Hardware maker Plaud has launched a new AI notetaker called the Plaud NotePin S, alongside a desktop app designed for taking notes in digital meetings. This announcement comes just ahead of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The company first introduced its pin-styled notetaker in 2024. The new NotePin S adds a physical button that lets you start and stop recordings. During a recording, you can tap the button to highlight a specific moment, a feature also found on the recently launched Plaud Note Pro.
A notable aspect of the $179 Plaud NotePin S is the included accessories: a clip, a lanyard, a magnetic pin, and a wristband. This allows you to wear the device in a variety of ways. The company is also adding Apple Find My support to help locate the pin if it is misplaced.
The core specifications remain the same as the previous generation. It includes 64GB of onboard storage and a battery capable of 20 hours of continuous recording. The device uses two MEMS microphones to capture clear audio within a range of 9.8 feet. Users receive 300 minutes of transcription per month for free.
Compared to the Note Pro, this device has a shorter recording range and lower battery life. However, it is smaller in size and designed for portability using any of the included accessories. The company states the pin is suited for people who are constantly on the go.
This is Plaud’s fourth device, and the company has sold more than 1.5 million units to date. While the focus has been on in-person meetings, Plaud also aims to compete with digital meeting notetakers like Granola, Fathom, and Fireflies through its new desktop client. The app works across meeting platforms and can detect when a meeting is active, prompting you to capture a transcript.
The Mac app uses system audio to record meetings and then employs AI to structure the transcription into notes. Last year, Plaud introduced multimodal input for notetaking, allowing users to add images and typed notes alongside audio transcription. This functionality is now being brought to the desktop app as well.