Why Everyone’s Talking About the Rabbit R1: Hands-On After 3 Months

Remember when the Rabbit R1 launched in April 2024 and everyone lost their minds? The little orange AI gadget that was supposed to replace your phone? I was skeptical. I mean, we’ve been promised “the next smartphone killer” for years — Google Glass, Amazon Echo Frames, Humane AI Pin — and they all flopped. But the Rabbit R1 was different. It had a physical scroll wheel, a tiny screen, and this weird retro charm that made you want to believe. I ordered one on day one. Three months later, here’s the honest truth.

The Rabbit R1 is not going to replace your phone. Not even close. But it’s found a surprising place in my life, and I think it points to where AI hardware might actually go.

What It Does Well: The “Do Anything” Promise

The core idea of the R1 is that you train it to perform tasks across apps — booking an Uber, ordering food, sending a message — all by speaking to it naturally. The company calls it a “Large Action Model” rather than a language model. In theory, you say “Book me a ride to the airport at 7 AM tomorrow” and it just does it. No app switching. No tapping. And honestly? When it works, it’s magical. I’ve used it to order pizza from Domino’s, set reminders, and even play music on Spotify. It’s faster than pulling out my phone if I’m driving or cooking. The scroll wheel is satisfying to use — it clicks with a tactile feedback that reminds me of the old iPod click wheel. That alone makes it more fun than any smart speaker.

Where It Falls Short: The Rough Edges

But here’s the catch: it only works about 70% of the time. I’ve tried to order from Uber Eats and it misunderstood the restaurant name three times. I asked it to “send a text to Mom” and it sent it to my friend Mark instead. Awkward. The screen is tiny and low-res — 2.88 inches, 240×536 pixels — so reading anything is a chore. Battery life is about 5 hours of active use, which is mediocre. And the speaker is tinny; music sounds like it’s coming from a can. For $199, it’s fun, but it’s not polished.

Who Should Actually Buy It?

I think the Rabbit R1 is perfect for one specific type of person: someone who wants to reduce phone screen time without giving up connectivity. I keep mine on my desk at work. I use it for quick tasks — checking the weather, setting timers, controlling smart lights — and I’ve noticed I pick up my phone less. It’s like a dopamine detox device. If you’re a tech enthusiast who loves early-stage gadgets, you’ll have fun. If you just want something that works flawlessly, wait for version 2.

The Bigger Picture: AI Hardware’s Awkward Adolescence

The R1 isn’t alone. The Humane AI Pin launched to brutal reviews — it overheated and projected a laser that was hard to see. Meta’s smart glasses (Ray-Ban Meta) are selling well because they look normal and do one thing well: capture video. The lesson? AI hardware is still figuring out what it is. The Rabbit R1 is a noble experiment. It’s not ready for prime time, but it’s the most interesting attempt I’ve seen. If Rabbit releases an R2 with a better screen, longer battery, and more reliable actions, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.

For now, I keep my R1 on my desk. It’s a conversation starter. It’s a tiny orange friend that occasionally gets things wrong. And honestly? I kind of love it for that.