The Comulytic Note Pro AI voice recorder, a credit card-sized device that uses artificial intelligence to transcribe and summarize recorded audio, is drawing attention from users who have long abandoned traditional dictation gear. ZDNET senior contributing editor Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested the device and found the microphone quality excellent, the battery life superb, and the unit small and easy to use, though he raised concerns about proprietary charging cables, aggressive in-app upsells, and lingering privacy issues. The recorder is available now on Amazon and targets people who need a lightweight, unobtrusive way to capture meetings, memos, and thoughts.
The device measures about 3.37 by 2.04 by 0.12 inches and weighs roughly one ounce, resembling the Bluetooth tracking cards people slip into wallets. It has a small 128 by 80-pixel display, a single button for starting and stopping recordings, a triple-microphone array with AI noise reduction, an effective pickup range of up to 15 feet, and 64GB of internal storage. The battery provides about 45 hours of continuous recording and up to 107 days of standby. A magnetic slip case attaches the card to a smartphone, and a proprietary cable connects to pins on the back for charging.
Kingsley-Hughes, who was taught shorthand and used tape and electronic recorders before switching to keyboards, said he revisited voice input after developing cramping and neuropathy in his hands. He noted that typing once felt quicker and cleaner than speech-to-text software, which he tried in the late 1990s with frustrating results. His recent experience with the Comulytic device suggests that non-keyboard options have improved significantly.
The companion app, available for both iOS and Android, serves as the hub for all recorded audio. Recordings are offloaded from the device to the app, where third-party AI services handle transcription and summarization. Every recorder includes a free Starter Plan with unlimited transcription and basic summaries, but advanced features such as Advanced Summary, Instant Abstract, and Ask Comulytic Assistant require a paid subscription starting at $10 per month.
The company states that recordings are encrypted using AES and that its practices align with SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, GDPR, CCPA, and CPRA requirements, though Kingsley-Hughes noted those claims cannot be independently verified. He emphasized that note-taking is highly personal and that the device, like a notebook and pen, performs best in the hands of someone who speaks clearly and concisely. The device relies heavily on the clarity of the user's voice and thoughts, so users who mumble or ramble will likely get a very different experience from those who speak directly, he said.
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