At a Glance
- Plaud unveils the compact AI notetaker Plaud NotePin S ahead of CES 2026.
- The $179 device adds a physical button, Apple Find My support, and a full set of accessories.
- A cross-app desktop client now captures and structures meeting transcripts in real time.
Why it matters: The new tools give on-the-go users a portable, AI-powered way to record and organize meetings, competing with rivals like Granola, Fathom, and Fireflies.
Plaud, the hardware maker behind the popular Note Pro, has added a new product to its lineup. The Plaud NotePin S is a lightweight AI notetaker released in early 2026, arriving just before the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It comes with a physical button, a set of accessories, and Apple Find My support, while a new desktop app lets users capture and structure meeting transcripts across different platforms.
New Hardware: Plaud NotePin S
The NotePin S follows the company’s 2024 launch of its pin-styled notetaker, adding a physical button that starts and stops recording and lets users tap to highlight key moments. The $179 device ships with a clip, lanyard, magnetic pin, and wristband, letting users wear it in any style. It also includes Apple Find My support so the device can be located if misplaced.
- Physical start/stop button with tap-to-highlight
- Clip, lanyard, magnetic pin, wristband accessories
- Apple Find My support
Internally, the NotePin S keeps 64 GB of onboard storage and a battery that can record continuously for 20 hours. Two MEMS microphones capture clear audio within a 9.8-foot range, and users receive 300 minutes of free transcription per month. Compared to the larger Note Pro, the Pin S offers a shorter recording range and lower battery life, but its smaller size makes it ideal for people who are constantly on the go.
Desktop Companion App
Plaud’s new desktop client works across popular meeting apps and can detect when a session is active, prompting the user to capture a transcript. The Mac app records system audio, then uses AI to structure the transcription into organized notes. The app also brings multimodal inputs-images and typed notes-first introduced last year for the mobile device, to the desktop experience.
With more than 1.5 million devices sold, Plaud is positioning the NotePin S and its companion app as a competitive alternative to Granola, Fathom, and Fireflies for in-person and virtual meetings.
Key Takeaways
- Plaud’s NotePin S is a $179, lightweight AI notetaker with a physical button and Apple Find My support.
- The device offers 64 GB storage, 20-hour battery, 9.8-foot mic range, and 300 min of free transcription.
- A cross-app desktop client now captures and structures meeting transcripts, adding multimodal inputs to the Plaud ecosystem.
With its new hardware and software, Plaud is aiming to give users a seamless, portable solution for meeting note-taking, challenging established competitors ahead of CES 2026.
