Just ahead of CES 2026 in Las Vegas, hardware startup Plaud has taken the wraps off its latest productivity tool: the Plaud NotePin S. Alongside this new wearable, the company is launching a dedicated desktop application designed to bridge the gap between in-person chats and virtual meetings, signaling a major move to own the entire notetaking ecosystem for pros and students alike.
The NotePin S is a refined, more compact version of the original pin-style recorder Plaud launched back in 2024
One of the biggest complaints with the first version was the “squeeze-to-record” mechanism, which could be a bit finicky. Plaud fixed that here by adding a dedicated physical button. Now, a long press starts your recording, and a quick tap while you’re talking lets you “highlight” a specific moment – giving the AI a heads-up that a particular part of the conversation is extra important.
Priced at $179, the NotePin S is built to be forgotten while you wear it. It’s incredibly light and comes with a whole kit of accessories – a clip, lanyard, magnetic pin, and even a wristband – so you can find the most comfortable spot for it regardless of what you’re wearing. They’ve also added Apple Find My support, which is a lifesaver for something this small. If it falls off or gets left behind in a conference room, you can track it just like an AirTag.
The internal specs are solid, even if they aren’t a massive jump from the previous generation. You get 64GB of storage, enough for 20 hours of continuous recording, and about 40 days of standby battery life. The dual microphones are designed to pick up clear voices from about 10 feet away, which is perfect for one-on-ones or small group huddles. Like Plaud’s other devices, this one comes with 300 free minutes of AI transcription every month to get you started.
The hardware is only half the story
Plaud is also launching a new desktop app to compete directly with services like Granola and Otter. While the NotePin handles the “real world,” the app tackles your virtual life on Zoom, Slack, or Google Meet. It can automatically detect when a call starts and begins transcribing system audio immediately.
What’s cool is that it keeps the “multimodal” approach Plaud started on mobile – you can snap a screenshot or type a quick note during the meeting, and the AI will stitch all of that together into one comprehensive summary.
Ultimately, Plaud is trying to move beyond being just a “gadget company.” With over 1.5 million users already in their pocket, they’re positioning themselves as a complete productivity suite. Whether you’re recording a lecture in a hall or a strategy session on a video call, they want to be the ones capturing and organizing it for you.
