The VIAIM Nano+ Earbuds are part of VIAIM’s series of AI assistant earbuds, focusing on creating a more versatile and productive audio listening experience. In many ways, the Nano+ is comparable to the impressive VIAIM RecDot, offering many of the same impressive AI translation and transcription services as its companion. The Nano+ shifts its focus out of the office environment and instead prioritizes translation and versatility across a wide range of settings.
The design of the Nano+ mirrors is similar to that of the RecDot, offering the same level of comfort and lightness. The Nano+ comes with a range of silicone earbud tips to ensure a better fit for more users. The package also includes a carrying case that doubles as a charging dock. This compact case fits easily in a side pouch or pocket and extends the Nano+’s battery life by 32 hours, in addition to the earbuds’ 12 hours of charge.
The Nano+ also includes the AI transcription and translation features that made the RecDot stand out. With built-in microphones, the Nano+ can record, transcribe and translate audio in real time via the VIAIM app. While impressive on paper, seeing the Nano+ and app in action is even better. In testing, I played a YouTube video of a speech delivered in Spanish and had the Nano+ transcribe and translate it into English in real time.
“The Nano+ shifts its focus out of the office environment and instead prioritizes translation and versatility across a wide range of settings.”
The Nano+ had no trouble with the tasks and performed exceptionally well. It remains one of the highlights of the VIAIM lineup and is a feature that helps the Nano+ stand out from other earbuds. Using the transcription and translation feature is simple and easy to manage.
If you find yourself in a situation where opening the app would mean missing important information, the Nano+ can capture audio by pressing the earbud for two seconds to enable flash recording. Each earbud can store up to two hours of audio, which is impressive on its own.
This is ideal for phone calls that require note-taking. In testing, I was impressed by how accurate the transcribing was, even at the pace of a fast conversation. Once recorded, the transcription can be accessed through the app. One feature that can be valuable in many settings is the meeting summary AI tool, which, as the name suggests, can take the transcription and summarize it into a concise block of text. It works incredibly well and has been something I’ve used over the past couple of weeks for the many meetings I take part in.
For settings where wearing earbuds to capture audio would be out of place, VIAIM has included a flip-to-record option with the Nano+ case. As long as the earbuds are inside, they can be activated through the app and begin recording, allowing for transcription and translation later. The app can also recognize and highlight multiple speakers, and along with the summary feature, it can create to-do lists based on the transcription.
This last feature worked well, though there were a few times when it missed the mark on task assignment, which meant quickly reviewing and deleting some generated tasks. Even so, it’s still faster than reviewing notes manually and creating a list from scratch. This is a major benefit and a recurring theme of the Nano+: it’s designed to improve workflow and make translating and transcribing easier in busy settings. On this point, the Nano+ excels.
While the Nano+’s feature set is impressive overall, the listening experience is solid, with a few notable critiques. The drivers and diaphragm are designed to produce clean, clear audio and generally perform well. Higher frequencies are particularly crisp, but the low end, while impactful—especially in music—was not as clean as I would have liked. In frequency testing, there was some distortion in the sub-150 Hz range, which accounts for the less-than-ideal bass in songs.
“As a closed-earbud system, they trap audio exceptionally well and produce a balanced mix.”
To clarify, the Nano+ sound great. As a closed-earbud system, they trap audio exceptionally well and produce a balanced mix. However, frequency distortions in the low end keep the Nano+ from reaching the level of exceptional in audio playback. Even with this critique, the Nano+ still deliver strong performance, and with their long battery life, they will have no trouble getting you through a workday.
Noise cancellation is also solid, much like the RecDot, and it significantly reduces background noise. Activating the system is handled through the app and is easy to turn on and off. ANC can also be switched on with a double tap of the left earbud. Many of the Nano+’s controls can be managed with a series of taps or long presses, giving users fine control over their listening and recording experience.
The Nano+ from VIAIM are another strong pair of earbuds with an impressive features list. They raise the bar for what to expect from AI-powered earbuds and offer a host of useful functions for everything from meetings to international travel. With long battery life and a good listening experience, there is a lot to like about the Nano+.
