Lead
Rabbit Inc. announced on September 8, 2025, that a major software overhaul—RabbitOS 2—is rolling out as a free update for the Rabbit R1, the AI handheld it released in 2024. The company published an eight-minute video on its official X account describing a redesigned interface, clearer capability cues and new features such as a Card Stack and R1 Creations. Rabbit frames the release as a reset aimed at addressing gaps between the original vision and user experience; the firm expects the software revision to improve day-to-day usefulness without launching new hardware.
Key Takeaways
- RabbitOS 2 begins rolling out to Rabbit R1 devices on September 8, 2025, as a free download for the 2024 model.
- The company released an eight-minute announcement video on its official X account summarizing the overhaul and admitting prior UX shortfalls.
- Major UI changes include an improved touch/gesture layer, a Quick Settings panel for volume and brightness, and a visible conversation flow with mute and expanded keyboard options.
- New organizational features include a Card Stack that functions like an app drawer and a camera shortcut accessible from conversation screens.
- Translation tools now provide full conversation transcripts synced to the Rabbit Hole activity hub to track exchanges.
- R1 Creations and Rabbit Intern aim to let users build and share lightweight AI apps; the update emphasizes ease-of-use for community “vibe coders.”
- Rabbit describes the new release as a full platform revamp rather than a minor patch; the company positioned the change as a corrective to earlier execution gaps.
Background
Rabbit Inc. launched the R1 handheld AI device in 2024 as part of a wave of consumer-focused generative-AI gadgets. The R1 combined a touchscreen, microphone, camera and a device-hosted AI agent to offer translation, image tasks and conversational assistants. Early reviews noted promise in concept but raised concerns about discoverability, inconsistent responses and an interface that left some key features opaque to users.
The market for small AI appliances has been competitive: manufacturers have iterated rapidly on both hardware and software to refine workflows and reduce friction. For devices like the R1, the software layer typically determines perceived value, because many capabilities are delivered or limited by on-device or companion-cloud services. Rabbit’s decision to prioritize a system-wide OS update rather than immediate new hardware reflects that dynamic.
Main Event
On September 8, 2025, Rabbit published an eight-minute video on its official X account describing RabbitOS 2 and the reasons behind it. The company used the clip to acknowledge a gap between its initial ambitions and what users experienced, then walked through redesigned screens and interaction patterns that will appear on updated R1 units.
The new UI centers on more functional touch and gesture controls and introduces a Quick Settings screen similar to mainstream mobile platforms; that panel exposes volume, brightness and card shortcuts for camera or text input. Conversation pages now display a clearer response thread, and users can mute the mic or expand a keyboard to type follow-ups.
RabbitOS 2 adds a Card Stack as a primary navigation affordance—scrolling through cards reveals functions such as Magic Gallery, recordings and Rabbit Intern. The update also surfaces a camera shortcut from conversations and refactors translation to produce full conversation transcripts that sync with the Rabbit Hole activity hub.
For creators, Rabbit built an R1 Creations space where community members can publish small AI apps and games. The Rabbit Intern agent is presented as a low-friction tool that generates utilities from prompts, enabling creators to produce content without deep engineering work. Rabbit said the update is available immediately to owners of the 2024 R1 model.
Analysis & Implications
Software-only relaunches carry both opportunity and risk. On the positive side, a well-executed OS upgrade can materially improve user retention and unlock features that were previously underused because they were hard to find. By making conversation flow visible and adding transcript sync, RabbitOS 2 aims to make the R1’s AI outputs easier to verify and follow—addressing a common usability failure.
However, software fixes cannot always erase first impressions. Devices that underperform early can struggle to regain momentum even after significant updates, particularly if competing products continue to iterate. Rabbit’s transparent admission of earlier shortcomings is strategically important: framing the release as a genuine overhaul could help rebuild trust but will require measurable user-experience improvements and clear communication about what changed.
The R1 Creations and Rabbit Intern features are the most consequential long-term bets. If they attract an active community of “vibe coders” who publish useful, lightweight apps, Rabbit could create a flywheel of content that increases device value. That scenario depends on discoverability, moderation and whether Rabbit enables safe sharing and easy installation without excessive friction.
Comparison & Data
| Item | R1 (ship, 2024) | RabbitOS 2 (update, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | Limited gesture and hidden features | Card Stack app-like drawer; Quick Settings |
| Conversation UX | Fragmented responses; follow-up friction | Visible conversation flow; mute and keyboard options |
| Translations | Segmented snippets | Full transcripts synced to Rabbit Hole |
| Creator tools | No official in-device store | R1 Creations hub + Rabbit Intern agent |
These changes reorient the device from a proof-of-concept gadget into a platform with clearer navigation, traceable outputs and a nascent creator marketplace. The practical impact will hinge on adoption metrics—active users, Creations published, and retention after the update—which Rabbit has not published.
Reactions & Quotes
Rabbit framed the release candidly in social media posts and the announcement clip, underscoring the company’s intent to change course.
“the old r1 is dead.”
Rabbit Inc. (official X post)
“we realized there was a gap between our early vision and the actual experience we delivered. so we overhauled everything.”
Rabbit Inc. (announcement video)
Independent community posts and early user replies show a mix of cautious optimism and skepticism; some users praised clearer navigation while others noted that long-term success depends on the depth of improvements and how quickly Rabbit addresses remaining bugs. Tech observers pointed to the update as an important test of whether software can revive interest in a device that struggled to reach mainstream adoption.
Unconfirmed
- Whether RabbitOS 2 will materially reverse the R1’s commercial performance—sales and active-user metrics post-update remain undisclosed.
- Precise timelines for broader feature rollouts (for example, wider developer tools, safety moderation, or cloud-backed capabilities) have not been publicly confirmed.
Bottom Line
RabbitOS 2 is a deliberate attempt by Rabbit Inc. to reposition the R1 from a niche experiment into a more usable consumer platform. The company focused on navigation, visible conversation threads and creator tooling—areas most likely to influence day-to-day utility.
Ultimately, the update’s success depends on measurable improvements in user engagement and the ability of R1 Creations and Rabbit Intern to attract a sustained developer and user ecosystem. Observers should watch retention, Creations published, and Rabbit’s transparency about performance metrics as the best early signals of whether this software-first do-over achieves its goal.
Sources
- Rabbit Inc. official X account (official company announcement)
- 9to5Google (technology news report summarizing the update)