Plaud Note Pro vs Note vs NotePin S: Which Plaud Should You Buy?
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- BVR Editorial Team
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All three use the same app, the same AI and the same plans. The differences are in the hardware — and one of them decides it for most people: do you record phone calls?
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Note Pro for most people. Note to save $30. NotePin S if you'd rather wear it.
The Note Pro's extra mics, automatic call switching and longer battery are worth $30 over the Note for anyone in meetings. The NotePin S is the pick for in-person-only use, but it can't record phone calls.
- 01
best overallPlaud Note Pro
Four mics, automatic call/meeting switching, a screen and up to 50 h of battery.
$189check price - 02
$159check price - 03
$179check price
contents (8)
What’s the same on all three
Before the differences: everything after you press stop is identical. All three recorders have 64 GB of storage, work with the same Plaud app on iOS, Android, web and desktop, and get the same transcription with speaker labels, 10,000+ summary templates and 112+ languages. They share the same plans too — including the free Starter plan with 300 minutes a month.
So the decision is purely about hardware: microphones, battery, form factor and phone calls.
Specs side by side
| spec | plaudPlaud Note Pro | plaudPlaud Note | plaudPlaud NotePin S |
|---|---|---|---|
| list price | $189 | ▲$159 | $179 |
| size | 3.37 × 2.13 × 0.12 in | 3.37 × 2.13 × 0.12 in | 2.01 × 0.83 × 0.43 in |
| weight | 1.06 oz | 1.06 oz | ▲0.61 oz |
| continuous recording | ▲30 h (Enhance) / 50 h (Endurance) | 30 h | 20 h |
| standby | ▲60 days | 60 days | 40 days |
| microphones | ▲4 MEMS + 1 vibration sensor · up to 16.4 ft | 2 MEMS + 1 vibration sensor · up to 9.8 ft | 2 MEMS · up to 9.8 ft |
| phone-call recording | ▲Yes — switches automatically | Yes — manual switch | No (in-person only) |
| connectivity | BLE 5.4, dual-band Wi-Fi | BLE 5.2, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz | BLE 5.2, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz |
Phone calls: the deciding question
If you record phone calls, the NotePin S is out. Both card-style models use a vibration-conduction sensor that picks up both sides of a call when the recorder is attached to the back of your phone.
The difference between them is how they switch. The Note Pro switches between call and in-person recording automatically. The original Note has a physical switch you flip yourself — workable, but easy to forget when you go straight from a call into a meeting.
Microphones and meeting rooms
The Note Pro has four MEMS microphones plus the vibration sensor, rated to pick up voices up to 16.4 feet away. The Note and NotePin S each have two mics rated to 9.8 feet. In a one-on-one conversation you’re unlikely to notice; around a long conference table, the extra reach matters.
Battery life
- Note Pro: 30 hours continuous in Enhance mode, up to 50 hours in Endurance mode, 60 days standby.
- Note: 30 hours continuous, 60 days standby.
- NotePin S: 20 hours continuous, 40 days standby.
Twenty hours is still several days of meetings for most people, but if you record full workdays, the card models need charging less often.
The three, in detail
The one to buy if you’re in meetings and on calls. Beyond the mics and automatic switching, it adds a 0.95-inch AMOLED status screen, Find My support, dual-band Wi-Fi and press-to-highlight.
- Automatic call/meeting switching
- Longest battery (up to 50 h)
- Best pickup range
- Status screen and Find My
- Most expensive at $189
- Same thickness as the Note — no smaller
Still a very capable recorder at $159. You get the same slim card, call recording, 30-hour battery and AI features. You give up two microphones, the automatic switching, the screen and Find My.
- $30 cheaper than the Pro
- Records phone calls
- 30 h battery, 60-day standby
- Manual call/meeting switch
- Shorter pickup range (9.8 ft)
- No screen
The most discreet option — 0.61 ounces with four ways to wear it, and Find My support. It’s ideal for interviews, ward rounds, site visits and networking, where pulling out a card and setting it on a table feels awkward.
- Lightest and smallest
- Clip, pin, lanyard or wristband
- Find My support
- No phone-call recording
- 20 h battery
- Two mics, 9.8 ft range
Which Plaud should you buy?
- You record meetings and phone calls → Plaud Note Pro.
- Mostly one-on-one calls, on a budget → Plaud Note.
- Mostly in-person, on the move → Plaud NotePin S.
Not sure you want a Plaud at all? See how they stack up against classic recorders in our best AI voice recorders guide.
Questions
q.01What's the difference between Plaud Note and Plaud Note Pro?
They're the same size and weight. The Note Pro adds two more microphones (four MEMS mics versus two), a longer pickup range (16.4 ft versus 9.8 ft), automatic switching between call and meeting modes, a small AMOLED screen, an Endurance mode rated up to 50 hours, dual-band Wi-Fi and Find My support. It costs $189 versus $159.
q.02Can the Plaud NotePin S record phone calls?
No. The NotePin S records in-person conversations only. For phone calls, choose the Plaud Note or Note Pro, which use a vibration-conduction sensor.
q.03Do all Plaud recorders use the same subscription?
Yes. All three work with the same Plaud app and plans, including the free Starter plan with 300 transcription minutes a month.
q.04Is the original NotePin still sold?
Plaud still lists the original NotePin at $159. The NotePin S adds a slightly larger battery (320 mAh versus 270 mAh) and more ways to wear it.
- First published.
sources
- plaud.ai/pages/plaud-device-comparison
- plaud.ai/pages/plaud-ai-plan-pricing
- plaud.ai/products/plaud-notepin-s
- techcrunch.com/2026/01/04/plaud-launches-a-new-ai-pin-and-a-desktop-meeting-notetaker
specs and prices above were checked against these pages on 2026-10-28.
BVR Editorial Team. We compare recorders and AI note takers using makers' official spec sheets and pricing pages, cross-checked against independent reviews. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
