Digital meeting notetakers are like Read AI, Fireflies.ai, Thinkand Granola help record and transcribe online meetings. But for in-person or more options, many people prefer physical recording devices. These physical notetakers 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 credit-card sized with dedicated mobile apps to transcribe and capture insights using AI. A few even offer live translation.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of physical AI notetakers and transcription tools.

Plaud Note/Plaud Note Pro

This credit card-sized notetaker has been around since 2023, with a newer, AI-powered Pro version which has a small screen, four mics, and records audio within three to five meters. It can also switch between personal 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

by Mobvi rectangular notetaker is priced at $159 and includes 600 free transcription minutes. The company claims that the device features real-time transcription and translation with support for more than 120 languages. The device offers 25 hours of continuous recording through its three microphones.

In terms of software features, TicNote offers automatic highlight extraction and the ability to create audio clips or summarized podcast versions of a conversation.

Comulytic Note Pro

Comulytic is a new entrant in the hardware AI notetaker market. The company’s claim for diversity is that it $159 Note Pro device does not require any additional subscription for basic transcription. That means you can transcribe unlimited minutes just by purchasing the device.

The device can record up to 45 hours of audio continuously on a single charge and has over 100 days of standby time.

The company has a $15 per month or $119 per year advanced plan that offers instant AI summaries, unlimited templates for summaries, an action item list, and unlimited AI assistant chat.

Plaud NotePin/Plaud NotePin S

Plaud NotePin and NotePin S are the smaller and more pocketable versions of the company’s larger Note and Note Pro devices. The NotePin has a versatile design: You can wear it as a wrist, pendant, clip it to your bag, or wear it on your shirt with a magnetic attachment. Notably, the lanyard and wristband can only be used with the NotePin S.

Both devices have two mics, and can record about 20 hours of audio continuously on a single charge. NotePin S has a physical button to start/stop recording and take highlights.

Both are priced the same as their credit card counterparts. The NotePin is priced at $159, and the NotePin S is priced at $179.

Omi hung up

The Omi pendant cheaper alternative to other notetakers at $89. This is because the pendant must be connected to your phone and does not have any onboard memory. The device has two mics and can run for 10 to 14 hours on a single charge.

While Omi has its own app, you can use other apps as the hardware and software are open-sourced. Users have also created various connectors and apps for the device.

Via RecDot

Earbuds by Viaim allow transcription during calls, with additional recording capabilities in the case of earbuds. These buds are priced at $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 in transcriptions.

Anker Soundcore Work

Anker’s Soundcore Works Pin is a coin-sized AI notetaker with a puck-shaped battery pack. The $159 device can record for eight hours without breaks, or up to 32 hours when the pin is attached to its case, the company says.

Anker claims that the device has a five meter recording range. Users get 300 minutes of free transcription every month.