AI is huge right now. Everywhere you look, everyone seems to include something AI-related in their products. Some AI integrations make no sense and seem to be there just to ride the hype train, while others make so much sense that you wonder how you ever lived without them. Take, for instance, PLAUD and their line of AI note-taking devices. The PLAUD NOTE and PLAUD NotePin are designed to seamlessly capture audio and then leverage AI to turn those recordings into organized, searchable text and summaries. They’re pretty cool, but they definitely have their quirks.
DESIGN
While both the PLAUD NOTE and the PLAUD NotePin both do basically the same things, they are entirely different in design. Both designs are pretty interesting, but it’ll be up to you to decide which form factor is right for you.
PLAUD NOTE: Imagine a credit card that’s just a bit thicker with buttons. That’s the PLAUD NOTE. It’s super thin, and can technically fit in your wallet. Although the included magnetic case means you won’t have to store it in your wallet. You can instead attach it to the back of your iPhone or any MagSafe-compatible case. To use the PLAUD Note, you simply need to hold down the little button for a second to activate the record function and hold it down again to stop. There’s a switch next to the button used to switch between call mode and note mode. It comes in colors like silver, black, navy blue, and starlight.
PLAUD NotePin: The NotePin is much smaller and more discreet. Think of it as a tiny, sleek pill-shaped device, about the size of a car key. Its main selling point is its versatility in how you wear it. It comes with a magnetic pin (which also acts as a removable back for charging), a clip, a lanyard, and even a wristband. This makes it incredibly inconspicuous, and you can clip it to your collar, wear it as a necklace, or even on your wrist. It’s largely buttonless, relying on a press-and-hold action to start and stop recording. It’s available in colors like Cosmic Gray, Lunar Silver, and Sunset Purple.
EXPERIENCE
Using these devices is meant to be pretty straightforward, and for the most part, it is.
The core experience with both devices revolves around the PLAUD app. Once you record something with either the NOTE or the NotePin, you open the app, and the audio file transfers. This can be done via Bluetooth, which is quite slow if the files are large, or via Fast Transfer, which requires connecting to the device as a WiFi hotspot. After the file transfer, this is where the magic of AI happens.
- Transcription: The app uses advanced AI models (like GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and others) to transcribe your audio into text. For the most part, this is impressively accurate, even with multiple speakers or varying accents, though it’s not flawless.
- Summarization & Organization: The AI can then take those transcripts and create concise summaries, extract action items, identify key points, and even generate different formats like Q&A interviews or meeting minutes. You can choose from various templates or even “Ask AI” specific questions about your recording. This feature can be a real time-saver.
- Speaker Recognition: Both devices attempt to differentiate between speakers, which is helpful for meeting notes, though sometimes it struggles, especially with overlapping speech.
- Cloud Storage: Recordings, transcripts, and summaries are stored securely in the cloud, accessible through the app or web platform, offering unlimited storage (with a subscription).
- Battery Life: Both offer decent battery life, with the NOTE providing up to 30 hours of continuous recording (60 days standby) and the NotePin up to 20 hours (40 days standby).
While there are a lot of similarities between the two devices, there are also some major differences that will determine which product you ultimately want to pick up. For instance, the PLAUD NOTE can record phone calls when it’s attached to the back of your phone. The physical button also makes recording a lot easier. On the other hand, the PLAUD NotePin is much smaller and can be worn in various ways, making it a hands-free experience. The touch controls, however, can be a bit finicky.
Both devices do share the same potential drawback. For example, they both use proprietary charging methods which means if you lose it, you’ll need to buy another. Both devices are also heavily reliant on the PLUAD app and the cloud for transferring files and transcription services. Also, accessing all AI features requires a recurring subscription.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Both the PLAUD NOTE and NotePin are fantastic examples of how AI is making our lives a bit easier, especially when it comes to dealing with information overload. They’re not just voice recorders; they’re intelligent assistants that can genuinely save you time and ensure you don’t miss important details.
If your primary need is recording phone calls directly and having a reliable, tactile device that stays with your phone, the PLAUD NOTE is likely the better choice. It’s a solid, straightforward option for desk work, interviews, and call logging.
However, if you’re looking for an ultra-portable, always-on-you device for capturing thoughts, in-person meetings, or lectures discreetly and hands-free, the NotePin truly shines. Its versatility in wearability is a major advantage for those who want to integrate it seamlessly into their daily routine without thinking about it.
Ultimately, the choice between them comes down to your specific use case and preferred form factor. They both leverage the same powerful AI backend, so the quality of transcription and summarization will be similar. Just be aware of the subscription cost for the full AI experience – it’s something to factor into your decision, but for professionals or students who deal with a lot of spoken information, the time saved could easily make it worthwhile.
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