In the wave of hardware innovation, another remarkable product has made its dazzling debut. On Wednesday, the hardware company Plaud.ai officially launched its new physical note device, the Plaud AI Pro, priced at $179. This marks two years since the release of the original Plaud Note and is also the company's latest creation following the launch of its AI pin product a year ago.
For users who are new to such products, the Plaud Note is a revolutionary presence in the note-taking world. This credit card-sized hardware note-taking device can be easily attached to the back of a phone, serving as a personal recording assistant during phone calls or face-to-face meetings.
Note Pro retains the essence of the original design but stands out with a major upgrade: the device is equipped with a 0.95-inch AMOLED screen that can display key information such as the status of the recording indicator light and battery level in real time, allowing users to have a clear view of the device's status.
In terms of battery life, Note Pro demonstrates impressive performance. Under standard conditions, the device can provide up to 30 hours of recording time. When the range is shortened to about 3 meters (9.8 feet), a single charge can support 50 hours of continuous recording, a performance that is sufficient to handle even the most demanding usage scenarios.
The improvement in audio capture technology is also impressive. Note Pro is equipped with four MEMS micro-electromechanical systems microphones, representing a significant upgrade from the dual-microphone configuration of the previous generation. This improvement expands the device's audio capture range to 16.4 feet (about 5 meters), doubling the range of the original Note Pro. The company states that the new device will also deliver better performance in noise reduction and speaker identification.
Image source: Plaud.ai
The enhancement of the intelligent experience is reflected in the details. The original Note required users to manually switch between call recording and on-site recording modes, while the Note Pro introduces an automatic detection feature, allowing the device to intelligently recognize the usage scenario and automatically adjust the recording mode.
The improvement of the software ecosystem should not be overlooked. Plaud.ai has comprehensively upgraded its accompanying app, adding several practical features. Users can now directly take text notes on their phones, similar to Granola, and can also add images, such as meeting slides.
The most eye-catching update in the app is the multi-dimensional summary function, which allows users to extract insights in different formats, including key takeaways or data points. The company has built a template library for generating summaries, and the app can automatically recommend suitable templates based on the user's role. Users can also create personalized templates.
The note search feature, still in the testing phase, is also worth looking forward to, as it will further improve the efficiency of information retrieval for users.
In terms of pricing, the Plaud Note Pro is priced at $179 or £169. Customers can start pre-ordering today, with shipments expected to begin in October 2025. The company has prepared generous gifts for pre-order customers, including 600 minutes of free transcription service and a magnetic protective case. In daily use, users receive 300 minutes of free transcription per month, and additional services require purchasing a paid monthly plan or a one-time recharge package.
At a time when AI device manufacturers are generally facing market challenges, Plaud has shown remarkable resilience and growth trajectory. While Exor-backed Bee was acquired by Amazon, and Friend only just began shipping after multiple delays, Plaud continues to move steadily forward.
The results are equally impressive: the company revealed that the cumulative shipment of its AI hardware note-taking devices has exceeded 1 million units. In terms of user loyalty, nearly 50% of users have chosen to upgrade to the Pro paid plan, a figure that fully demonstrates the product's market recognition and user retention.
