Just a week after its initial launch, the Rabbit R1’s first software update is here — and not a moment too soon. Right on top of the list of improvements in the OTA update is “up to 5x†improved idle battery performance, addressing a major pain point for early R1 adopters. It’s also great news for me, specifically, because my R1 is constantly out of power.
Technology
The Rabbit R1’s first software update addresses its dismal battery life
The Rabbit R1 gets its first OTA software update today, and it includes a fix for an important issue: a fast-draining battery.
Today’s update consists of two parts: an OTA update pushed directly to R1 devices and a cloud update to Rabbit OS. Battery life is far from the only issue addressed — other highlights include an improved music playback UI, improved Bluetooth reliability, and a fix for a compatibility issue when the device is plugged into a car that seems to have bricked at least one R1.
There’s also improved stability for the voice recorder, which is great news because I haven’t been able to get it to work at all. The update is available now for all R1 devices — to download it, R1 owners only need to connect the device to power and Wi-Fi. I plugged mine in, turned it on, and the update started downloading almost immediately.
Impressions of the Rabbit R1 — both our own and those of other tech reviewers — have thus far been less than stellar. However, the company seems committed to issuing frequent software updates, and a fix for the bad battery life was crucial. (I’ve taken to just leaving the R1 off if I’m not planning on using it for a while because the battery drain issue is so bad.)
But I don’t see anything in today’s update that addresses another core complaint: the R1 just doesn’t do enough yet. Maybe something as simple as timers will be in the next update at least.