Recently, I was scrolling through Amazon and came across an interesting product: an AI voice recorder. Yeah, I was a bit skeptical—do we even need this? The first thought that came to my mind was, is my phone recorder not enough? Why would I even need this? But there’s more to it, which amazed me after using it.
It cost me $159, which I found a bit pricey. But it looks very cute and sleek—a very small, thin device that is highly compatible with phones. They provide a MagSafe cover, which makes installation very easy.
Product Features:
It can take notes and write out what I said, saving me time by providing a transcript.
Supports 112 languages.
30-hour continuous recording, 60-day standby, and 64GB storage.
1-year warranty.
Unlimited cloud storage.
Professional summary templates.
Target Users:
This can be a wonderful device for students, corporate workers, and all kinds of professionals who need to note down important tasks or information. Students, in particular, can benefit the most because lectures and group studies require remembering a lot of details. For me, it helps in understanding client requirements during post-meeting reviews. I can reconfirm and use it on my behalf very effectively.
How to Use:
The usage process is simple—just tap and record. It comes with an app that allows you to control all kinds of operations. However, you do need to transfer files, which I think could be made easier. You just need to transcribe or translate into the language you need. You can also import data and delete unnecessary items.
My Experience With Plaud Note:
It’s been an overwhelming journey, I must say. I was initially skeptical about it, but I gave it a try. My experience has been mixed. When I use it in meetings, it provides good results. It captures almost every detail and gives me quality notes. However, it cannot record clearly if I am far from the speaker, which is an area where it needs improvement.
Even though it supports transcription in 112 languages, I think it provides better results in English. When I try to transcribe other languages, some results are not very accurate, so this could use some improvement.
If I were a student, this would be my go-to device. Right now, I use it moderately during special meetings or when I take courses. Its sleek design and compatibility with phones make it hardly noticeable, which is a good thing. I noticed they are also launching a Note Pin, which looks gorgeous. I can wear it as a necklace or wristband, which I really want to try.
The recording quality improves when paired with a mobile recorder, but the results also depend on the phone you are using.
The app is wonderful. It has a nice user interface, and usability is very easy. One of the most amazing features is the AI-generated summaries for specific recordings. When I don’t have time to listen to the full recording, the AI provides a summary of the whole topic in no time, saving me lots of time. I found its summaries to be totally accurate—it doesn’t give unnecessary details like other recording apps.
It has multiple template options, which I found very useful for arranging data and finding whatever I need easily.
Plans and Pricing:
The starter plan is free and includes 300 minutes of AI transcription monthly, unlimited cloud storage, multiple export options, and import options. For more minutes, you need to buy their Pro plan, which costs $6.66 monthly. If you buy it from Amazon, you can get lucrative discounts with the whole bundle. Their official website also offers discounts.
For me, the cost feels justified because they use OpenAI and Anthropic APIs, which are not free. The AI technology they use is commendable.
One feature I really like is that it can distinguish between different voices, so I don’t need to remember who said what. The charging time is also great. I used it for 9 hours continuously, and it recorded every detail accurately.
It even records fast talkers and mumblers surprisingly well, which I found impressive.
Pros:
- Sleek design and compatibility with phones.
- Comes with a dedicated app.
- Clear sound quality.
- Records accurately.
- Summarizes notes accurately.
- Can be paired with phone recording options.
- Distinguishes different voices properly.
- Unlimited storage.
- Stylish cover
Cons:
- Struggles with recording in noisy areas.
- Additional costs after 300 minutes of transcription.
- Files need to be downloaded.
Comparison:
For comparison, I still think it’s a better option, though alternatives like Notta and Avoma offer similar features. However, they provide fewer options than Plaud Note gives. I haven’t used them practically, but based on their plans and the value provided, Plaud Note stands out.
External AI gadgets like this could face competition from phone software, so Plaud Note needs to stay ahead with fast-paced technology to avoid being overshadowed by ChatGPT or phone features. They’ve already released the Note Pin, a capsule-sized device that looks really cool. It can be worn as a locket, wristwatch, clip, or pin, which I found very classy.
I really like this kind of wearable AI gadget—it’s fashionable and trendy at the same time. I hope they improve the current shortcomings of Plaud Note. If they can do so, I think it could become a great game-changer.
Overall, it’s a useful device. Depending on the use case, people may find it useful or not. However, it definitely makes a difference and boosts productivity for those who use it.