After a bumpy start, the rabbit R1, a pocket-sized AI device, is making a comeback with a major software update: rabbitOS 2. When it first launched, the R1 was met with negative reviews. It got critics and users alike questioning its purpose and usability. The company’s own CEO, Jesse Lyu, acknowledged the “big gap” between their ambitious vision and the actual user experience.
Now, with the release of rabbitOS 2, the company is hoping to give the device a second chance. The update isn’t just a minor fix. We’re talking about a complete overhaul of the operating system, with the company saying that the device is now “completely new.”
rabbitOS 2 promises to fully transform the AI-powered rabbit R1
One of the biggest changes in rabbitOS 2 is a new user interface. The old, sometimes confusing, voice-first system has been replaced with a more familiar, card-based design. The new UI is much easier to navigate with the touchscreen or the scroll wheel. This makes it easier for users to understand what the device can do. For example, instead of guessing what commands to use, you can now simply swipe through a stack of cards to find features like the camera or translation functions.
User-requested features have also been added. Conversations with the AI are now more visual, with the flow of your chat displayed right on the screen. You can also combine voice, text, and images in a single query, making interactions more fluid.
“Vibe Coding,” a new stellar feature
The most significant addition to rabbitOS 2 is a new feature called Creations. This is where the R1’s potential really shines. The company is introducing a concept they call “vibe coding,” which allows users to generate their own software just by talking to the device. You can simply describe a tool or a simple game you want to create, and the R1’s AI agent will generate it on the device in a matter of minutes.
This feature addresses a key criticism towards the device: the lack of clear functionality. It also empowers users to build their own experiences. The company is offering a free global shipping promotion for the R1 through the end of September, hoping these changes will attract new users.
the old r1 is dead. introducing a totally new experience with rabbitOS 2 + creations.
we realized there was a gap between our early vision and the actual experience we delivered. so we overhauled everything.
0:00 flashback
0:14 facing the facts
2:18 the revamp: rabbitOS 2… pic.twitter.com/xOtyJ6Uilb— rabbit inc. (@rabbit_hmi) September 8, 2025
Without a doubt, rabbitOS 2 seems like a good attempt at redemption on the part of the company. Now the device could finally offer the experience it should have offered from the start. Will it be enough to convince those disappointed by the initial results to give the company a second chance? Only time will tell. However, it’s good that Rabbit is making this new push instead of simply abandoning the R1 and the users who trusted it from the start.
