I use Granola a lot, and it is really good. I find it more and more useful and it exceeds expectations. I also bought a pocket device and finding it’s not nearly as good a capturing meeting notes. I put both of them on sometimes in the same meeting to compare. Granola does not have mind-mapping, but so far the fact that pocket has mind-mapping has not been too helpful. I’m struggling to understand 1) what value add the 128GB Pocket device provides, sitting on the back of my phone 2) why not use the pocket app instead, and rely on the phone for microphone and storage, 3) why not just use Granola and completely get rid of pocket?
What am I missing here? With “Pro” being another $200 a year I’m not sure I “get” it. And the Pocket App vs. Recording device is confusing (esp with the bluetooth vs. wifi “sync” that does not seem to work reliably.
Anyone able to explain how and when to use Pocket Recording device vs. PocketApp on smartphone vs. checking both and simply relying on Granola, which is kind of killing it right now?
Thanks for the thoughtful question. Totally fair and I understand the confusion when you see an app, a hardware device, Wi Fi sync and then a Pro plan on top of it. Let me try to explain how we think about it from the inside and where the value of the hardware actually comes from.
Why Pocket is not just an app
Granola is great software and we respect it a lot. But it lives only on your phone. Pocket was built differently from the start for one reason only to make sure you never miss recording because of battery, microphone lock, lack of internet or accidental interruptions.
Here is where the device makes a real difference:
Works fully offline
No phone, no internet, no signal needed. You can put it in your pocket in a courtroom, at a lecture, conference or airplane and record everything. You sync later only when you want.
No interruptions from the phone
Apps lose access to the microphone the second an incoming call appears FaceTime, WhatsApp, Teams call or even system notifications. Pocket has its own microphone so nothing stops the recording.
Battery independence
Recording on the phone kills battery faster than almost anything. The iPhone struggles to last one full day even without recording. Pocket has its own battery so your phone stays free for navigation, messages and calls.
One purpose only, no friction
No screen, no app switching, no unlocking your phone. One physical slide and you are recording. You can switch between conversation or call mode instantly. That split second often decides if you capture the key moment or not.
Always with you, but not in the way
It snaps magnetically to the phone, just sits there quietly, ready to go. But it does not depend on your phone to do its job. That is the whole point.
So when to use what:
Pocket Device – when you need reliability, offline, full focus, no interruptions and clear audio. Long meetings, lectures, workshops, court, client conversations, walking without phone or phone in the bag.
Pocket App – when you already use the phone anyway, short recordings, voice memos, quick thoughts.
Both together – device records, later it syncs to app when Wi Fi is available. The app is just a window to recordings, not a replacement for the hardware.
We know that on the software side we still have room to be better. Pocket is not a finished product. With every new recording we learn and improve and we are already building much stronger mechanisms than what Granola uses. This is only the beginning of our software journey and we are iterating very fast to become the best both in hardware and in software so that Pocket becomes one complete solution.
There is a reason companies like OpenAI started working on hardware too software alone is not always enough.
I hope this explains the idea behind Pocket. It is not meant to replace your phone or Granola. It is built to make sure you still get the recording when your phone cannot.
Happy to answer anything more or hear how you use it both in practice.
PS I am sorry for the slightly long post, but I wanted to give a proper breakdown of why we chose this path and why we believe both hardware and software have to exist together to solve this problem well. As a co founder I genuinely love being challenged, so thank you for your questions. A good forum should have both praise and challenge and your perspective is exactly what helps us grow.
Thank you so much for your endless support, it keeps us going through the hard work and helps us stay committed to building the best AI thought companion possible.
