While digital notetakers like Read AI and Fireflies.ai dominate online meetings, a new wave of physical devices is targeting in-person conversations. These wearable pins, pendants, and credit-card-sized recorders—priced between $89 and $200—promise AI-powered transcription, real-time translation in up to 120 languages, and automatic summaries without subscription fees. Companies like Plaud, Anker, and newcomer Comulytic are betting that professionals want hardware that captures conversations anywhere, not just on Zoom.
The AI notetaking wars just moved off your laptop screen. Plaud has been selling credit-card-sized voice recorders since 2023, but the company's latest push—along with devices from Anker, Mobvoi, and a crop of startups—reveals a bet that professionals want meeting capture they can wear or slip into a pocket. These aren't glorified dictaphones. They pack multiple microphones, real-time AI transcription, and features like automatic action-item extraction that until recently required a $50-per-month software subscription.
Plaud's Note Pro, announced in August 2025, typifies the category. The device has four mics, a small screen for playback, and switches between in-person recording and phone-call capture. It costs $179 and comes with 300 free transcription minutes per month. The company also sells the NotePin and NotePin S—smaller wearable versions that clip to clothing, attach magnetically to shirts, or hang as pendants. Both record around 20 hours continuously and cost $159 to $179, matching the card-shaped models despite their versatility.
