“The Rabbit R1 was billed as one of the year's most exciting AI gadgets. Instead, it has turned out to be a buggy, flawed, and disappointing device in nearly every aspect.”
The Rabbit R1 aimed to introduce something fresh: touted as the world’s “simplest computer,” it was designed to complement your smartphone seamlessly. With its eye-catching orange hue showcased at CES, it promised to herald a new era of AI-enhanced technology.
Venturing into new territory in the mobile tech industry requires boldness, which I admire greatly. However, after using the Rabbit R1, I cannot recommend it to anyone. In my extensive experience reviewing mobile devices, the Rabbit R1 ranks as one of the least impressive gadgets I’ve encountered.
We’ll start with a highlight — the sole positive aspect of this review. The Rabbit R1 is undeniably cute! Crafted in collaboration with Teenage Engineering, known for the Playdate design, it embodies a retro-futuristic aesthetic that I absolutely adore. The vibrant orange finish is striking, with a fun scroll wheel and button that add a charming touch. Its compact square shape is also delightful. The build quality is commendable, featuring a satisfying button press, a clever scroll wheel for camera rotation, and a SIM tray that can be ejected easily with just your finger—no tool needed.
Regrettably, other hardware features of the R1 leave much to be desired. Although the external speaker is visually appealing, it delivers a poor audio experience. Even at 50% volume, the sound is shrill, distorted, and lacks depth. While it's adequate for reading out responses, it's woefully insufficient as a music player. Additionally, the camera quality is subpar. The R1 boasts an 8MP camera, but it's restricted to the device’s Vision mode and cannot currently capture photos or videos. It does save a snapshot each time Vision mode is activated, yet those images disappoint. Rabbit plans to introduce video calling in the future, but given the current camera quality, I can’t imagine wanting to use the R1 for that.
Battery life is another weak point. I started one day with a full charge at 9 a.m. and was down to 6% by 6:15 p.m., with the device completely dead by 7 p.m. A software update on April 30 promised to enhance idle battery performance “up to 5x.” While I noticed slight improvements, the battery life remained mediocre. On another occasion, starting with a full charge, the R1 dwindled to 45% by 5 p.m., even when used exclusively on Wi-Fi with minimal engagement.
The Rabbit R1's primary function is voice interaction. By pressing and holding the side button, users can ask questions and give commands, much like a walkie-talkie. What types of inquiries can you make? Essentially, anything that comes to mind. Similar to AI chatbots like ChatGPT, the R1 claims to handle a wide array of questions. However, it frequently stumbles on basic queries.
Here are a few examples:
When I asked about sunset times, one day it read the weather forecast without providing the actual time. On another day, it correctly answered the query. The device often returned incorrect weather forecasts for places like Edmonds, Washington; Houston; and Ramsey County, Minnesota, despite my location being Portage, Michigan. I asked for dining recommendations during a planned trip to Paris, and it opened DoorDash instead. When I inquired about the NFL Draft scheduled for April 25, it mistakenly provided the dates for past drafts. Even a request for “nice, fancy restaurants” in my area resulted in two recommendations for places that have been permanently closed for years. When I asked for the nearest coffee shop, it mistakenly referred me to one in Illinois.
Did the R1 provide me with accurate answers at times? Yes. For example, when I inquired about Fallout 5's release date, it delivered a detailed explanation of Bethesda’s long development timeline and the status of Elder Scrolls VI, hinting at a possible Fallout 5 launch not until the 2030s. It correctly informed me of the next Detroit Tigers game and their previous night’s score. However, the frequency of incorrect responses has led me to distrust the device. Like many AI systems, it confidently presents answers even when they are erroneous. This raises significant concerns in a world grappling with misinformation. Moreover, if I find myself cross-checking the R1's responses with a Google search, I may as well use my smartphone directly, saving myself time.
The second key feature of the Rabbit R1 is its “Vision mode.” Activating Vision mode by double-tapping the button allows users to ask the R1 about its visual inputs. On a technical level, Vision mode can be impressive, accurately describing various scenes, as shown in the examples below. However, there are instances where it misidentifies objects. For instance, it labeled my Honor Magic 6 RSR as a camera rather than a smartphone and misclassified my pit bull/boxer mix as both a golden retriever and a rottweiler at different times. Even in successful instances, I viewed Vision as more of a tech demo than a genuinely useful feature. For example, while it may describe my living room as “cozy and colorful,” I find little value in these assessments. The most beneficial application for the R1 was identifying plants, but since I don’t trust its accuracy, I can just use any smartphone to accomplish the same task. So, what's the point?
The Rabbit R1 also offers a Connections system, allowing users to link their credentials from various apps for seamless task execution. Currently, only four Connections are available: Spotify, Uber, DoorDash, and Midjourney, with plans for Amazon Music, Apple Music, Airbnb, Lyft, OpenTable, Ticketmaster, and Uber Eats in development.
