The Viaim RecDot is an AI-powered set of earbuds designed to deliver a hi-fi audio experience while offering an impressive suite of AI tools. Marketed as a wireless AI conference earbud system, the RecDot can provide real-time transcription, audio recording, and text translation of any recorded and transcribed audio. While it may sound a bit sci-fi, Viaim aims to bring the future to the present with the RecDot earbuds.
On the surface, the RecDot looks and feels like most modern earbuds. They come with a compact charging case and several silicone ear tips to ensure a proper fit for a wide range of users. Thanks to the 4.9-gram weight of each earbud, they offer an incredibly light and comfortable fit, similar to many premium earbuds. However, it’s when you look beneath the surface that the RecDot begins to shine.
Each earbud features an 11-mm titanium-plated diaphragm driver that delivers surprisingly strong audio, considering its small size. Certified for hi-res audio, the RecDot earbuds provide a sound quality that is more impressive than expected. In audio testing, the RecDots delivered a powerful frequency response, particularly in the low end. In fact, out of the box, I found the bass to be almost overwhelming. Thankfully, they come with several EQ options and can, with a few adjustments, produce a well-balanced audio profile.
“Viaim aims to bring the future to the present with the RecDot earbuds.”
In frequency testing, I didn’t notice any distortion across the spectrum. In fact, the RecDot generates very clean audio across the lows, mids and highs. As mentioned earlier, perhaps the most impressive aspect of the audio profile is how powerful—and clean—each range can be when pushed to its limits. Indeed, when switching between EQ profiles, the difference in sound is noticeable—something that isn’t always the case with earbuds.
Shifting to some of the standard features found in premium earbuds, the RecDot includes solid noise cancellation. Rated for 48 dB of active noise cancellation with the option for transparency mode, I was impressed by how well the RecDots handled ANC across a variety of testing environments. Even while standing in the mechanical room of one of the facilities at work with an active boiler system running, I could still clearly hear the audio I was listening to.
Battery life is also quite impressive, with a rating of nine hours per charge for the earbuds and a total of 36 hours when paired with the charging case. Given the previously mentioned weight of just 4.9 grams, this is especially notable considering each earbud houses a 63 mAh battery. Testing revealed these numbers to be fairly accurate, although battery life did deviate slightly when using some of the RecDot’s recording features (more on this later).
Controlling the RecDot comes in a few different formats. Standard touch controls are available, allowing you to manage various functions such as volume, media playback, and active noise cancellation with a simple tap on each earbud. The Viaim app also offers more in-depth control over the earbuds, allowing you to customize the listening experience to your preferences. Perhaps the most interesting, though, is the voice control built into the RecDot.
This feature takes the concept of Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri and elevates it to the next level. Essentially, without needing to address the earbuds as you would with the other three AI assistants mentioned, you can issue a series of pre-programmed commands to control playback. For example, starting and stopping music is as simple as saying, “Play music” or “Stop playing.” It works impressively well for the most part, though large, crowded spaces can occasionally cause it to mishear other voices and skip songs or pause playback. The feature is entirely optional for those concerned about devices listening in on conversations.
On the note of listening in on conversations, this is where the RecDot stands out from the crowd. Marketed as an AI-powered conference earbud, the RecDot is capable of capturing live audio, transcribing it, and even translating it in real time if needed. Hold on to your hat—this is where sci-fi meets science.
For starters, each earbud features a built-in microphone system that captures audio seamlessly with the push of a button on the case. The system immediately starts recording and stores audio directly on the earbuds (up to 60 minutes total). Once captured, the recording can be quickly downloaded to the Viaim app—available for iOS and Android—where a range of tools can be applied.
Transcription and translation can both be completed and saved to your phone for easy viewing. Speaker identification is integrated into the AI software as well, so whether you’re listening to a lecture or a podcast, the software can easily identify and separate speakers. The AI can also generate summaries and to-do lists based on the recordings, which proved extremely helpful. In testing, it performed quite well. While other software may offer similar functionality, what makes the RecDot and the Viaim app special is how all of these features are bundled into one seamless ecosystem.
Recordings captured by the earbuds are clear and offer a solid representation of the audio source. This is made possible by the RecDot’s triple microphone and bone-conduction microphone system. It has an impressive range, easily picking up a speaker—or multiple speakers—within seven metres. In testing, I found the effective capture range to be approximately 18 feet, which, although slightly less than the advertised seven meters, is still quite impressive for an earbud microphone.
“Viaim has blended two distinct and powerful toolsets into a single piece of hardware—and done a solid job of it.”
The only limitation here is that audio must first be downloaded before it can be transcribed or translated. However, when using the Viaim app with your phone’s built-in microphone, the experience improves. Live transcription and translation become available when using this setup, and in my testing, they worked quite well.
It’s worth noting that the system isn’t perfect, but it’s an improvement over Google Translate. Based on the tests I ran—translating from Spanish to English, since that’s my only point of reference—the software performs a word-for-word translation and then immediately restructures the sentence to make sense in the target language. This all happens in real time, with the translation adapting as the AI interprets the context of each sentence.
What’s most impressive is how quickly the system can transcribe and translate. As mentioned, it isn’t flawless, but it allows you to understand what’s being spoken in real time, which is quite remarkable. The one caveat is that the free version of the transcription tool only allows for 600 minutes per month. To unlock unlimited monthly transcription—and, by extension, translation—you’ll need to pay $19.99 per month or $159.99 per year. While it won’t appeal to everyone, many users may find this a worthwhile investment.
So, who is this for? Ultimately, the RecDot’s audio and active noise cancellation performance is solid, but other earbuds offer a similar experience at a fraction of the price. If that were all the RecDot could do, there might be reason for concern. However, the inclusion of built-in recording, transcription and real-time translation makes this an ideal option for professionals or students working and studying in corporate or international settings. Viaim has blended two distinct and powerful toolsets into a single piece of hardware—and done a solid job of it.
The RecDot from Viaim is a solid pair of earbuds that provides a wide range of functions and features not commonly found in standard models. When paired with the Viaim app, the RecDot becomes a powerful tool that can serve professionals and students alike. With all this in mind, the RecDot earbuds are worth considering in the right setting.
