The AI notetaker market is booming, with new devices constantly emerging, but not all are created equal. While we've highlighted the best options, we've also tested several other gadgets that, despite their innovative concepts, fall short in performance or value.
The Plaude NotePin S, a tiny 18-gram device, boasts versatility and multi-language support but comes with a steep price tag. At $179, it offers only 300 minutes of transcription without a subscription, which costs an additional $100 annually for 1,200 minutes or $240 for unlimited use. While its analysis is solid, the lack of real-time transcription and high cost make it a tough recommendation.
The HiDock P1 ($169) resembles an old-school tape recorder with its bulk and onboard controls. It's more complex than other notetakers, though its microphone is powerful and analyses are fast when connected to a PC. It's best suited for desktop use, as it struggled to connect with a phone. AI transcription is free, but premium features require a subscription.
SpeakON ($129), a 27-gram device, functions more as a speech-to-text enhancer for your phone. Its major drawback is that it only records when its button is held down, making it unsuitable for extended recording sessions. It lacks real summary features, though it does offer translation in 12 languages without a subscription.
The Looki L1 ($249) is a unique, 42-gram necklace device with an integrated camera that captures both audio and video. While it can create vlogs and digital stories, its meeting summarization feature feels like an afterthought, producing extremely short and slow-to-process digests. It's not ideal for users focused solely on audio.
Flowtica Scribe ($159) integrates AI notetaking into a ballpoint pen. It aims to combine written and recorded notes, but its transcriptions are problematic, with one test resulting in a wall of gibberish due to missing spaces. Summaries of non-Chinese speech occasionally appeared in Chinese. It offers 300 free minutes monthly, with subscription plans starting at $15 per month.
The Vocci Ring ($299), a mere 3.5-gram smart ring, is the smallest AI notetaker available. After some initial setup challenges, it delivered good transcriptions and useful, concise summaries. While the form factor might not suit everyone, it offers a convenient, always-ready solution. It includes 300 free minutes monthly, with paid plans for more minutes.
Finally, the iFLYTEK AI Recorder P1 ($119) is a 23-gram clip-on device whose most notable feature is a cute emoji on its LCD screen. The accompanying app, Deepting, is not clearly indicated in the manual. Recordings frequently failed to save, and summaries were often short or failed to generate. A Pro subscription offers 1,800 minutes monthly for $13, but the device's unreliability makes it hard to recommend.
