iFLYTEK AI Recorder P1 Pro & P1 Review

The iFLYTEK AI Recorder P1 and P1 Pro pursue the same basic idea as the S6 I reviewed earlier this year: capture what is said and use AI to turn it into something more useful. This time, the hardware is smaller, more affordable, and split between the wearable P1 and more traditional P1 Pro. After testing both devices for two weeks, here is my review.

Small or Pro?

Both recorders use the same Deepting AI features, so the real differences are found in the hardware.

The 22.5g P1 is the smaller, wearable option. It boasts a strong magnetic clip, though it can also be used as a pendant or around a wrist like a watch. Users interact with the P1 using the dedicated recording button. This one-press solution removes friction and lets users immediately capture their thoughts for later. The screen is obviously tiny, but iFLYTEK has struck a good balance between portability and usable controls.

The P1 Pro is aimed more at power users. Its metal body, large touchscreen, physical controls, built-in speaker, and on-device playback make it feel like a more complete recorder. It also supports 96kHz/24-bit audio, which is a nice bonus for those planning to edit recordings later, but I wouldn’t call it a game-changing improvement for speech.

The dual-microphone P1 is rated to capture voices from up to five metres away, while the Pro’s three-microphone system extends that to 10 metres. Neither matches the S6’s eight microphones and 20-metre range, but they aren’t nearly as expensive, so some limitations are expected. 

Battery life is rated at up to 25 recording hours for the P1 and 20 hours for the P1 Pro with both including 64 GB of storage.

Putting Deepting to the test

Recordings can be captured using directional or omnidirectional modes. The former is useful when focusing on one speaker, while the latter suits group discussions or recording ideas while walking around a room like I often do.

English transcription proved very accurate in my testing. I spoke normally without carefully overpronouncing words and encountered very few mistakes. Speaker identification also worked well when my wife finished some of my sentences, as we tried to trick the devices, although accuracy could suffer when multiple people spoke over one another.

Summaries were similarly impressive. I recorded some long-winded thoughts about upcoming projects and received a much cleaner overview. It also successfully summarized an hour-long video essay, demonstrating the potential usefulness for students.

Eleven languages are supported, although I only tested English due to my limited talent.

Worth carrying another gadget?

Some phones and recording apps can perform similar tasks, but the P1 and P1 Pro feel like purpose-built tools. One-touch recording, dedicated microphones, separate battery life, and no notifications or other apps getting in the way make it easier to get straight down to business.

The Deepting app also worked well for managing recordings and accessing the AI tools.

Slowdowns and subscriptions

A one-hour recording took around a minute to transfer over Wi-Fi. That wasn’t disastrous, but it is slower than iFLYTEK’s advertised estimate of approximately 30 seconds and slightly undermines the emphasis on speedy syncing. Don’t get me wrong, though, this will still be quick enough for most users. 

There is also an ongoing subscription consideration. Registering either recorder increases the free monthly transcription allowance from the app’s standard 30 minutes to 300. However, beyond that, heavier users may need Deepting Pro, which is another ongoing cost to consider.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by iFLYTEK (P1 Pro and P1).