Relay AI Voice-to-Text App: Features, Hardware, Release Date, and Cost
How much does Relay cost? Relay has not yet announced official pricing for its software or Relay Q microphone. The macOS app is currently available in beta, while the company’s dedicated microphone is expected to launch in early 2027.
Typing less is becoming easier as artificial intelligence improves speech-to-text technology. New AI tools can now transcribe conversations, remove filler words, organize spontaneous thoughts, and help users communicate across languages.
Apps such as Wispr Flow and Google’s latest on-device dictation features demonstrate how far voice-input technology has advanced. Now, a new London-based startup called Relay is entering the market with a different approach: purpose-built hardware designed to convert high-quality audio into text anywhere.
What Is Relay?
Relay is developing a portable microphone and voice-to-text platform for people who want to dictate messages, notes, and ideas without typing. The company was founded by two former Nothing employees: Cookie Xu, Nothing’s former head of AI and services, and Raymond Zhu, a former hardware product manager.
Relay is launching its software first. Its dedicated microphone, called Relay Q, is expected to become available in early 2027. The company has not revealed the final retail price of the microphone or its subscription plans.
Why Relay Is Building Dedicated Voice Hardware
While working at Nothing, Zhu and Xu reportedly used Wispr Flow to dictate many of their work messages. Although the software helped them generate ideas quickly, they found that speaking into a computer in a busy office could be uncomfortable and disruptive.
“In the office, I couldn’t get the volume right for the input,” Zhu told WIRED. “If I whisper too low, my Mac can’t pick it up. If I whisper too loud, my colleague next to me can hear it.”
He explained that he sometimes removed his earbuds and held them close to his mouth to improve audio capture during dictation. According to Zhu, this experience showed the need for specialized voice-input hardware.
Relay App Features
At launch, Relay is available exclusively on macOS, although the company plans to expand to Windows, iOS, and Android in the future. Zhu said the company began with desktop computers because workplace conversations are often more complex than casual smartphone chats.
On a computer, users may switch between brainstorming, writing messages, sharing ideas, and using different tones or levels of formality. Relay is designed to support these situations by allowing users to speak naturally in almost any text field.
The macOS beta app can be used with or without Relay’s dedicated microphone. During setup, users select a keyboard shortcut to activate dictation. The default shortcut is the Fn key.
Once the cursor is placed in a text field, holding the shortcut key activates Relay and converts spoken words into text. The app’s speech-to-text system uses Google’s Gemini model to process and transcribe audio.
How Does Relay Work?
- Install the Relay macOS application.
- Choose a keyboard shortcut, such as the Fn key.
- Place the cursor in any supported text field.
- Hold the shortcut and speak naturally.
- Relay processes the audio and inserts the transcribed text.
The service is intended to do more than provide a direct transcription. Like other modern AI dictation tools, Relay aims to clean up spoken language, remove unnecessary filler words, and turn unscripted thoughts into clearer written text.
Relay Q Microphone Release Date
The Relay Q microphone is not yet available. Relay expects to release the hardware in early 2027, but the company has not confirmed an exact launch date, regional availability, or final specifications.
Until the microphone launches, users can test the Relay macOS app with their existing computer microphone or another compatible audio device.
How Much Does Relay Cost?
Relay has not announced official pricing for the macOS app, Relay Q microphone, or any premium subscription. The current software is in beta, so pricing and features may change before the commercial launch.
Potential buyers should wait for Relay to confirm:
- The price of the Relay Q microphone
- Whether the macOS app will be free or subscription-based
- Whether AI transcription will include usage limits
- Pricing for Windows, iOS, and Android versions
- Availability in different countries
Relay vs. Traditional Speech-to-Text Tools
Most speech-to-text services rely on a phone, laptop, or standard headset microphone. Relay is taking a hardware-focused approach by designing a dedicated portable microphone for high-fidelity voice capture.
This could make Relay useful for professionals who frequently dictate emails, notes, documents, and ideas in noisy or shared environments. However, its success will likely depend on audio quality, transcription accuracy, privacy protections, battery life, compatibility, and pricing.
Final Thoughts
Relay is entering a fast-growing AI voice-to-text market with a combination of software and dedicated hardware. Its macOS application is already available in beta, while the Relay Q microphone is planned for early 2027.
For now, the biggest unanswered question is the cost. Relay has not released pricing details, so users will need to wait for the company to announce whether the service will use a one-time purchase, a subscription, or a combination of both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Relay free?
Relay has not announced final pricing. The macOS app is currently in beta, but it is unclear whether the finished version will be free or subscription-based.
How much will the Relay Q microphone cost?
The price of Relay Q has not been revealed. The microphone is expected to launch in early 2027.
Which devices support Relay?
Relay currently supports macOS. The company plans to release versions for Windows, iOS, and Android in the future.
Does Relay require a special microphone?
No. The beta macOS app can work with a computer’s built-in microphone or another compatible microphone. Relay’s dedicated Relay Q microphone is still in development.
What AI model does Relay use?
Relay’s speech-to-text engine uses Google’s Gemini model to process spoken audio and convert it into written text.
Source: www.wired.com