SpeakOn Dictation Device Hindered by Platform Limits

I rely heavily on dictation tools like Wispr Flow, Willow, and Typeless to handle messages and emails across my Mac and phone. Yet, I often have to use my phone’s built-in mic or AirPods, which frequently fail to capture my words accurately. So when Notta-owned SpeakOn reached out to let me test a dedicated dictation device, I was genuinely curious about its promise. My experience, however, was mixed, largely due to the product’s form factor and platform limitations. Still, I believe there is a real future for devices like this.

SpeakOn is a small, pebble-shaped gadget that attaches to the back of an iPhone via MagSafe, much like Plaud’s AI meeting notetaker. Weighing just 25 grams, it is light enough to slip into a pocket without notice. The companion iOS app functions as a software keyboard, similar to other dictation apps, and can even be used without the device itself.

To use it, you press a button on the device to start dictating and release it when finished. It has a single microphone and claims to capture audio within a two-foot range. Dictation works in any app where the keyboard is active, and the software automatically filters out filler words, formatting text into lists if desired. A key advantage is that SpeakOn uses its own mic instead of the iPhone’s, which other apps keep active for defined session periods. This design helps you avoid draining your phone’s battery unnecessarily.

Despite this dedicated hardware, my main frustration is that the device still struggles with audio pickup unless I keep the phone within roughly two feet. Even then, background noise often degrades performance. I hope future versions include better-quality mics. I also wish double-tapping the record button would bring the SpeakOn keyboard to the front when I’m using a text keyboard, or that I could start speaking without switching keyboards. These are likely system-level restrictions that are hard to bypass.

The app adjusts its AI editing and tone based on the app you are in, but you can manually override this. At times, I found the edits forced and unnecessary. For example, when I said, “Does this app work automatically?” it became “Does this application operate automatically?” In another instance, “complex” turned into “tricky,” and “Sure, no worries” became “There is no need to be concerned.” I do not want or need such changes, so I eventually turned off the “attune” feature to get better results. I would have used the device much more if it were compatible with Mac, allowing me to dictate in any application.

Beyond transcription, users can tap the translate button to convert speech into supported languages, including English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic. SpeakOn claims the device can run for 10 hours continuously and has a 20-day standby time. In my testing, standby lasted only a few days. By default, the device never turns off, so I recommend adjusting the settings to turn it off after a few hours of inactivity to preserve battery. It charges from 0 to 100 percent in about an hour, but a quick plug-in can provide enough power for many minutes of dictation.

Priced at $129, the device comes with a plan allowing 5,000 words per week. Competing apps like Wispr Flow offer 2,000 words weekly on their free plans. SpeakOn also offers a $12 per month unlimited plan. The company has an early mover advantage in the dictation device space, but it needs to expand platform support and refine the software experience. If it does not, another company could easily source similar components and release a competing device in a different form factor, eating into its market share.