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A device that hears only you

A complete voice computing experience —

dictation, voice notes, AI chat, music, calls

So you can run your day with voice, privately

Voicebuds

The first subtle computing device that makes voice work where it's never worked before.
A complete voice computing experience
The Subtle App replaces multiple voice tools with a single, unified software stack for iPhone and Mac.
Dictation
Use with any app, without disrupting co-workers
Voice Notes
Capture all your ideas, even with your phone in your pocket
AI Chat
Brainstorm with an assistant, without being overheard
Voicebuds come with a full year of Subtle AI membership.
$249
$199
Preorder
Subtle AI membership includes unlimited dictation, voice notes, and AI chat. After year one, switch to rate-limited free tier anytime, no membership required.
Refundable preorders. Shipping Spring 2026.
Traditional earbuds were built for listening. Subtle Voicebuds are built for speaking.
Subtle Product Wireframe

Hears only you—
The Subtle Voice Engine™

The only voice-first hardware + ML stack engineered for voice without volume.
Multi-mic array
Designed for near-field, low-volume speech
Exclusive training data
Chaotic, real-world environments no other device is trained on
Proprietary Subtle Voice Engine™
Custom ML models trained end-to-end on real-world noise, motion, and whisper-level audio
On-device call isolation
Speech never leaves unnecessarily
Custom firmware + audio chain
Built for input, not adapted from music devices
Patented architecture
Designed end-to-end for subtle speech capture

Why it matters

Your voice stays clear in deafening noise, and understood in dead silence — even at volumes too quiet for bystanders to overhear.

Subtle Product Wireframe
Unmatched voice accuracy

5× fewer errors than AirPods Pro® + OpenAI transcription in challenging environments.

Voice without volume

Captures and understands inaudible speech, powered by the Subtle Voice Engine.

Subtle Voice Engine™

Powered by our end to end voice isolation ML model, trained on real-world data from chaotic, noisy environments.

Privacy by design

Your voice heard, never overheard. Local call isolation, secure AI chats, auto‑deleted dictations.

All-in-one

Music, calls, and computing in one product,
no compromises.

Run your day with voice.

Subtle makes voice the most effective, trusted interface you have. Anywhere.

Real-time dictation
Write 4× faster than typing in any app, on your phone and laptop.
App that shows real time dictation
Voice notes
Capture ideas instantly; everything is transcribed and organized automatically.
Contextual AI chat
Ask questions, recall info, and brainstorm hands-free.
Seamless iOS → macOS handoff
Move between devices without reconnecting.
Any environment
Built for noise, motion, shared quiet spaces, and real‑world use.
App showing noise cancelling options
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Real-time dictation
Write 4× faster than typing in any app, on your phone and laptop.
Voice notes
Capture ideas instantly; everything is transcribed and organized automatically.
Contextual AI chat
Ask questions, recall info, and brainstorm hands-free.
Seamless iOS → macOS handoff
Move between devices without reconnecting.
Any environment
Built for noise, motion, shared quiet spaces, and real‑world use.

Proven where others fail.

In real-world tests, Subtle consistently outperforms leading devices.

Voicebuds
5× better transcription accuracy
End-to-end voice isolation software
Reliable in extreme conditions
Optimized for AI dictation
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Earbuds
Generic speech models reduce accuracy
Lossy compression flattens voice signal
Cuts off speech in loud environments
On-device latency and processing incompatible with AI dictation software

Reviews for Voicebuds

Real users making all the right noise.

I didn’t expect much, but these earbuds let me have a normal, low-voice conversation on the subway without shouting—my wife could actually hear me clearly. They block out the screeching tracks and office chatter better than anything I’ve used, and calls sound surprisingly natural.

Michael S.
May 9, 2025
5 stars

Living in SF, I’m constantly taking calls in crowded cafés or on BART, and these earbuds somehow pick up my quiet voice without all the background chaos. Friends say it sounds like I’m in a quiet room, even when I’m outside during rush hour. They’ve honestly made city life and communication so much easier.

Olivia W.
May 9, 2025
5 stars

As a reporter, I’m constantly recording quick voice notes between interviews, usually on noisy streets or in packed hallways, and these earbuds have been a game changer. They pick up my whispered reminders clearly enough that I can actually understand them later, instead of sorting through a wall of background noise. Occasionally wind throws them off, but they’ve already saved me from missing key quotes more than once.

Anthony S.
May 9, 2025
5 stars

Living in SF, I’m constantly taking calls in crowded cafés or on BART, and these earbuds somehow pick up my quiet voice without all the background chaos. Friends say it sounds like I’m in a quiet room, even when I’m outside during rush hour. They’ve honestly made city life and communication so much easier.

John C.
May 9, 2025
5 stars
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Privacy by design

Your voice gets through, even when speaking aloud isn’t an option.

