next-generation Optimus humanoid robot may have just made an early appearance. New 3D design assets discovered inside the Android version of Tesla’s mobile app offer what may be our first look at the design of Optimus Gen 3, including some significant changes compared to previous versions.

The discovery comes from a now-deleted X post from @wholemars, who extracted the assets from Tesla’s Android app APK. The files include renders labelled “gen3,” along with images showing Optimus Gen 2.5 and Gen 3 side by side, making it easier to spot the differences between the two generations.

Unlike spy photos or unofficial concept renders, these appear to be Tesla’s own design and UI assets embedded in the publicly distributed app package.

What’s changed

One of the most noticeable changes is how much cleaner the robot looks with completely enclosed joints, replacing some of the exposed actuators and mechanical components visible on earlier versions of Optimus.

The torso also has a more unified shell, giving the robot’s body a smoother, more human-like, appearance.

There are some interesting changes to the arms and hands as well. The renders appears to show thicker forearms, while the wrists are noticeably slimmer. This is consistent with Tesla potentially relocating some of the hand’s actuators into the forearms, using a tendon-driven arrangement to control the fingers.

The legs also appear to have been redesigned, with more tapered calves and feet that resemble integrated boots rather than separate mechanical assemblies.

The Optimus Gen 3 assets reportedly began appearing in Android app builds around August 27, 2026, with higher-resolution versions emerging around September 5.

When will Optimus Gen 3 be revealed?

Tesla originally planned to unveil Optimus Gen 3 before the end of the first quarter of 2026, but that deadline came and went without a reveal. In March, Elon Musk said the robot was already walking around but needed some finishing touches before it was ready to be shown.

ALSO READ: Tesla Optimus Factory Build Accelerates Ahead Of 2027 Production Target

Then during Tesla’s Q1 earnings call in April, Musk pushed the expected unveiling to the middle of the year, explaining that Tesla wanted to hold off on showing the new design until closer to production, partly to prevent competitors from copying its technology.

That window has now passed as well, with Tesla yet to announce an official reveal date. However, the appearance of these Gen 3 assets in the company’s mobile app could be another sign that a public unveiling is getting closer, even if Tesla isn’t quite ready to show off the real thing. 

In another sign that a reveal could be getting closer, Tesla also recently started auditing suppliers in China for Gen 3 Optimus production.