TL;DR:
- Rabbit R1 is a pocket-size AI assistant, comparable in size to a Post-it stack, developed by Teenage Engineering.
- Its features include: a question-answer function, Bluetooth connectivity for headphones, built-in speaker, SIM card tray, swiveling camera, scroll wheel for user interface navigation, USB Type-C charging port and keyboard that emerges when device is turned sideways.
- It lacks a robust app inventory with only four apps currently integrated (Spotify, Uber, DoorDash and Midjourney), cannot perform basic assistant tasks like setting alarms, taking photos or sending emails, and has poor battery life.
- Selling at $200 with no subscription, future improvements are promised.
- Its ability to improve and fulfil these promises is yet to be seen.
Ever considered replacing your smartphone with an AI companion? Meet Rabbit R1 – an AI cube promising a revolution in handheld tech. But is it merely hype or a true slice of future innovation? This bold orange, AI-packed, plastic cube boasts an inbuilt screen and intriguing Teenage Engineering design. Allow me, your tech insider, to unfold the reality behind its claims. Dive into my Rabbit R1 review to discover if this unusual AI cube justifies its price tag.
Rabbit R1: An AI in a Pocket
Let's talk about Rabbit R1. This bright and easily recognizable gadget can fit in your pocket and acts as a virtual assistant. About the size of a stack of Post-its, this lightweight, plastic cube designed by Teenage Engineering draws attention and curiosity. Its single button on the right side allows you to ask questions which it promptly answers, and its built-in screen displays the response text.
Feel free to connect your headphones via Bluetooth or use the built-in speaker. Also, it comes with a SIM card tray, a swiveling camera, a scroll wheel for navigating the user interface, and a USB Type-C port for charging. Its design and functionalities make it faster at providing answers than its competitor, the Humane Ai Pin.
Turn the Rabbit R1 sideways and a keyboard pops up, enabling you to type your questions. However, despite its bright, fun appearance and interesting features; it comes with several shortcomings.
Firstly, its battery life is disappointingly short and it begs to be charged multiple times in a day. A tiny battery taking 45 minutes to charge from zero to a hundred is disconcerting and exhausting indeed.
Secondly, this device conspicuously lacks a lot of basic features we expect of an assistant: it cannot set alarms, timers, record videos, take photos or even send emails. To add to the disappointment, the Rabbit R1 doesn't have a robust catalogue of apps. It currently integrates four apps – Spotify, Uber, DoorDash and Midjourney which still doesn't perform flawlessly.
Rabbit R1’s UI could be drastically improved if it utilized its touch screen feature more. However, the touch screen only springs to life in terminal mode. Despite all these features and capabilities, Rabbit R1 still has lots left to be desired and raises some hard questions about its overall functionality.
That being said, Rabbit R1 is being sold at $200 with no subscription requirement, which definitely makes it a more accessible gamble than the former which requires a significant investment. The device also promises future improvements – a large action model, which they claim to have 800 apps trained for but as of now, it’s just the promise.
Like Tesla mastered the autopilot software by letting their products out in the wild, Rabbit R1 needs to get as much hands-on experience as possible for the necessary improvements. Until then, the product, while promising, is at best a curiosity and an enticing glimpse into the future of personal AI assistants.
However, the golden rule – always buy a product based on what it delivers today and not on its future promises – this holds even more true for this category of devices. So, will the Rabbit R1 leap or lag? Time will provide all the answers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite the high ambitions and innovative vision for the Rabbit R1, the device remains a work in progress. The appeal of a personal AI assistant offers promise, yet the current reality falls short. There is value in the gadget's recognizable design, immediacy of responses, and future potential. But in its current state, functions are limited, inconsistently executed and battery life leaves much to be desired. Despite these challenges, the lower price point may draw in those willing to invest in its potential. As technology evolves, so might the Rabbit R1. Until then, it might be best for most to hold off until the product fully matures.