At CES 2026, AI wearable company Plaud unveiled a subtle but significant hardware refresh and a major software expansion aimed at professionals who rely on AI-powered note-taking. The company is addressing user feedback head-on with a new physical button on its compact recorder and bridging the gap between in-person and virtual meetings with a native desktop application.
The NotePin S: A Button Solves an Ambiguity Problem
The headline update to Plaud's wearable lineup is the NotePin S, a successor to the 2024 NotePin. The core design philosophy remains unchanged: it's a minimalist, FitBit-style device meant to be worn as a clip, pin, wristband, or lanyard for discreet, always-available audio capture. The new model retains the same form factor, color options (black, purple, silver), Apple Find My support, and core functionality of recording, transcribing, and summarizing conversations. The critical evolution is the replacement of the original model's haptic squeeze controls with a single, physical button. Plaud states this change was driven directly by user experience; some original NotePin owners missed recordings because the haptic activation wasn't consistently detected. A long press now definitively starts a recording, while a short tap places a highlight marker to flag important moments for the AI. This move from ambiguous gesture to unambiguous button is a clear play for reliability in a product category where a missed meeting can be a critical failure.
Plaud NotePin S vs. Original NotePin Key Changes
| Feature | Original NotePin (2024) | NotePin S (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Control Scheme | Haptic squeeze | Physical button |
| Price | USD 159 (at launch) | USD 179 |
| Included Accessories | Clip, magnetic pin | Clip, magnetic pin, lanyard, wristband |
| Highlight Marker | Not specified | Via short button tap |
| Core AI Features | Recording, transcription, summary | Recording, transcription, summary |
| Design/Colors | Black, purple, silver | Black, purple, silver |
| Find My Support | Yes | Yes |
Expanding the Ecosystem with Plaud Desktop
Perhaps the more strategic launch is Plaud Desktop, a new application for macOS and Windows. This software directly targets the modern hybrid work environment by capturing audio from online meetings on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. It operates by detecting when a call is active and can be set to record automatically or manually. A key differentiator, according to Plaud, is its native approach—it does not inject a bot participant into the call, instead recording system audio and microphone input directly. All recordings and AI-generated notes from Plaud Desktop are synced to the same library as those from Plaud's hardware devices, creating a unified archive of both physical and digital meetings. The application is being offered free of charge to existing owners of any Plaud Note or NotePin device, strengthening the value proposition of the hardware ecosystem.
Plaud Desktop Application Details
- Function: Records audio from online meetings (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams).
- Method: Native app recording system audio & microphone; no call bot.
- Activation: Automatic detection with manual or auto-record options.
- Integration: Syncs recordings/notes with Plaud hardware device library.
- Availability: Free for existing Plaud Note/NotePin owners.
Pricing, Availability, and the Road Ahead
The NotePin S is available immediately for USD 179, which represents a USD 20 increase over the launch price of its predecessor. Plaud has indicated the original haptic-controlled NotePin will be phased out. The included accessories (lanyard, wristband, clip, magnetic pin) are now all part of the standard box, whereas some were previously sold separately. The launch of Plaud Desktop signals the company's ambition to be a holistic meeting intelligence platform, not just a hardware manufacturer. By combining a refined physical recorder with software that captures the other half of a professional's workflow, Plaud is positioning itself as a more seamless alternative to service-based competitors. The success of this strategy will hinge on the accuracy of its transcriptions, the usefulness of its AI summaries, and the perceived value of having a single, integrated system for all meeting notes.