Recorders look alike and are not. Work out how long it needs to run, how discreet it has to be, and whether it should record everything or only when someone speaks.
Battery backup
The clearest difference in the range, and usually right there in the product name — from a few hours to several days. Decide the longest single session you need and buy above it.
Voice activation
A voice-activated recorder starts on sound and pauses in silence. For a meeting you are attending, it hardly matters. For a device left running, it is the difference between reviewing twenty minutes and scrubbing through nine hours of nothing.
Size against usability
The smallest units are the size of a car key and have almost no controls. Models with a display are easier to operate and let you confirm it is actually recording — which, for anything that matters, is worth the extra centimetre.
Frequently asked
How many hours fit on 8GB?
Many hours of audio — enough that battery life usually runs out before storage does.
Can I move recordings to a computer?
The USB models connect for transfer and charging. Check the individual product page.
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