However, my experiences with Spotify and DoorDash were profoundly disappointing. Connecting to Spotify seems straightforward at first. After linking my account, pressing and holding the button allows me to request specific songs, albums, or playlists for various moods. Yet, the functionality is unreliable. Frequently, the scroll wheel skips songs or unexpectedly returns to the “home screen.” I've struggled to play specific albums, often ending up with random tracks from albums I didn't request. Even requesting the latest Vampire Weekend album resulted in it playing their debut from 2008. Asking to “skip to the next song” is futile, as the R1 states it cannot perform that action.
As for DoorDash, the experience is similarly frustrating. One cannot simply say, “Open DoorDash.” Instead, phrases like “I’m hungry” or “Order me McDonald's” are necessary. Loading the DoorDash interface can take over a minute, and once there, users may encounter error messages when attempting to view menus. When it does work, only three restaurants appear, each displaying a mere six items. Adding an item to the cart necessitates scrolling to the bottom of the page — a process that took me over a week to discover. Perhaps most frustrating is the inability to select a payment method, leading to potentially higher charges. For instance, I benefit from a free DashPass with my Chase card, saving at least $5 per order, but I cannot access that option through the R1.
User experience is also hampered by the Rabbit R1's interface powered by "Rabbit OS." Although it shares some similarities with Android, this OS fails to meet expectations. While the device features a touchscreen for typing Wi-Fi passwords and entering “Terminal mode” commands, it largely underutilizes this capability. Instead, users navigate menus using the wheel, which is counterintuitive. Disabling the touchscreen for common functions is a baffling oversight. Adjusting settings requires shaking the device and scrolling through them one by one instead of simply tapping on options. Crucial functions like adjusting brightness or volume necessitate a clunky two-handed process. Unfortunately, there’s no option for voice commands to change settings — on a device primarily designed for voice interaction.
Moreover, in common applications like DoorDash, once a restaurant is selected, returning to the previous options is impossible, requiring users to exit back to the home screen and reload the app, wasting precious time. Additionally, the R1 experiences frequent connectivity issues with Rabbit OS, often displaying a “Can’t connect to Rabbit OS” error after voice commands, necessitating repeated soft resets by pressing the side button multiple times.
Throughout this review, I have highlighted the Rabbit R1's current features, but it is equally crucial to address what it lacks. Despite claiming advanced AI capabilities, the R1 is missing many fundamental features, including:
- Alarms
- Timers
- Contacts
- Calendar
- Smart home controls
- Local music/media storage
- Turn-by-turn navigation
- Online shopping
- Texting/calling
- Video messaging
Rabbit promises that some of these functions will be introduced in the summer, while others remain in development or planned for the future. While these updates are anticipated, they do not excuse the release of an unfinished product. In 2024, users expect connected devices to support these essential features. Furthermore, promises of future enhancements lack guarantees, so consumers should buy based on the product's current capabilities, not on what might be added later.
The Rabbit R1 is currently available for $199 on Rabbit's website, with new orders shipping in June. While this price is definitely more appealing compared to the $699 Humane AI Pin, it may still tempt those wanting to splurge. Rabbit boasts there’s “no subscription” required for using the device, though this is misleading. For portable functionality, you'll need a SIM card with an active data plan, adding another monthly expense. Moreover, using Spotify necessitates a paid account, and utilizing Midjourney for AI image generation involves a minimum monthly fee of $10.
In summary, there are numerous flaws with the Rabbit R1. Its inadequate speaker and camera, slow performance, convoluted operating system, unreliable responses, and extensive list of essential features that are absent render it a deeply flawed product. However, the most damning critique lies in its core proposition. Suppose the R1 had better audio quality, faster loading times for services, a more intuitive interface, and included basic functions like an alarm or calendar. Even then, it would still struggle to justify its place in the market. Ultimately, it pales in comparison to the versatility and functionality of a smartphone.
The R1's concept is misguided, its foundation shaky, and its execution is subpar. For those seeking an AI assistant, options like the Perplexity app—free on Android and iOS—use the same technology for internet searches as the R1. Listening to Spotify or ordering food is significantly more enjoyable via smartphone, allowing for calls, texts, videos, or games, which the R1 cannot offer. While the Humane AI Pin may have its shortcomings, it at least distinguishes itself from standard smartphones. The Rabbit R1 merely replicates functions already provided by phones while performing some tasks even less effectively. Consequently, there is no scenario in which I would prefer the R1 over my smartphone. The R1's concept is flawed, its foundation misguided, and its execution intolerable. Unfortunately, no amount of cute design or vibrant color can save it.
Ranking
