Plaud targets professional users with new $179 AI recording card

Plaud has introduced the Plaud Note Pro, a $179 AI-powered recording device designed to fit inside a wallet. At just 0.12 inches thick and weighing 30 grams, the device is the thinnest AI recording device on the market. It launched for preorder in August, two years after the release of the original Note.

Unlike many other AI wearables that require a constant phone connection to capture audio, the Plaud Note Pro operates independently of a smartphone. It records directly to its internal storage and features the following technical specifications:

• Thickness: 0.12 inches
• Weight: 30 grams
• Memory: 64GB of onboard memory capacity
• Battery Life: 30 hours of continuous recording and 60 days of standby from a single charge
• Audio Range: An advertised effective range of 16.4 feet

The device captures audio using four MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, a type of microphone technology) microphones, which are designed to pick up sound from all directions. It also includes a magnetic ring accessory that attaches to MagSafe-enabled phones (Apple’s magnetic accessory system), allowing users to mount the device directly to the back of a compatible smartphone.

In real-world testing, the device’s battery performance proved robust. After being used at a conference earlier this month to record interviews and talks, followed by phone call recording and personal note-taking, the device still retained 55% of its battery charge after 15 days.

The launch comes amid a crowded market for AI voice recording gadgets, which has seen products like Omi, Bee, and Friend attempt to capture user voice data for AI chatbot interactions. While some competitors have faced mixed results—such as Bee, which was acquired by Amazon, and other upcoming form factors like the Stream ring by Sandbar or an AI ring being developed by former Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky—Plaud has carved out a distinct professional niche. Plaud asserts it has shipped more than a million units of its recording devices, and that more than 50% of its customers have converted to pro subscriptions. These subscriptions include 300 minutes of free monthly transcription.

Why it matters

Plaud is finding success in the crowded AI wearable market by targeting professional users with a credit card-sized form factor that does not require a phone connection to record.