AI hardware start-up Plaud has introduced the Note Pro, an upgraded version of its credit-card-sized voice recorder that uses generative-AI models to transcribe and summarise conversations. The device is available for pre-order at $179 in the United States and €189 in Europe, with deliveries scheduled to start in October 2025. Early purchasers receive a magnetic case and 600 complimentary transcription minutes. The Note Pro replaces the two-microphone array on the 2023 Plaud Note with four MEMS microphones, doubling the capture radius to 16.4 feet (about five metres). A 0.95-inch AMOLED screen shows battery and recording status, while a new “press-to-highlight” button allows users to flag key moments in real time. Battery life stands at 30 hours in normal mode or up to 50 hours in a reduced-range setting. Plaud App 3.0, slated for release alongside the hardware, will add multimodal input—letting users attach images and text to recordings—plus an upgraded “Ask Plaud” feature that answers queries and traces them back to source audio. The service includes 300 free transcription minutes per month; paid plans start at $99.99 a year for 1,200 minutes or $239.99 for unlimited use. Plaud says it has shipped more than one million AI note-taking devices and claims nearly half its user base pays for premium services. The launch underscores the company’s push to combine dedicated hardware with large-language-model software as bigger tech groups retreat from experimental AI gadgets.