Voice artificial intelligence startup Subtle has introduced a new pair of wireless earbuds built around advanced noise isolation technology, aimed at improving call clarity and voice transcription in loud surroundings.

The company announced the release ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, revealing that the earbuds will begin shipping in the United States in the coming months. Priced at $199, the product includes a one-year subscription to Subtle’s iOS and Mac application, which allows users to record voice notes and interact with AI hands-free, without touching their devices.

According to Subtle, the earbuds are powered by a custom-designed chip capable of waking an iPhone even when it is locked. This enables seamless voice interaction and dictation across apps. The startup says its technology significantly reduces transcription errors, claiming up to five times fewer mistakes compared to AirPods Pro 3 paired with OpenAI’s transcription model.

Subtle is positioning the earbuds as a direct competitor to AI-driven voice dictation platforms such as Wispr Flow, Willow, Monologue, and Superwhisper. Unlike standalone apps, Subtle’s solution combines hardware and software, allowing users to dictate text in any application using the earbuds.

During a live demonstration observed by TechCrunch, the earbuds successfully captured clear audio in a noisy environment and accurately transcribed speech even when Subtle’s co-founder and chief executive officer, Tyler Chen, spoke in a whisper.

“There is a growing shift toward voice as a primary interface,” Chen said during a call with TechCrunch. “Voice allows people to do more naturally than typing, but many avoid using it in public spaces. With our noise isolation model embedded in these earbuds, we are enabling users to comfortably use voice interfaces anywhere.”

Chen added that Subtle aims to consolidate multiple voice-based tools—including dictation, AI chat, and voice note-taking—into a single, integrated experience. This approach comes amid broader industry experimentation with voice-enabled hardware, including smart rings recently announced by companies such as Sandbar and Pebble.

The earbuds are currently available for pre-order through Subtle’s official website and will be offered in black and white color options.

To date, Subtle has raised $6 million in funding and has collaborated with major consumer technology companies, including Qualcomm and Nothing, to deploy its noise isolation models across various products.

Source: Techcrunch