Discreet use
Your voice stays between you and your device.
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Local processing for calls
Your speech stays on-device whenever possible.
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Secure notes + AI chats
Your conversations are encrypted in transit and at rest, accessible only by you.
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Privacy mode
With privacy mode enabled, all audio and transcripts are automatically deleted after processing.
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Talk to your tech without talking to the room.

Subtle Voicebuds work where voice traditionally breaks down.
Open offices

Dictate below a whisper without disrupting your team
(or your train of thought).

Busy Cafes
Busy cafes

Voicebuds filter out everything but you. Stay ahead of your to-dos for the day while waiting on your drink.

In transit

On planes, trains, and ubers, your voice stays steady
and private.

Between moments

Brainstorm with AI or dictate reminders on the fly— hands-free and faster than typing.

Around the house

Voicebuds let you take calls or jump into a task without interrupting the calm (or the chaos).

Specifications

What comes with the product
Voicebuds
Charging Case
Eartips with S/M/L sizes
Subtle AI Membership
(1 year)
Available for iOS and MacOS
Shipping in the U.S.
Complete English support, multilingual support to follow
IPX4 water resistant to sweat, rain, and splashes
Premium audio + calls + computing
Whisper-level pickup

FAQ

What are Subtle Voicebuds?
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Subtle Voicebuds are an in-ear wearable device that isolates your voice to make voice computing work where it’s never worked before—in shared spaces, in noisy environments, and in moments when speaking aloud isn’t an option. They enable natural, private communication with dictation tools and AI where traditional devices fail.
Do Subtle Voicebuds really work in any environment?
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Yes, and we'll be sharing live demos on our social media to prove it! Subtle Voicebuds use advanced voice-isolation technology to capture your speech clearly in noisy cafés, quiet offices, or on the move, even below a whisper. They’re built to make voice computing work anywhere you do.
Do Subtle Voicebuds capture voice better than my existing earbuds?
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Yes—dramatically. In field tests, Subtle Voicebuds deliver up to 5X better transcription accuracy than leading consumer earbuds such as Apple AirPods Pro 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds3, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, or Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. This performance comes from proprietary real-time voice AI noise models that isolate speech even in extreme background noise or at a whisper. The result is clear, private voice capture that enables accurate dictation and voice control where other earbuds fail.
Can Subtle Voicebuds play music?
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Yes. Subtle Voicebuds work as full-featured wireless earbuds that stream music, take calls, and handle everyday audio seamlessly. What sets them apart is their ability to add private, precise voice control that performs reliably in any environment.
Do Subtle Voicebuds come with a membership?
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Subtle Voicebuds do not require a subscription for standard earbud functionality such as music playback, calls, or audio control. However, AI-driven features including dictation, transcription, and AI chat are included with a complimentary one-year Subtle app membership.
Do I need to pay for a subscription to use Voicebuds?
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Nope! Without an active subscription, Voicebuds are still a top-tier stereo headset with great voice pickup and a limited number of free AI interactions per month. But, if you use voice every day and want more out of your Voicebuds, you can upgrade them to the Subtle AI Membership.
What happens when I cancel my Subtle membership after the first year?
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If you cancel after the first year, your Subtle membership automatically converts to a basic tier. You’ll still be able to use AI-powered features, but with a limited number of AI calls per week. You can upgrade at any time to restore full functionality and unlimited access.
Do Subtle Voicebuds pair with my iPhone and my Mac?
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Yes. Subtle Voicebuds pair easily with your iPhone and your Mac, supporting seamless handoff between devices—so you can move from a call to your computer or continue a note right where you left off, without reconnecting or missing a beat.
What languages does the Subtle app support?
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At launch, Voicebuds will support English, with the goal to add more languages in the future.
Can I buy Subtle Voicebuds outside the United States?
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Not at this time. Subtle Voicebuds are currently available only in the United States.
Who makes Subtle Voicebuds?
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Subtle Voicebuds are designed by Subtle Computing, a Palo Alto-based company developing a new generation of subtle, powerful computing devices.
Why can’t Siri or Alexa understand me in noisy environments?
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Most voice assistants use external microphones and generic speech recognition models that can’t reliably separate your speech from background sounds like traffic, music, or chatter. Traditional speech models struggle when background noise masks certain frequencies of your voice. Without clean input, even advanced AI can’t understand you. Subtle Voicebuds solve this with a multi-microphone array, on-device AI voice isolation, and proprietary transcription models that keep your speech crystal-clear, even with motion, noise, or nearby conversation.
Why doesn’t voice recognition work in quiet or shared spaces?
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Standard devices are tuned for normal speech volume, so when you lower your voice in an office or cafe, accuracy drops sharply. Subtle Voicebuds can detect, amplify, and process even whisper-level speech, enabling private, low-volume interactions with AI without disturbing people nearby.
Are there other earbuds that let me whisper to AI?
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Whisper recognition requires microphones sensitive enough to pick up near-field speech and algorithms that can enhance it without amplifying background noise. Subtle Voicebuds are designed precisely for that use case—enabling private, low-volume voice control for realtime AI chat and AI-driven interactions.