soundcore Work | The World's First Coin-Sized AI Voice Recorder

I recently came across videos for this and the Plaid device (similar functionality) and wondered if it would be gimmicky or really worth it. It's not a cheap device at about $160 give or take what model and deal you find. Also, you get 300 minutes of dictation without any additional charges, so that's pretty cool. The Soundcore includes 1,200 minutes of transcription per month for the first 6 months for no additional charge if you subscribe to their service (which you can cancel anytime). There's no catch, if you sign up and don't like the service, you can cancel before getting charged. This was one big reason I went with Soundcore. Once the 6 months expire, it's about $16/mo (and a discounted annual plan, I believe) or you can opt for an unlimited dictation plan. The device works great, I love it. I wasn't sure how useful it'd be but have since realized it's an indispensible tool for me at work. I have a terrible memory and often times instructions are provided at breakneck speed and I end up forgetting the majority of what's been shared with me but this device allows me to easily refer back to the training at a later time. The battery life seems to last forever and I've no problems with my phone connecting to the device via bluetooth. The device holds a lot of data, avoiding you from having to transfer to your phone on a regular basis. Further, you can upload the recordings and transcriptions to the cloud for anywhere access. So, the device isn't cheap but it does exactly what it claims, does it well, and the six months of 1,200 minutes of transcription is amazing! I figure if it helps me be better at my job, then it's worth the price of admission. You can also record phone calls as well. One additional note, if you have an Android phone, it comes with a metal ring that you can attach to the back of your phone or your case, and then the charging base will magnetically attach to the ring and record the call. When attaching the ring to the back of my case, it seems to prevent the phone from charging wirelessly .. so keep that in mind, if you do that, you may need to remove the phone from the case to charge wirelessly, which can be a major pain for some cases. If you don't plan to record calls very often but use wireless charging often, you might be better off just holding the charging case to the back of the phone whenever recording a call. You could also try placing the magnetic ring on the back of the phone and put the phone in the case. This way you'll only need to remove the case when you want to attach the device to the phone magnetically for recording calls. Your mileage may vary with all of this so you'll have to play around to see what works for you but overall, the device is amazing!

I have ADHD and have the memory of a goldfish. Actually that is insulting to goldfish. This is a fab piece of kit BUT I don't even think the pro subscription is going to give me enough transcription minutes.

The recorder itself feels very on brand for Anker. It is well built, compact, and easy to clip onto clothing or a bag, and the audio quality is clear enough for meetings, lectures, or interviews without much effort. Battery life is solid, and the included charging dock makes it easy to keep ready. The app is generally straightforward, and the AI transcription and summaries are impressively accurate, especially for quick notes or reviewing meetings later. It works well across different use cases, which makes it a flexible tool rather than a one purpose gadget. Where things get frustrating is the subscription model. The free usage limit feels restrictive, and some of the most useful features are locked behind a paywall in a way that is not very transparent upfront. There are also understandable concerns around cloud based processing and data privacy, even though protections are advertised. Setup is not difficult, but pairing the device and fully understanding the app can take longer than expected. Overall, it is a strong recorder with genuinely useful AI features, but the ongoing costs and limitations keep it from feeling like an easy recommendation for everyone.

I’ve been using the soundcore Work by Anker for a bit and it’s honestly a really handy little thing. It’s super small and light (it feels like a button), so I can clip it on my collar or use the lanyard, and it also sticks to my iPhone with MagSafe which is dead convenient. Recording is basically one press and it just goes, and the audio comes out clear even when I’m not in a perfect quiet room. The app turns the recording into text fast, and the transcription is mostly spot on for me, plus it can split different speakers which makes it easier to read. What I like most is the summaries and templates, it turns a messy chat into proper notes with to-dos and key points, so I don’t forget stuff as much. There are a few downsides though. The AI can be a bit hit and miss on short conversations, and once or twice it thought I was two different speakers which looked a bit silly. If it gets a word wrong it can mess up the summary, but at least the transcript is easy to edit. Battery has been good for me (it’s lasted long sessions), and the charging dock helps a lot, but the price is not cheap at around £129 and the subscription part matters too. You only get 300 minutes a month unless you go Pro (and there’s a trial), so it’s worth thinking how much you’ll actually use it. Even with that, I’ve found it really useful for meetings and quick ideas on the go, and it feels well made and simple to use.

This is one of the best items I've ever purchased, this helps me a lot with work meetings to review and update my notes.