The Adonit AI-Vocal is the latest from Adonit for the Apple iPad. While we usually see Apple Pencil alternatives for the iPad quite frequently, this also says that it supports the Apple iPhone as well. The Adonit AI-Vocal is a dual-mode stylus that apparently works on all touchscreens. The main feature of this stylus though is the integrated Bluetooth microphone that allows for note-taking, recording, and streaming.
As far as stylus designs go, the Adonit AI-Vocal is handsome. It’s mostly black with gold accents and includes a shirt clip. There are two buttons on the side; one is for power and mode switching, while the other activates the mic. I should note that the Adonit AI-Vocal does not have a magnet in it so you won’t be able to attach it to your iPad. You’ll have to find a way to carry it around, whether in your bag or clipped in a pocket.
The Adonit AI-Vocal pairs with your iPad or iPhone via Bluetooth. To use the mic to its fullest, you’ll need to download the Adonit One app from the App Store. This brings me to something odd. The box has instructions to download the app via QR code so you claim some type of offer with the app, but the URL it brings you to does not work. Secondly, if you download the app from the App Store, many of the features are locked away until you create an account, and then those apps are time-gated unless you pay to unlock them. Not exactly great in my opinion and I’m still not sure what this limited time promotion is since I can’t access it.
What does work, though, is the stylus portion, which is accurate but doesn’t have pressure sensitivity. You can also take voice notes without the app and save those to the AI-Vocal’s internal memory, which can be retrieved later. It’s also kind of interesting that this works with iPhones.
With yet another stylus for the Apple iPad, the Adonit AI-Vocal makes a difficult decision even harder to make. Just which stylus do you choose from them if you don’t want to spent the big bucks for an Apple Pencil? Do you choose one that has similar features as the Pencil or do you choose one that has unique features only an Adonit stylus can give you? The Adonit AI-Vocal is far more interesting with its added recording capabilities, but do you choose this over something like the Adonit Neo Pro or Note+ 2? You’ll need to decide that. Either way, you have plenty of selections now.
