Rabbit R1 Impresses With Design But Falls Short on Execution
After 24 hours with the Rabbit R1, the AI hardware shows off an elegant design but lacks the polish needed to replace your smartphone.
The Rabbit R1 arrives in an incredibly minimal package that highlights its sleek and elegant design. Designed with help from Teenage Engineering, the bright orange device evokes a sense of appreciation similar to the Nothing Phone 2, even though it features a plastic build. The unboxing experience is as simple as it gets, with the R1 sitting inside a transparent carrying case and not even a charging cable included in the box.
Setting up the device proves to be a straightforward process, as the user scans a QR code on the case, creates a Rabbit account, and connects to Wi-Fi. A day-one update immediately begins downloading, prompting the user to explore the "rabbithole" web portal. This portal allows users to connect various services like Spotify, Uber, DoorDash, and Midjourney to the R1, aiming to create an app-free smart device experience.
Despite the intriguing concept of an AI-powered device that bypasses traditional apps, the reviewer remains unconvinced after a full day of use. The R1 presents a much more affordable alternative to other AI hardware like the Humane AI Pin, but it clearly still needs a lot of polish. While the design turns heads, the actual functionality does not yet justify fully abandoning a standard smartphone.