Rabbit R1 Honest Review - Another AI Pin?

Matthew Berman
26 Apr 202417:35

TLDRThis review of the Rabbit R1 device praises its form factor and build quality, noting the high-resolution screen, solid feel, and impressive design by Teenage Engineering. The hardware is described as well-made, with responsive buttons and a satisfying scroll wheel. However, the battery life is criticized for draining quickly, and the speaker quality is considered average, especially for music. The device's main strength lies in its ability to provide fast, accurate responses to voice queries and its potential as a future companion AI device. Despite some setup issues and the slow performance of certain services like DoorDash, the reviewer is optimistic about the device's potential and recommends it for those interested in cutting-edge technology and quick access to AI-powered knowledge.

Takeaways

  • 🎥 The Rabbit R1 is a standalone AI device that the reviewer appreciates for its personal and special form factor.
  • 🎨 Teenage Engineering designed the device, which is praised for its high-quality build, solid feel, and gorgeous appearance.
  • 📱 The device has a high-resolution screen, is lightweight, and includes a scroll wheel and a single gray button for physical input, with voice being the primary input method.
  • 🔋 The battery life is a concern; it drains quickly when using mobile service and even in sleep mode.
  • 🔌 It charges quickly, reaching full charge in under an hour.
  • 🗣️ The device responds quickly to voice commands, providing information and performing tasks faster than expected.
  • 👀 The 'Vision' feature allows the device to identify objects when the camera is activated, showcasing the AI's ability to process visual input.
  • 🔊 The speaker quality is good for voice interactions but not ideal for music playback, though Bluetooth support allows for headphone use.
  • 🤖 The Rabbit OS has some user interface issues, particularly with services like DoorDash, which are slow and unintuitive to use through the device.
  • 🔄 The device allows for some user customization through settings, but the reviewer wishes for more voice control over device functions.
  • 💬 The core function as a knowledge source is highly effective, providing fast, accurate, and up-to-date answers to questions.
  • 📈 The reviewer sees potential in the device as a glimpse into the future of AI companions but acknowledges that the software needs improvement.

Q & A

  • What is the reviewer's overall opinion of the Rabbit device?

    -The reviewer has a positive overall opinion of the Rabbit device, appreciating its form factor, build quality, and the speed of responses. However, they also note areas for improvement, particularly the battery life and some software functionalities.

  • How does the reviewer describe the design and build quality of the Rabbit device?

    -The reviewer describes the design and build quality of the Rabbit device as gorgeous, solid, and well-made. They are impressed by the high-resolution screen, the clicky buttons, and the scroll wheel's feel.

  • What are the connectivity options available on the Rabbit device?

    -The Rabbit device offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cell service connectivity options.

  • What issue does the reviewer have with the battery life of the Rabbit device?

    -The reviewer finds the battery life of the Rabbit device to be not great, noting that it drains quickly, especially when mobile service is on.

  • How does the Rabbit device perform in terms of speed and responsiveness?

    -The Rabbit device performs well in terms of speed and responsiveness, with the reviewer noting that responses come through in a few seconds, often around two seconds when a question is asked.

  • What is the reviewer's experience with setting up the Rabbit device and its services?

    -The reviewer finds the setup process to be a mixed bag. While some services like Spotify work well, others like DoorDash are slow and unintuitive to use through the Rabbit device.

  • How does the Rabbit device handle voice commands and natural language processing?

    -The Rabbit device handles voice commands and natural language processing effectively, providing accurate and fast responses to a wide range of questions.

  • What are the reviewer's thoughts on the Rabbit device's potential as an AI companion?

    -The reviewer sees the potential of the Rabbit device as a future AI companion, despite some current limitations. They are excited about the concept and look forward to future updates and improvements.

  • What is the price of the Rabbit device, and does it require a subscription fee?

    -The Rabbit device is priced at $199, and there is no subscription fee required for its use.

  • What is the reviewer's recommendation for potential buyers of the Rabbit device?

    -The reviewer recommends the Rabbit device for those who want to be at the cutting edge of technology, ask questions to AI quickly and easily, and can see past its current limitations with the anticipation of future updates.

  • What are some of the hardware features of the Rabbit device that the reviewer likes?

    -The reviewer likes the USB-C charging port, the SIM card slot for mobile service, the physical buttons, and the scroll wheel as some of the hardware features of the Rabbit device.

  • What is the reviewer's opinion on the Rabbit device's ability to control other apps and services?

    -The reviewer is impressed with the Rabbit device's ability to control some apps like Spotify but finds the control over others, such as DoorDash, to be slow and not very user-friendly.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Device Review and Hardware Impressions

The first paragraph introduces the video as a review of a device called 'rabbit', emphasizing that the opinion is genuine and not sponsored. The reviewer, who isn't a tech expert, shares a personal perspective on the device's form factor, hardware, and design. They appreciate the standalone nature of the device, its compact and lightweight design, high-resolution screen, solid build quality, and the responsive buttons. The device is created by Teenage Engineering, known for their audio products. The paragraph also touches on the device's connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cell service, but notes a concern with the battery life.

05:02

🚀 Speedy AI and Vision Capabilities

The second paragraph focuses on the device's speed and AI capabilities. The reviewer is impressed with the rapid response times and the device's ability to use both voice and visual inputs. They demonstrate the 'Vision' feature, which allows the device to identify objects when the camera is pointed at them. The paragraph also discusses the user interface for adjusting settings and the device's Bluetooth connectivity for listening to music. Additionally, there's a mention of a sponsorship by Careerist, an online training platform for tech and coding.

