plaud note review 2025

Disclaimer:
Plaud AI kindly sent me the Plaud Note for free, for review purposes. I’ve used it daily for over two weeks, and this review reflects my honest, personal experience. I will never recommend a product that I don’t genuinely like or that hasn’t worked for me. This post also contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.

Where were you when I needed you, Plaud Note?

I’m 51 now, but I spent a good part of my adult life working in the corporate world before switching gears and becoming a full-time content creator. And let me tell you, as soon as I started using the Plaud Note, one sentence popped into my head: “Where were you when I needed you?”

In my opinion there’s one piece of tech that truly revolutionised the corporate world in my lifetime: the BlackBerry. If you were in business in the 2000s, you’ll remember that iconic device — the clicky keyboard, the instant emails, the feeling of being connected wherever you were. It changed everything. I still remember the day in October 2011, when BlackBerry suffered a global server outage and the world — especially the business world — went into full-blown panic mode. That’s how deeply integrated it had become. The iPhone may have changed the lives of almost everyone, but BlackBerry got there first when it came to transforming work.

And now? I have this strange but exciting feeling again. After using the Plaud Note, powered by AI (and yes, ChatGPT is part of that magic), I can genuinely say: this little device might just be the beginning of another revolution. A BlackBerry moment, if you like — but for 2025.

The Plaud Note isn’t just for corporate boardrooms or legal teams or frantic assistants trying to take notes. As someone who runs a blog, edits videos, works with brands, juggles email and scripts and reels — I can see how this could be a game-changer for content creators too, and even freelancers or small business owners.

So in this review, I’m going to share my honest experience with it, how it fits into my daily life, and why I truly believe that the Plaud Note might just be the next big thing.

Design & Build Quality – Jony Ive, take notes. Literally.

Design matters. I’ve always believed that the way a product feels, looks, and functions in your hand says everything about the intention behind it. It’s no surprise to me that Jony Ive — the man who helped shape Apple’s most iconic products — has recently joined OpenAI to imagine the next wave of AI-powered devices. But honestly, I think he should start by studying the Plaud Note, because this little thing is a masterclass in minimal, intelligent design.

At first glance, it’s almost too simple to be true. It’s more or less the size of a credit card — yes, a credit card — and so thin that they didn’t even include a USB-C port. Think about that. The device charges through a clever magnetic system instead, which helps keep the form factor impossibly sleek.

But it’s not just the size that’s impressive — it’s how it feels. The button is responsive with a satisfying click, and the smooth slider for phone recordings just glides. You can tell they obsessed over every detail.

Then you check the specs and go: Wait, what?

64GB internal storage
30 hours of continuous recording
60 days standby
And all of that packed into a feather-light 30 grams.

It’s honestly mind-blowing.

Even the packaging feels premium — something I’ve come to appreciate more and more. Inside the box, you’ll find a beautiful magnetic case that lets you attach the Plaud Note to the back of your phone, MagSafe style. And if your phone isn’t MagSafe-compatible? No problem — Plaud includes a magnetic ring you can stick on your phone or case. That’s what I call thoughtful.

We always look to Apple when we talk about great design — and fair enough, they’ve set the bar high. But I have to say it: Plaud has created something truly unique and beautiful here. It’s not just another gadget. It feels like a product that belongs in 2025.

Honestly? I’m sold.

What Can You Actually Do with the Plaud Note?

So, it looks beautiful — but what exactly can this little thing do?

That’s the question I asked myself before even switching it on. And to be honest, I wasn’t expecting it to become such an essential part of my everyday routine. But it has. At its core, the Plaud Note is a voice recorder — but calling it just that feels like calling the iPhone “a phone.” It’s powered by AI (yes, including ChatGPT), and it’s designed to transform what happens after you press record.

Here’s the magic:

You press the button, record a conversation, meeting, podcast idea, blog post brainstorm, interview, or even a phone call (yes, it can record phone calls too — more on that later). Then, thanks to the Plaud app and the AI brains behind it, your audio turns into a summarised, well-structured, written document — ready to edit, save, share, or post.

You can choose different templates for your recordings depending on what you’re doing. Want meeting notes? There’s a template for that. Interview format? Done. Quick voice memo with bullet points? Absolutely. It’s smart enough to know what you’re trying to do — and if you’ve ever spent an hour typing out what you just said in five minutes… you’ll understand why I’m so impressed. And here’s something I didn’t expect to love: you don’t have to talk differently or slow down. Just speak naturally. The AI is shockingly good at cleaning up your thoughts, cutting the fluff, and keeping the important bits (even with my French accent).

And if you’re like me — a blogger, a creator, someone always juggling ideas — the Plaud Note becomes your second brain. I’ve used it while walking the dog, while testing skincare products, even while planning future video scripts. I hit the button, talk, and by the time I get home, I’ve got a clean draft waiting on my phone.

