Written by Sabrina Ortiz for ZDNET
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**ZDNET’s Comprehensive Highlights:**
Plaud.ai has officially introduced its newest entry in the realm of artificial intelligence-powered wearables — the *Plaud NotePin S*. Alongside this hardware, the company also launched *Plaud Desktop*, a companion desktop application unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Together, these tools are intended to make the capture, summarization, and organization of information more seamless and versatile than ever, both during in-person interactions and in digital environments.
Since the recent surge in generative AI technologies, the market has witnessed a dramatic upswing in demand for AI-integrated wearables that assist with note-taking, meeting transcriptions, and content summarization. Among the pioneers driving this transformation is Plaud.ai, which has consistently sought to refine how users record and process ideas. At CES, the company expanded its portfolio by presenting two devices specifically designed to push the boundaries of intelligent note-taking, offering more sophisticated methods for users to generate instant insights from everyday conversations and meetings.
**Design and Functionality Insights**
The *Plaud NotePin S* preserves the minimalistic and modern aesthetic of its predecessor, maintaining its smooth, pill-like shape with clean lines and a polished finish — a design that subtly communicates both simplicity and sophistication. The device’s versatility lies in its ability to be worn in multiple ways: as a wristband accessory, a stylish necklace, a statement pin, or even clipped discreetly onto clothing. These flexible configurations ensure users can conveniently record at any time without interrupting their natural routine or appearance.
Despite its familiar exterior, the company emphasizes that the *NotePin S* introduces an essential improvement — what Plaud describes as a “more seamless capture” system. This heightened functionality is largely owed to a newly integrated clickable button positioned at the device’s center. During operation, this “instant highlight button”—a control feature previously exclusive to the *Plaud Note Pro* and *Plaud Note* models—allows users to signal, in real time, which portions of an interaction or conversation are most valuable. This intuitive mechanism effectively guides the AI to focus its summarization and analysis on those highlighted sections, resulting in smarter and more relevant insights. The same control can also be used to initiate audio recording without navigating through menus or mobile interfaces, simplifying the experience considerably.
When I had the opportunity to test the *NotePin S* firsthand during a live demonstration, the tactile response of the button stood out immediately. Each click provided satisfying physical resistance accompanied by a subtle haptic vibration, confirming that recording had begun. The demonstrator noted that this design enhancement stemmed directly from user feedback on earlier models, which lacked any physical button and often left wearers uncertain about whether recording was actually in progress. This seemingly minor addition thus represents a thoughtful response to real-world usability issues.
Another detail that deserves recognition is the device’s impressive battery performance. Plaud claims that the *NotePin S* can deliver up to 20 hours of continuous operation or remain on standby for up to 40 days. If these figures hold true, users who rely on it sporadically throughout the day could easily enjoy uninterrupted functionality for several weeks before needing to recharge — a meaningful improvement for professionals who travel frequently or attend back-to-back meetings.
**Pricing and Subscription Details**
The *Plaud NotePin S* is available for purchase at a retail price of **$179**, positioning it approximately twenty dollars above the original *Plaud NotePin*. The cost includes access to a complimentary starter plan offering 300 minutes of monthly transcription time. This introductory plan can later be upgraded to unlock additional minutes or gain access to more advanced AI-driven analytical features, catering to users with heavier workloads or specialized professional needs.
**Introducing Plaud Desktop**
Complementing the wearable, Plaud also rolled out *Plaud Desktop*, a new software application that extends the AI note-taking experience to the virtual workspace. This program allows users to record and process audio directly from online meetings. Unlike competing platforms such as *Otter.ai* or *Fireflies.ai*, which typically rely on automated bots that join calls to capture content, *Plaud Desktop* offers a native and privacy-conscious recording process.
The app intelligently detects when a virtual meeting is taking place on common platforms like *Zoom*, *Google Meet*, or *Microsoft Teams*. Once recognized, the user can initiate a “secure, real-time audio capture” without introducing any external participants to the call. This method ensures both confidentiality and convenience, as recordings remain strictly tied to the user’s own environment. Moreover, the desktop application supports multimodal input, allowing participants to enrich their captured content with supplementary visual elements or manual text annotations—an option particularly valuable during brainstorming sessions or design reviews.
*Plaud Desktop* functions as an integral component of the broader Plaud ecosystem. Recordings made via either the wearable or the desktop interface are automatically synchronized and can be accessed from multiple centralized locations, including *Plaud Desktop*, *Plaud App*, and *Plaud Web*. This interconnected design ensures continuity and ease of use across all devices, enabling users to effortlessly retrieve their data from whichever platform best suits their workflow.
ZDNET will continue hands-on testing of the *NotePin S* throughout the week to provide a more detailed evaluation of its real-world performance, usability, and integration with the entire Plaud suite. Stay tuned for the forthcoming update that will include direct insights from that experience.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/plaud-notepin-s-ces-hands-on/