10:04

🔄 Service Integration and User Experience

The third paragraph delves into the device's setup process and its integration with various services through an online portal called 'rabbit hole'. The reviewer discusses the capabilities of the device to perform tasks within apps by simulating user actions, rather than through API connections. They share their experience with using the device to play music via Spotify and attempt to order food through DoorDash, which they find to be slow and unintuitive. The paragraph highlights the potential of the device but also points out the current limitations and user interface issues.

15:06

🔋 Battery Concerns and Overall Assessment

The final paragraph provides an overall assessment of the device. The reviewer reiterates their admiration for the hardware's design and build quality but re-emphasizes concerns about the battery life. They discuss the device's software, mentioning issues with connectivity and the potential for future improvements. The reviewer praises the device's ability to serve as a knowledge source and compares its speed and accuracy favorably to other voice assistants like Siri. They conclude by stating that, despite some shortcomings, the device is a promising glimpse into the future of AI technology and is worth the investment for those interested in cutting-edge gadgets.

Mindmap

Keywords

Rabbit R1

The Rabbit R1 is a standalone AI device that is the subject of the review. It is described as having a unique form factor and being well-made with high-quality hardware. The device is noted for its ability to provide information and perform tasks through voice commands and its 'Vision' feature, which uses the camera to identify objects and provide relevant information.

Form Factor

The form factor refers to the physical design of the Rabbit R1 device. It is praised for being compact, lightweight, and easy to hold, with a solid feel and high-quality build. The form factor is significant as it contributes to the device's portability and user experience.

Hardware

The hardware of the Rabbit R1 includes its physical components such as the screen, buttons, scroll wheel, speaker, and camera. The device's hardware is highlighted as one of its strong points, with the reviewer noting the clicky buttons, solid scroll wheel, and the device's aesthetic appeal.

Battery Life

Battery life is a critical aspect of the Rabbit R1's performance. The reviewer mentions that the battery is not great, with concerns about rapid battery drain when mobile service is active or when the device is in sleep mode. This is an important consideration for potential users, as battery life affects the device's usability and convenience.

Voice Control

Voice control is a primary interaction method with the Rabbit R1, allowing users to ask questions and give commands without physical input. The review emphasizes the speed and accuracy of the device's responses to voice queries, which is a key feature for the device's functionality.

Vision

The 'Vision' feature of the Rabbit R1 utilizes its camera to identify objects or text when a user double-taps the device. It is an innovative aspect that allows for hands-free interaction and information retrieval, showcasing the device's ability to integrate visual recognition with its AI capabilities.

User Interface (UI)

The user interface of the Rabbit R1 is described as having some issues, particularly with the custom UI for services like DoorDash. The UI is crucial for the user experience, and the review points out that it can be slow, unintuitive, and sometimes confusing, which detracts from the overall usability of the device.

Setup

The setup process for the Rabbit R1 involves creating an account through the Rabbit Hole online portal. The reviewer found the setup to be a mixed experience, noting the convenience of linking services like Spotify but also the difficulties encountered when trying to use other services like DoorDash.

AI Agents

AI agents on the Rabbit R1 are designed to perform tasks within apps on behalf of the user, without using an API. This feature is central to the device's concept, allowing for actions like playing music through Spotify. However, the reviewer found that the execution was not seamless for all services, indicating room for improvement.

Fingerprint Magnet

The term 'fingerprint magnet' is used to describe the device's glossy finish, which tends to show smudges and fingerprints easily. While it is an aesthetic choice that makes the device look attractive, it also requires more frequent cleaning, which is a minor inconvenience for users.

Cutting-Edge Technology

The Rabbit R1 is described as a piece of cutting-edge technology, signifying that it is at the forefront of innovation. The reviewer is excited about the potential future developments and updates for the device, which could enhance its capabilities and user experience.

Highlights

The Rabbit R1 is a standalone AI device that offers a personal and special form factor.

The device's design is by Teenage Engineering, known for their high-quality audio products.

Rabbit R1 has a high-resolution screen, solid build, and is smaller and lighter than expected.

The hardware includes a clicky button, solid scroll wheel, and easy SIM card insertion.

The device supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cell service, but the battery life is a concern.

Rabbit R1 charges quickly, reaching full charge in under an hour.

The main screen displays battery percentage, time, and has a unique floating rabbit icon.

Voice commands and responses are impressively fast, usually within two seconds.

Vision feature allows the device to identify objects through its camera.

Unique user input options include shaking the device to access settings.

The scroll wheel could be improved for faster scrolling.

The speaker quality is good for voice interactions but not ideal for music.

Setting up the device involves creating an account through the Rabbit Hole online portal.

The device can automate tasks within apps like Spotify and DoorDash, but with limitations.

DoorDash integration is slow and unintuitive, not living up to the device's potential.

The device lacks voice control for certain functions like volume adjustment.

The hardware is glossy, making it a fingerprint magnet, but it is easy to clean.

Software needs improvement, with frequent connectivity issues and inconsistent agent performance.

As a knowledge source, Rabbit R1 outperforms Siri in speed, accuracy, and up-to-date information.

The device is recommended for those interested in cutting-edge technology and quick access to AI.

The reviewer is excited about the potential of the device and looks forward to future updates.