The Hype vs. The Reality
Remember the Rabbit R1? It was the AI gadget that took CES 2024 by storm — a tiny orange box that promised to do everything your phone does, but better. It would order your Uber, book your flights, and control your smart home, all through a conversational AI. I bought one when they shipped in early 2026, and I've been using it as my primary device for the past week. The result? It's a mess. But it's a fascinating mess.
Let me start with the good stuff. The hardware is beautiful. It's small, bright orange, and feels like a toy from the future. The scroll wheel is satisfying to use, and the camera flips up with a satisfying click. The screen is tiny — just 2.88 inches — but it's sharp enough. The speaker is decent for a device this size. Out of the box, it feels premium. Then you turn it on.
The Setup Process Was Painful
I spent 45 minutes setting up the R1. You need to connect it to your phone via Bluetooth, then log into all your accounts — Uber, Spotify, Amazon, Google, etc. — through the Rabbit OS interface. It's not intuitive. I had to re-enter my Google password three times because the on-screen keyboard is terrible. The scroll wheel is fine for basic navigation, but typing is a nightmare. I ended up using the voice input for everything, which works about 80% of the time. The other 20%, it mishears me and I have to start over.
What It Does Well
When the R1 works, it's genuinely impressive. I used it to order an Uber to the airport. I just said 'Order an Uber to JFK,' and it did it. It picked the right option (UberX, not Uber Black), sent me the confirmation, and even showed the driver's location on the tiny screen. I used it to set a timer while cooking, to check the weather, and to play a specific podcast on Spotify. All of these worked without me touching my phone. For these kinds of quick, voice-driven tasks, the R1 is faster than pulling out my phone and opening an app.
I also used it to control my smart lights. I have Philips Hue bulbs, and the R1 connected to them easily. Saying 'Turn off all lights' worked instantly. No fumbling with apps or voice assistants that don't understand you. It just worked.
Where It Falls Apart
But for every success, there were two failures. I tried to book a flight to Chicago. I said 'Book me a flight from Newark to Chicago O'Hare next Tuesday, arriving before noon.' The R1 processed for about 30 seconds, then showed me three options. I selected one. Then it said 'I'm sorry, I cannot complete this action because of a permissions issue.' I had to go into the settings, re-authorize my travel account, and try again. Even then, it only showed me flights from United, not all airlines. When I asked 'Show me flights from Delta too,' it said it couldn't change the search parameters. I gave up and used my phone.
The biggest problem is reliability. About once a day, the R1 freezes completely. I have to force-restart it by holding the power button for 10 seconds. That's unacceptable for a device that's supposed to replace your phone. Also, the battery life is mediocre — about 6 hours of active use. It's fine for a day out, but you'll need to charge it every night.
The Privacy Question
There's been a lot of talk about privacy with the R1. The device records all your conversations and processes them in the cloud. Rabbit says they don't store the recordings, but I'm skeptical. Also, to use it, you have to give it access to your accounts — Uber, Spotify, Google, etc. If the company gets hacked, that's a lot of data exposed. I wouldn't connect it to my bank or email. For now, I only use it with low-risk accounts.
Who Should Buy This?
Honestly, I can't recommend the Rabbit R1 to most people. It's too unreliable, too limited, and too expensive ($299 plus a $10 monthly subscription). But I can see a future where this idea works. If Rabbit fixes the bugs, improves the battery, and makes it more reliable, it could be a useful companion device. For now, it's a cool toy for tech enthusiasts who want to see what the future might look like. For everyone else, stick with your phone.
Final Verdict
The Rabbit R1 is a glimpse of a future where AI handles our tasks. But that future isn't here yet. The device is buggy, unreliable, and limited. I'm glad I tried it, but I'm not going to keep using it. When I need to do something important, I reach for my phone. The R1 is for when I'm feeling experimental. And that's not enough to justify its price.
