2024 isn’t even halfway through, but it’s already been an interesting year in the world of gadgets. While tech giants typically release the typical assortment of new phones, smartwatches, laptops, and tablets every year (or every six months), this year has seen the debut of several firsts.
The world’s two biggest smartphone makers, Apple and Samsung, have both branched out into new territory: the iPhone maker released its Vision Pro mixed reality headset, while the South Korean tech giant unveiled its finger-worn health tracker, the Galaxy Ring. Startups Rabbit and Humane AI also made waves with their AI-powered gadgets. Both require you to issue commands to portable AI agents rather than swiping at a screen.
So what do the Apple Vision Pro, Samsung Galaxy Ring, Rabbit R1, and Humane AI Pin have in common? Not much, at least on the surface. But all these gadgets share a common goal: to change our relationship with screens.
With Vision Pro, Apple is looking to extend apps beyond the confines of a physical screen; Samsung’s Galaxy Ring, while not the first of its kind, aims to let you track your health without the clutter of a tiny wrist-worn display; and both Humane and Rabbit are on a mission to prove that you don’t need to open an app to get things done quickly.
All of these gadgets have big ambitions and, naturally, are faced with a lot of skepticism.
At $3,500, the Apple Vision Pro is out of reach for most people, and there aren’t many apps optimized for it yet. Rabbit and Humane’s products don’t seem to have caught on yet, and the Samsung Galaxy Ring hasn’t even launched yet. But it all points to a future where we spend less time tapping and scrolling on tiny devices in our pockets.
Read more: Rabbit R1 explained: what this little AI gadget does
Are we ready for a world with fewer screens?
That’s the biggest question I had after trying both the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1. I was intrigued by the idea of a palm-sized AI agent saving me time, but as it stands, neither device offers a better experience than a smartphone.
My colleague Scott Stein, who has used the Humane AI Pin longer than I have, found the voice-controlled AI assistant’s responses inconsistent. Humane also uses a novel, futuristic way of making up for the device’s lack of a screen: laser projection. In situations where you need to interact with a visual interface, like entering a passcode, the device can project text or images onto your hand. The system takes some getting used to, though. As Scott writes, the interface requires you to tilt and move your hand to make selections, which can be awkward.
The Humane AI Pin is a small, wearable AI device.
Scott Stein/Viva Tan/CNET
I tried Pin briefly and agree that there is a steep learning curve — you’re better off reaching for your phone for that. Not to mention, the Humane AI Pin costs $700, more than most people are willing to pay for a non-essential device.
The $199 Rabbit R1 has a screen (albeit a small one) that makes it more intuitive to use, but it has too many flaws to recommend it at this time. The R1’s funky retro design and natural language processing smarts may make it fun to use, but I couldn’t find a strong reason to use it over my phone.
The services it currently supports (such as DoorDash) are much more limited than the apps installed on your phone. DoorDash, for example, only shows a handful of options. Spotify’s interface is mostly limited to nothing more than the currently playing song and queue. The Rabbit R1 can also connect to an Uber account, though we weren’t able to get that to work during testing.
Many of Rabbit R1’s key features and integrations aren’t available yet, making it difficult to truly understand the app-less future envisioned by founder Jesse Lyu.
The Apple Vision Pro is Apple’s first mixed reality headset.
Numi Prasarn/Viva Tun/CNET
Apple’s Vision Pro boasts some incredibly immersive visuals, with apps and virtual screens unfolding all around you. The ability to make FaceTime calls as big as you want means you’ll never want to talk to someone on a tiny 6-inch screen again. But it feels like the Vision Pro is still trying to figure out its main purpose. It took years for the health and fitness direction of the Apple Watch to take shape, and I expect the same will happen with the Vision Pro.
Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities known for his predictions about Apple products and his close ties to the supply chain, recently reported that the company has significantly reduced shipments of the Vision Pro, possibly indicating that demand has been weaker than expected so far.
Samsung hasn’t even released the Galaxy Ring yet, so it’s hard to predict how the gadget will be received: When it comes to wearable tech, smartwatches and wireless earbuds have taken hold over the past decade and dominate the market, but smart rings are expected to account for only a fraction of shipments, according to the International Data Corporation.
Smart rings offer some advantages over smartwatches, especially their discreet nature and longer battery life, but Samsung is already facing competition from Oura, which has been credited with helping to popularize the category.
The potential of a screen-free future
Although the Rabbit R1 has a screen, you operate the device primarily through voice prompts.
Lisa Erdicicco/CNET
AI devices, pricey headsets like the Vision Pro, and smart rings all have a long way to go before they take hold in our lives, but the future they point to is fascinating.
Rabbit wants to standardize the use of AI agents that interact with apps on your behalf. Instead of opening several different apps to book a vacation, what if you could ask a virtual helper to find the right hotel and flight using a few simple commands? This is Rabbit’s goal, but it feels far removed from the experiences available today.
Humane similarly aims to create a wearable AI companion that can help you get things done without your phone.
On the other hand, the Vision Pro has great potential as an entertainment and communications device, allowing you to watch movies and call loved ones on a screen much larger than what will fit in your hand.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring aims to be a simpler alternative to a smartwatch.
Andrew Lankson/CNET
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring may move us closer to a future where gadgets disguised as jewelry could passively monitor our vitals all day long, without the constant ding of notifications or the temptation to stare at another glowing rectangle. And even better, what if an AI assistant could offer tips and insights based on the data from the ring, without us having to open an app at all?
None of these gadgets are meant to replace your phone or reduce screen time, but the data suggests there may be a demand for tools that can: According to a study by health data management company Harmony Healthcare IT, 40% of survey respondents plan to reduce their screen time in 2024. The study, which included responses from more than 1,000 Americans, also found that on average, they spend 4 hours and 37 minutes staring at their phone every day.
It seems both near and far into the future. One thing is for sure: companies big and small are looking for ways to move beyond screens, for better or worse. But replacing a tiny screen in your pocket is no easy feat, and it’s a goal that’s unlikely to come soon.
Check out Apple’s Vision Pro headset and what’s in the box
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