Digital meeting note takers like Read AI, Fireflies.ai, BreaststrokeAnd Granola help record and transcribe online meetings. But for in-person or more versatile options, many people prefer physical recording devices. These physical note-takers transcribe audio and provide users with summaries and action items in meetings using AI.
Some of these devices are wearable – pins or pendants with dedicated mics for recording – while others are the size of a credit card with dedicated mobile apps for transcribing and extracting information using AI. A few even offer live translation.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of physical note takers and AI transcription tools.
Plaud Note/Plaud Note Pro
This credit card-sized note-taker has been around since 2023, with a new AI-powered system. Professional version which has a small screen, four microphones and records audio within a three to five meter radius. It can also switch between in-person recording and call recording.
The Plaud Note costs $159, while the Note Pro costs $179. They come with 300 minutes of free transcription per month.
Mobvoi TicNote
Mobvoi the rectangular note taker is priced at $159 and includes 600 minutes of free transcription. The company claims that the device displays real-time transcription and translation with support for over 120 languages. The device offers 25 hours of continuous recording thanks to its three microphones.
In terms of software features, the TicNote offers automatic highlight extraction and the ability to create audio clips or summarized podcast versions of a conversation.
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Comulytic Pro Rating
Comulytic is a new entrant in the AI hardware note-taking market. The company’s differentiation claim is that its Note Pro device at $159 does not require any additional subscription for basic transcription. This means you can transcribe unlimited minutes just by purchasing the device.
The device can record up to 45 hours of continuous audio on a single charge and has over 100 days of standby time.
The company offers an advanced plan for $15 per month or $119 per year that offers instant AI summaries, unlimited summary templates, action list, and chat with the AI assistant without any limits.
Plaud NotePin/Plaud NotePin S
Plaud NotePin and NotePin S are the smaller, more portable versions of the company’s larger Note and Note Pro devices. The NotePin has a versatile design: you can wear it as a bracelet, as a pendant, clip it to your bag, or wear it on your shirt with a magnetic clip. Notably, the lanyard and bracelet are only available with the NotePin S.
Both devices have dual mics and can record around 20 hours of continuous audio on a single charge. The NotePin S has a physical button to start/stop recording and capture highlights.
Both are priced similarly to their credit card counterparts. The NotePin is priced at $159 and the NotePin S is priced at $179.
Omi is suspended
The Omi pendant is a cheaper alternative to other note takers at $89. This is because the pendant must be connected to your phone and has no built-in memory. The device has two microphones and can work for 10 to 14 hours on one charge.
Although Omi has its own app, you can use other apps because the hardware and software are open source. Users have also created different connectors and applications for the device.
Viaim RecDot
Viaim headphones enable transcription during calls, with additional recording capabilities in the earphone case. These headphones cost $200, and Viaim claims they can transcribe audio in up to 78 languages in real time. The company’s app can also highlight key points from transcripts.
Working Anker Soundcore
Anker’s Soundcore work pin is a coin-sized AI note taker with a puck-shaped battery. The $159 device can record for eight hours continuously, or up to 32 hours if the pin is attached to its case, the company says.
Anker claims the device has a recording range of five meters. Users get 300 minutes of free transcription per month.
Poached
Poached is another credit card style puck that sticks to the back of your phone and takes notes. The company lists the gadget for $199, but it’s often available at a discount. Buyers do not need to purchase a subscription to use basic features such as transcription. The device supports more than 120 languages.
The puck weighs 52 grams, has 64 GB of memory on the device, and can last up to four days on a single charge. The company says the Pocket has two mics capable of recording audio within a 15 meter radius.
A $19.99 per month subscription gets you features like unlimited cloud storage, 100+ templates for different summary styles, AI-powered speaker tags, and home screen widgets.
Ivan covers global consumer technology developments at TechCrunch. He is based in India and has previously worked for publications such as the Huffington Post and The Next Web.
You can contact or check Ivan’s outreach by sending an email im@ivanmehta.com or via encrypted message on ivan.42 on Signal.