For professionals? Imagine recording an hour-long meeting and having a clear, accurate summary with action points. For students? Record lectures and get digestible notes. For entrepreneurs? Capture brainstorming sessions without losing ideas. For podcasters? Record guest interviews on the go.

It’s honestly a tool for anyone who works with words, ideas, or conversations — and who wants to save time turning them into something useful.

Yes, It Can Record Your Phone Calls Too — And It’s Brilliant

Now let’s talk about another features: recording phone calls.

I’ll be honest — when I saw that the Plaud Note could do this, I thought, “This is either going to be clunky and complicated… or a total game-changer.” Spoiler alert: it’s the second one. Here’s how it works. The Plaud Note connects to your phone via Bluetooth, and with a simple slide of the switch on the side of the device — boom, it enters Phone Call Mode. You make or take a call like you normally would, and it quietly starts recording the conversation through the Plaud Note hardware.

It’s incredibly smooth. There are no weird steps, no complicated setups. You don’t need to download a second app or go digging through your settings. You just… slide the switch, and it works. That’s it. Now, before anyone panics — obviously, you’ve got to use this responsibly. In most places, you’re legally required to inform the person on the other end that the call is being recorded. But assuming you're doing that, the possibilities are pretty amazing.

For journalists? It’s perfect.
For customer service calls? Ideal.
For business deals, interviews, even podcast guests calling in? Super helpful.

And here’s the best part: just like with your voice recordings, the Plaud AI will transcribe and summarise your call afterward. So instead of scrolling through 45 minutes of “umms” , you get a clean, structured recap of everything that was said. Honestly, I never thought I needed something like this. But as someone who works with brands, PR reps, collaborators — often over the phone — it’s become an incredibly useful part of my workflow. And once again, it’s done with style. That phone call slider feels like a small detail, but it’s so well designed. It glides beautifully, gives you tactile feedback, and just makes you feel like you’re using something clever and premium.

It’s rare for a device to make me feel this efficient… and a little bit like a secret agent.

get the Plaud note on amazon us (click here)

Get the Plaud Note on Amazon UK (click here)

Final Thoughts – This Might Just Be the Beginning

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I’m a big fan of AI. I truly believe we’re living through a revolution, and what we’re seeing now is only the beginning. But let’s be honest… up until now, most AI-powered gadgets have felt a bit gimmicky. Smart, yes. But clunky, unfinished, or trying to do too much.

Plaud Note is different.

Plaud made one very smart decision: they focused on one core thing — note taking — and they did it exceptionally well. Then they brought in the power of AI, wrapped it in stunning design, and created something that finally feels ready for the real world.

Is it for everyone? Probably not. But if you live in the corporate world, I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes the must-have gadget, the way BlackBerry once was. You can keep full recordings, but more importantly, you get accurate, clean, and smart summaries. It even recognises different speakers — something I didn’t expect to work as well as it does.And as someone with a daughter heading off to college this September, I can already see how something like this would be invaluable for students too. Lectures, group projects, presentations — it’s the kind of tool that can really help people stay organised and focused.

Of course, no product is perfect, and I always like to be honest about the things that could be improved:

Once the Plaud Note is placed inside the MagSafe case, it can be a bit tricky to remove. Not a dealbreaker, but worth mentioning.
I understand why there’s no USB-C port — it’s all about keeping the design ultra-slim — but I do worry slightly about misplacing the magnetic charger. Maybe wireless charging could be a future upgrade?
The phone call recording feature is great… but in Europe especially, there are more and more privacy regulations, and this could be a bit risky if used carelessly. I’d love to see a built-in message system where the caller is notified: “This call will be recorded. Say YES to continue.” That kind of transparency would be a brilliant addition.

That said, these are minor issues. The Plaud Note is all about recording, summarising, and saving you time, and in that department — it absolutely delivers.

You get 300 minutes free per month, and if you need more, the paid plans are very affordable. For what it offers, it’s a small price to pay.

20% off with coupon code dapperpd20 on amazon us (click here)

20% off with coupon code dapperpd20 on amazon uk (click here)

Should you get one?

If you think you’re the kind of person this was made for — whether you’re in business, education, content creation, or just someone who has a lot to say and no time to type — then yes, give it a try. The Plaud Note might genuinely change the way you work.

And right now, you can grab it on Amazon with 20% off. Just use the code DAPPERPD20 at checkout on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (valid until 7th July 2025).

Have you used the Plaud Note yet? Do you think it could change your life like it’s starting to change mine?
Let me know in the comments — I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Plaud Note is available in navy blue too on Amazon.com (here) or Amazon.co.uk (here)

Jerome

Jerome is a full-time lifestyle blogger and tech reviewer based in the UK. Since 2014, he’s been running Dapper & Groomed, helping men over 40 discover the best gadgets, headphones, and accessories through personal, real-world testing.