A growing number of AI voice recording gadgets are emerging, including Omi, Bee, and Friend, which capture a user’s voice and allow them to converse with an AI chatbot. Bee has been acquired by Amazon, and devices like Sandbar’s Stream ring and former Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky’s new AI ring are expected to hit the market next year, but the jury is still out on the success of wearable AI devices.
In this context, Plaud is growing by targeting professional users with a different approach: a credit card-sized recording device that fits in a wallet. The company says it has shipped more than 1 million units to date and more than 50% of customers have switched to pro subscriptions.
The company’s latest iteration, the Plaud Note Pro, went up for pre-order in August, two years after the original Note, and was priced at $179. After using this device for over a month, it has become an essential part of my daily carry. Ultra-thin design makes it easy to carry.
At just 0.12 inches thick (about the width of three credit cards stacked on top of each other), it’s the thinnest AI recording device on the market and easily fits in your wallet or attaches magnetically to the back of your phone.
The company offers a wallet-like pouch and a magnetic ring accessory that attaches to MagSafe-enabled phones, allowing you to attach the Note Pro to the back of your iPhone or compatible Android device. The body weight is also very light at 30 grams, so you won’t feel the weight even if you put the Note Pro in your wallet.
One of the main differences between Plaud and other AI wearables is that Note Pro doesn’t need to be connected to your phone to record audio. The device has 64 GB of onboard memory, allowing you to store large amounts of recordings without having to transfer them to your phone or upload them to the cloud.
Plaud Note Pro is equipped with four MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) microphones that pick up audio from all directions. Although the company advertises an effective audio range of 16.4 feet, I sat far from the stage and recorded a conference talk with satisfactory results. This device has one audio processing unit for noise suppression, audio separation, and echo cancellation.
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The battery life of the recording device is amazing. Earlier this month, I went to a conference with a fully charged device and recorded several interviews and talks there. I then used this device to record calls and take personal notes. Despite all this usage, the device was still 55% charged after 15 days. According to the company, a single charge allows for 30 hours of continuous recording and 60 days of standby.
Plaud’s new device comes with its own charger with a USB-C cable on the other end. The device takes 2 hours to charge from 0%, but it should last at least 2 weeks unless you record hours of content.
One of the problems with wearable AI devices is that they require an indicator to confirm that the device is recording (or has stopped recording). Thankfully, the Plaud Note Pro has a small screen that displays recording status. You can also press a button while recording to highlight the points the speaker is making. This is displayed prominently in the AI-powered overview. The screen also displays the remaining battery power.
Recording with this device is purposeful. You also get haptic feedback to start and stop recording. The visual display and button press action also make it easy to let other participants in the meeting know that you are recording a session.
You can also simply record your session and export it to another AI transcription service that you subscribe to. Plaud offers 300 minutes of free native transcription per month. The company also lets you customize your AI-generated notes with templates suitable for different profiles and tasks. You can also create your own templates. Transcriptions are accurate in most cases, and recordings, transcriptions, and notes are now accessible through the website. The company also addressed an issue where my former colleague Brian Heater would tap on a word and the corresponding recording wouldn’t play.
A pendant or pin-like shape may be easier to carry, but a card-sized recorder offers a better microphone and more versatile placement options. If you often have in-person meetings, the $179 gadget is worth the purchase.
