A wave of AI voice recording gadgets, including Omi, Bee, and Friend, has emerged, aiming to capture conversations for interaction with AI chatbots. While Bee was purchased by Amazon and new entrants like the Stream ring from Sandbar and an upcoming AI ring from former Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky are slated for release next year, the overall success of wearable AI devices remains uncertain.

Amid this competitive landscape, Plaud has found its niche by focusing on professional users with a distinct product: a credit card-sized recorder designed to fit in a wallet. The company reports shipping over one million units, with more than half of its customers opting for professional subscriptions. The latest model, the Plaud Note Pro, became available for pre-order in August, two years after the original Note launched, carrying a price tag of $179.

After more than a month of use, this device has become a staple in my everyday carry, thanks largely to its ultra-thin design. At a mere 0.12 inches thick—roughly the width of three credit cards stacked together—it holds the title of the thinnest AI recording device available and slips effortlessly into a wallet or attaches magnetically to the back of a phone. Plaud includes a wallet-style pouch and a magnetic ring accessory for MagSafe-compatible phones, enabling secure attachment to iPhones or supported Android devices. Weighing just 30 grams, the Note Pro is practically unnoticeable when stored in a wallet.

A major distinction between Plaud and other AI wearables is that the Note Pro operates independently for recording; it doesn't require a constant phone connection. With 64GB of built-in storage, it can hold a substantial amount of audio without needing immediate transfers to a phone or cloud uploads.

The Plaud Note Pro is equipped with four MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) microphones to capture sound from all directions. Although the advertised effective range is 16.4 feet, I've successfully recorded conference talks from a distance with satisfactory clarity. It also features a dedicated voice processing unit for noise suppression, voice isolation, and echo cancellation.

Battery performance is particularly impressive. After attending a conference earlier this month with a full charge and using the device for interviews, talks, phone call recording, and personal notes, it still retained 55% power after 15 days. According to Plaud, a single charge supports up to 30 hours of continuous recording or 60 days on standby.

The device comes with a proprietary charger that connects via a USB-C cable. A full charge from zero takes about two hours, providing enough power for several weeks under typical usage, unless you're recording content for many hours at a time.

A common issue with wearable AI devices is the need for clear recording indicators. The Plaud Note Pro addresses this with a small screen that displays recording status and battery level. During recording, pressing a button highlights key moments from a speaker, which are then emphasized in the AI-generated summary. Haptic feedback confirms when recording starts and stops. This visual and tactile feedback not only aids the user but also helps politely signal to others in a meeting that recording is active.

Users have the flexibility to simply record sessions and export the audio to their preferred AI transcription service. Plaud itself offers 300 minutes of free transcription monthly. The platform allows for customization of AI-generated notes through templates tailored to various roles and tasks, and users can create their own templates as well. Transcription accuracy is generally high, and recordings, transcripts, and notes are now accessible via a web interface. The company has also resolved a previous issue where tapping on a word wouldn't play the corresponding audio segment.

While pendant or pin-style recorders might be slightly more convenient to carry, the card-sized form factor of the Plaud Note Pro offers superior microphone quality and greater placement versatility. For anyone who frequently attends in-person meetings, this $179 gadget is a worthwhile investment.