The Rabbit R1’s first software update addresses its dismal battery life

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.

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.