Plaud Note Pro Is an Excellent AI-Powered Recorder That I Carry Everywhere

There has been a surge in AI-powered voice-recording gadgets like Omi, Bee, and Friend, designed to capture your voice and interact with AI chatbots. While Amazon acquired Bee, and devices like the Sandbar Stream Ring and a new AI ring from former Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky are set to enter the market next year, it remains to be seen whether wearable AI devices will succeed.

Amid this landscape, Plaud is thriving by targeting professional users with a different approach: a credit-card-sized recording device that fits easily in your wallet. The company claims to have shipped over one million units, with more than 50% of customers upgrading to pro subscriptions.

The latest iteration, the Plaud Note Pro, launched for pre-order in August, two years after the original Note, and is priced at $179. After using it for over a month, it has become an essential part of my daily carry, and its ultra-thin design makes this easy.

At just 0.12 inches thick (about the width of three stacked credit cards), the Plaud Note Pro is the thinnest AI recording device on the market. It easily fits in a wallet or attaches magnetically to the back of your phone.

Design and Features

The device comes with a wallet-like pouch and a magnetic ring accessory that attaches to MagSafe-enabled phones, allowing you to mount the Note Pro on the back of an iPhone or compatible Android device. It is also lightweight, weighing just 30 grams, so that you won't feel it in your wallet.

One key distinction between Plaud and other AI wearables is that the Note Pro doesn't need to be connected to your phone to record audio. The device features 64GB of onboard memory, allowing it to store a large volume of recordings without needing to transfer them to your phone or upload them to the cloud.

The Plaud Note Pro is equipped with four MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) microphones, enabling it to capture audio from all directions. The company advertises an effective audio range of 16.4 feet, and I've recorded talks at conferences while sitting far from the stage, getting satisfactory results. Additionally, the device has one voice processing unit that handles noise suppression, voice isolation, and echo cancellation.

Impressive Battery Life and Charging

The Plaud Note Pro boasts impressive battery life. During a conference earlier this month, I recorded interviews and talks with a fully charged device. Afterwards, I used the device to record phone calls and take personal notes. Despite this, the device still had a 55% charge after 15 days. According to the company, it can provide 30 hours of continuous recording and 60 days of standby on a single charge.

The device uses a proprietary charger with a USB-C cable. It takes about two hours to charge from 0%, and once fully charged, you can use it for a couple of weeks, unless you run out of content.

Easy-to-Use Interface

One common issue with wearable AI devices is ensuring they are actively recording. Thankfully, the Plaud Note Pro has a tiny screen that displays your recording status. You can also press a button while recording to highlight key moments, and these will show up prominently in the AI-generated summary. The screen also shows the remaining battery level.

The design is intentional in making the recording process smooth. You get haptic feedback for starting and stopping recordings, and the visual cues, along with the button press, make it clear to others in a meeting that you're recording the session.

Transcription and Customisation

You can choose to record sessions and export them to another AI transcription service you are subscribed to. Plaud natively provides 300 minutes of free transcription each month. The company also lets you customise AI-generated notes using templates tailored to different tasks and profiles. You can even create your own template. In most cases, the transcription is accurate, and now you can access the recordings, transcripts, and notes via a website. The company has also addressed a previous issue in which tapping a word did not play the corresponding recording.

Image Credits: Plaud.ai

While a pendant or pin-like form factor may be easier to carry, the card-sized recorder offers better microphones and more versatile placement options. If you attend many in-person meetings, the $179 Plaud Note Pro is worth the investment.