Digital meeting notetakers like Read AI, Fireflies.AI, Fathom, and Granola help record and transcribe online meetings. But for personal or more versatile options, many people prefer physical recording devices. These physical notetakers transcribe the audio and give users summaries and action items of meetings using AI.
Some of these devices are wearable – pins or pendants with a dedicated mic for recording – while others are credit-card sized, with dedicated mobile apps for transcribing and extracting insights using AI. Some even offer live translation.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of physical AI notetakers and transcription tools.
Plaud Note/Plaud Note Pro
This credit card-sized notetaker is due out in 2023, with a new, AI-powered Pro version that has a smaller screen, four mics, and records audio within three to five meters. It can also switch between personal recording and call recording.
The Ploud Note is priced at $159, while the Note Pro is priced at $179. They provide 300 minutes of transcription per month for free.
mobvoi ticknote
Mobvi’s rectangular NoteTaker costs $159 and includes 600 free transcription minutes. The company claims that the device shows real-time transcription and translation with support for over 120 languages. The device offers 25 hours of continuous recording through its three microphones.
In terms of software features, TicNote offers automatic highlight extraction and the ability to create audio clips or summarized podcast versions of conversations.
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Commulytic Note Pro
Comulitic Hardware is a new entrant to the AI notetaker market. The company’s claim to differentiation is that its $159 Note Pro device requires no additional subscription for basic transcription. This means you can transcribe unlimited minutes just by purchasing the device.
The device can record up to 45 hours of continuous audio on a single charge and has a standby time of over 100 days.
The company has an Advanced plan for $15 per month or $119 per year that offers instant AI summaries, unlimited templates for summaries, an action item list, and chat with an AI assistant without limits.
Ploud Notepin/Ploud Notepin S
The Ploud NotePin and NotePin S are smaller and more pocketable versions of the company’s larger Note and Note Pro devices. The notepin’s design is versatile: you can wear it as a wristband, pendant, clip it to your bag, or wear it on your shirt with the magnetic attachment. Specifically, lanyards and wristbands are only available with Notepin S.
Both devices have two mics, and can record about 20 hours of continuous audio on a single charge. The Notepin S has a physical button to start/stop recording and capture highlights.
Both are priced the same as their credit-card-sized counterparts. The Notepin is priced at $159, and the Notepin S is priced at $179.
omi pendant
The Omi Pendant is a cheaper option for other note takers at $89. This is because the pendant has to be connected to your phone and has no onboard memory. The device has two mics and can last for 10 to 14 hours on a single charge.
While Omi has its own app, you can use other apps because the hardware and software are open-source. Users have also created different connectors and apps for the device.
viame recdot
Viaim’s earbuds allow transcription during calls, with additional recording capabilities in the case of the earbuds. These buds cost $200 and Viaim claims they can transcribe audio in 78 languages in real time. The company’s app can also highlight key points in the transcription.
anchor soundcore work
Anker’s Soundcore Work Pin is a coin-sized AI notetaker with a puck-shaped battery pack. The company says the $159 device can record for up to eight hours without interruption, or up to 32 hours if the pin is attached to its case.
Anker claims that the device has a recording range of five meters. Users get 300 minutes of transcription for free per month.
