Rabbit R1’s Redemption: RabbitOS 2, Creations, and the ‘Rebirth’ Play

The Rabbit R1 — once criticized for buggy software and limited functionality — has received a major software update: RabbitOS 2. The update improves touch responsiveness, introduces a colorful card-based UI, and launches Creations, a voice-driven system that lets users “vibe code” custom apps using the R1’s AI agent, Intern.

What’s new in RabbitOS 2

• Card-based interface and better touchscreen gestures for quicker navigation.
• Quality-of-life improvements (offline voice memo transcription, improved settings access).
• Creations: describe an app, answer clarifying questions, and Intern builds it — no manual coding required.

Creations & Intern

Creations evolve Teach mode into a smoother workflow. Intern understands R1 hardware and creates apps tailored to the device — I made a working guitar tuner in about five minutes using voice prompts. Users can share Creations via Rabbit’s Rabbithole hub or QR codes instead of a traditional app store.

Pricing, availability & limits

• R1 device price remains at around $199.
• Intern tasks are metered: there are paid allowances (examples reported: 3 tasks for $30; monthly plans for more), so using Intern frequently can incur costs.
• Creations currently lack native monetization for creators — Rabbit handles distribution but hasn’t implemented a creator payment system yet.

CEO comments & future plans

CEO Jesse Lyu has asked users for a second chance and framed the update as a “rebirth” for Rabbit. The company is focused on improving software and sees Creations as a core differentiator. Rabbit has hinted about long-term hardware ambitions but has not provided specific details or confirmed a phone project.

Considerations

• Creations are compelling for personalization, but many users prefer polished apps that just work. Maintaining apps is nontrivial, and AI-generated code can still need fixes.
• Some smartphone features (banking, rich streaming apps) remain difficult to replicate on the R1 — third-party integrations are possible but may be limited compared to native phone apps.

Where to learn more / buy

Official product info: Rabbit R1 (official)
Independent coverage: TechRadar: RabbitOS 2 coverage
Buy/search on Amazon (affiliate): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Rabbit+R1&tag=f1rede-20

Notes: This post summarizes recent reporting and Rabbit’s official announcements. It excludes links to the original Engadget piece per request; for further reading, consult Rabbit’s official newsroom and independent reviews.

Would you try vibe-coding an app on a dedicated AI gadget, or do you prefer your phone to do everything? Comment below.