A new AI voice recorder promises to solve one of the most persistent frustrations for professionals who live on calls — capturing both sides of a conversation via Bluetooth even when you wear headphones, and without requring bots, subscriptions or complicated setup. It’s the new HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder.
HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder
The new HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder joins a growing fray, which has seen ambitious flameouts like the Humane Ai Pin, similar efforts like Plaud Notepin and simpler approaches like Soundcore’s Work AI Note Taker. The HiDock P1, priced at $169, uses the company’s proprietary BlueCatch technology to pair with Bluetooth earphones like AirPods to hear and capture the whole meeting.
It records both sides of calls on platforms like Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Discord. No meeting bots or third-party software integrations required. You can use a free version or subscribe for more features.
Three ways to record
The P1 offers three recording modes. Call Mode works with your Bluetooth earphones and applies bi-directional noise cancellation. It filters background noise from all participants, not just your end. So it keeps recordings clean in cafés, airports or open offices, according to HiDock.
Room Mode uses wide-band audio to capture group discussions without earphones. That makes it useful for in-person meetings and interviews. And Whisper Mode lets you quietly capture personal notes with a long-press of the device.
A physical VoiceMark button lets you bookmark key moments mid-recording with a single press. Those timestamps surface automatically in the companion app, so you’re not scrubbing through an hour-long recording to find one decision.
The HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder attaches magnetically to laptop lids or whiteboards, runs for up to 8 hours on a charge and stores up to 64GB locally. It supports 75 languages and connects over Bluetooth 5.3.
Software that turns recordings into action
Photo: HiDock
The P1 pairs with HiNotes 3.0, an updated productivity platform that goes well beyond showing you a transcript. The app automatically pulls out action items from recordings and links each one back to the exact moment it was discussed. A Whisper Notes feature lets you stitch together multiple short recordings into a single structured document — handy for anyone who captures ideas on the go.
HiNotes 3.0 supports several leading AI models. Those include Claude Sonnet 4.6, GPT-4.1, GPT-5.4 and Gemini 3.1 Pro, Hi Notes also includes more than 30 meeting summary templates. Smart Labels categorize notes automatically. And integrations with Notion and Google Docs mean finished notes can flow straight into existing workflows.
A new Live Transcription and Translation feature works in real time across languages including English, Chinese and Japanese. Notably, it can generate transcripts without storing any audio — a useful option for privacy-sensitive conversations. During beta, live sessions are capped at one hour.
HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder: The case for going bot-free
Meeting bots have become a common workaround for recording calls, but they’re intrusive. Participants see them join, platforms sometimes block them and they depend on third-party access to your conversations. The HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder’s approach keeps recording local and discreet, with free transcription included and no mandatory subscription required to use the core features.
HiDock P1 is available now from the HiDock website and Amazon for $169.
This smart voice recorder works with Bluetooth earbuds via BlueCatch technology to record and transcribe both sides of calls. Features playback and more via HiNotes app plus 64GB memory.
- 3 recording modes
- Bookmark key moments via button
- Works with main meeting platforms
- HiNotes 3.0 supports AI models
- Subscription not required, but best for top features
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
