Plaud launches AI earbuds that can record and transcribe meetings without a phone

Plaud has introduced a new pair of AI-powered earbuds designed to record, transcribe and summarise conversations without requiring a smartphone. The Plaud One Explorer Edition combines wireless earbuds with a connected charging case, giving users a way to capture meetings, calls and everyday conversations and turn them into searchable AI notes.

The launch comes as technology companies continue to explore alternatives to the smartphone as an interface for artificial intelligence. While previous attempts to create standalone AI gadgets have struggled to gain mainstream adoption, Plaud is taking a more focused approach by building its technology around a task many professionals already perform: recording and reviewing conversations.

Plaud is best known for devices such as the Plaud Note and Note Pro, which can be attached to a smartphone to record conversations for later transcription and summarisation. The Plaud One extends that concept into a wearable format, while adding the ability to operate independently of a phone. The company says its latest device is intended to capture conversations as they happen and provide AI-generated assistance afterwards.

Plaud One can record without a smartphone

The main difference between Plaud One and conventional wireless earbuds is its built-in connectivity. The charging case contains an eSIM and 4G LTE support, allowing the device to connect to the internet without relying on a phone or Wi-Fi. Plaud says it has arrangements with carriers in more than 80 countries and regions, and its current Explorer Edition includes connectivity.

The earbuds contain 16MB of local storage each, while the charging case has an additional 512MB of storage. According to Plaud, the system can store up to 30 hours of recordings using the case alone. The case also contains four microphones, allowing users to record conversations or voice notes without actually wearing the earbuds. This means the device can be placed on a meeting table while the earbuds remain in their case.

Plaud One is also designed to capture audio from online meetings and calls. The company says it can record conversations involving services such as Google Meet and Zoom, after which recordings can be uploaded for processing. Plaud’s software can then transcribe and summarise the captured audio, giving users a written record without requiring them to return to a desk before the processing begins.

The AI capabilities extend beyond transcription. Plaud Agent is designed to use information gathered from conversations to help produce follow-up work, including reports and other documents. It can connect with services such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Notion and Slack, allowing information from a conversation to be turned into actions across supported applications. Users can invoke the assistant with the phrase “Hey, Plaud” or by pressing a dedicated button on the charging case.

The earbuds are designed for recording first

Although Plaud One can also be used as a conventional pair of wireless earbuds, its main purpose is recording and AI-assisted productivity rather than music playback. Bluetooth 5.4 is supported, along with multipoint connections for up to two devices. The earbuds also support SBC and LDAC codecs, but the limited codec support means some users may not get the best possible audio experience on every smartphone.

The device includes active noise cancellation, with Plaud claiming up to 40 decibels of ambient noise reduction. It also has EQ presets and an IP54 rating for protection against dust and splashes. Apple users can add the earbuds to the Find My network, while Android users can use Google’s Fast Pair feature.

Battery life is rated at up to six hours with active noise cancellation disabled during music playback. Plaud expects usage to be closer to four hours when the earbuds are primarily used for calls. The charging case provides up to another 36 hours of battery life, while a 10-minute USB-C charge can provide up to two additional hours of use. A complete recharge takes about an hour.

The company is positioning Plaud One as an AI device rather than a replacement for premium music-focused earbuds. That distinction could make the product more attractive to professionals who value recording and transcription over audio quality. Still, the more limited Bluetooth codec support may make it less compelling as an all-purpose pair of earbuds.

Privacy is also an important consideration for a product designed to capture conversations. Plaud says users retain control over their data and can access, correct, export or delete information through the Plaud app. The company also reminds users that they may need to obtain consent before recording other people, depending on local laws.

Plaud One starts at US$250, but ongoing AI use may cost more

Plaud One Explorer Edition is priced at US$249.99, with pre-orders opening on 27 August in selected markets. The company says the limited Explorer Edition is intended for early adopters, with 2,000 units available worldwide according to its UK product page. Shipments are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, while Plaud App 4.0 is also scheduled to roll out across the company’s existing devices during the same period.

Each Explorer Edition includes US$200 in Plaud credits for the company’s newer AI features. The credits are intended for Plaud Intelligence capabilities, including agent tasks, workflows and generated work products. Plaud has not yet finalised the long-term credit structure for all of these features, meaning the headline hardware price does not necessarily represent the full cost for users who make heavy use of the AI functions.

Transcription also operates within Plaud’s wider subscription system. The company’s Starter plan provides 300 minutes of transcription each month, while its Pro tier offers 1,200 minutes. In the UK, Plaud currently lists its Pro subscription at £17.99 per month or £99.99 per year, while its Unlimited plan costs £29.99 per month or £224.99 per year. Pricing and available plans can vary between markets.

That subscription model means the Plaud One could ultimately cost considerably more than its initial US$250 price for people who record meetings regularly or depend heavily on AI processing. Even so, the device represents a different approach to the AI hardware market. Rather than attempting to replace the smartphone entirely, Plaud is focusing on conversations as a source of information and using earbuds to capture that information with less friction.

The company’s broader ambition is to move beyond simply producing meeting notes. Plaud wants its AI system to remember information from different conversations, identify useful context and help users turn discussions into practical tasks. Whether that approach can make AI wearables more useful than previous attempts will depend on how reliably the technology handles real-world conversations and how much users are willing to pay for continued AI processing.