Ahead of this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, hardware manufacturer Plaud introduced the Plaud NotePin S, a new AI notetaker, alongside a desktop application designed for taking notes during digital meetings. The company originally debuted its pin-style notetaker in 2024, which received positive feedback from my former colleague Brian Heater.

This updated pin features a physical button to start and stop recordings. While recording, you can tap the button to highlight specific moments, a function also available on the recently launched Plaud Note Pro. Priced at $179, the Plaud NotePin S includes a clip, lanyard, magnetic pin, and wristband, offering versatile wearing options.

Additionally, the pin now supports Apple Find My, making it easier to locate if misplaced. The core specifications remain unchanged from the previous model, with 64GB of onboard storage and a battery capable of 20 hours of continuous recording. It utilizes two MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) microphones to capture clear audio within a 9.8-foot range. Users receive 300 minutes of free transcription per month.

Compared to the Note Pro, this device has a shorter recording range and reduced battery life, but its smaller size makes it more portable with the included accessories. Plaud describes the pin as ideal for individuals who are frequently on the move.

This marks Plaud's fourth device, with total sales exceeding 1.5 million units to date. While the focus has been on in-person meetings, Plaud is now targeting digital meeting notetakers such as Granola, Fathom, and Fireflies through a new cross-platform desktop client. The app detects active meetings and prompts users to capture transcripts.

Using system audio on Mac, the app records meetings and employs AI to structure transcriptions into notes. Last year, Plaud introduced multimodal notetaking in its app, allowing users to combine images and typed notes with audio transcriptions—a functionality now extended to the desktop version.