The original PLAUD NotePin (2025) was a breakthrough in wearable AI, but it wasn’t perfect. At CES 2026, PLAUD officially launched the NotePin S, a refined version designed to fix the “user friction” that dominated Reddit threads for the past year.
If you are a professional deciding between the discounted original or the new “S” model, here is the factual breakdown of why the upgrade is—or isn’t—worth your money.
The Death of “Ghost Recordings” (Tactile vs. Haptic)
The biggest complaint on Reddit was the original NotePin’s pressure-sensitive haptic squeeze. Users often triggered “ghost recordings” by leaning against a table or, worse, missed entire meetings because they didn’t “squeeze” hard enough.
- Original NotePin: Uses haptic feedback (vibration) with no physical movement.
- NotePin S: Features a physical tactile button. You feel a distinct “click,” providing 100% certainty that the device is active.
The “Press-to-Highlight” Feature (New for 2026)
This is the “killer feature” that outranks general tech reviews. The NotePin S allows you to short-press the button during a live recording to tag a “Highlight.”
- How it works: When the AI (Plaud Intelligence) processes the audio, it prioritizes these tagged sections.
- User Benefit: Instead of asking the AI to “summarize the meeting,” you can ask, “What was the decision made during my third highlight?” This saves hours of manual searching.
Storage & Battery Architecture
While both models offer 64GB of local storage (roughly 480 hours of audio), the NotePin S features a more efficient power management system.
- Recording Time: Both boast 20 hours of continuous recording.
- Standby Time: The NotePin S has improved standby deep-sleep, lasting up to 40 days on a single charge compared to the original’s inconsistent drain issues reported by early adopters.
Multimodal Syncing with the 2026 App
The NotePin S launch coincided with the PLAUD App 3.0 update. The “S” model is optimized for “Multimodal Notes”—allowing you to snap a photo of a whiteboard through your phone while the Pin is recording. The app then anchors that image to the exact timestamp in your transcript.
Deployment Hardware: Intel Gaudi 3 Optimization
For the tech-heavy users, the NotePin S backend is now optimized for Intel Gaudi 3 accelerators. This means that when you sync your files, the transcription and “Ask PLAUD” AI responses are up to 3x faster than the original 2025 processing speeds.
Comparison Table: At a Glance
| Feature | Original NotePin (2025) | NotePin S (2026) |
| Control Type | Haptic/Pressure Squeeze | Physical Tactile Button |
| Tagging | None (AI-only) | Manual “Press-to-Highlight” |
| Weight | 16.6g | 17.4g (Reinforced Chassis) |
| Find My | Apple Find My Support | Apple Find My Support |
| Desktop App | Limited Compatibility | Native Zoom/Teams/Meet Sync |
The Verdict: Should You Upgrade?
- Buy the Original NotePin if: You are on a strict budget and only need basic transcripts of 1-on-1 conversations.
- Upgrade to NotePin S if: You attend complex board meetings, require “instant highlighting” for action items, or found the original’s squeeze-control frustrating.
Official Resources & Documentation
To ensure accuracy, we have compiled the following verified resources for our readers:
- Manufacturer Specs: PLAUD NotePin S Official Product Page
- Hardware Comparison: Official PLAUD Hardware Matrix (Note vs. Pin vs. S)
- Community Discussion: NotePin S Unboxing & First Impressions (r/PLAUDAI)
