Frequently Asked Questions

Pinclaw is a clip-on AI voice device. You clip it onto your collar, pocket, or bag strap, and talk to it — it talks back. It connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth and uses frontier AI models (Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini) to handle tasks hands-free. No screen needed.

Phone assistants like Siri are locked into a single ecosystem with rigid commands. Pinclaw uses the most advanced AI models available, supports natural conversation, and can access your calendar, contacts, health data, smart home devices, and more — all through a single voice interface. It's always accessible without pulling out your phone.

Ask questions, set reminders, manage your calendar, send messages, control smart home devices, get health summaries, navigate, generate images, play audio — all by voice. Pinclaw also supports custom AI agents and skills through the OpenClaw plugin system.

No. Pinclaw is intentionally screen-free. It uses voice as the primary interface to keep you present and hands-free. You can check conversation history and manage settings in the companion iOS app.

Pinclaw supports Claude (Anthropic), GPT-4o (OpenAI), and Gemini (Google). You can switch between models or let Pinclaw choose the best one for each task. Bring your own API key with the free tier, or use our managed service with Pro.

Download the Pinclaw iOS app, create an account, then press the button on your Pinclaw device to enter pairing mode. The app will find it automatically via Bluetooth. Scan the QR code on the device to activate. Setup takes about 2 minutes.

The Pinclaw clip device, a USB-C charging cable, and a quick start guide. The device comes with a built-in clip — no additional accessories needed.

Pinclaw lasts a full day of typical use on a single charge. Charging via USB-C takes about 45 minutes to full.

Pinclaw is splash-resistant (IPX4) — it can handle rain and sweat, but should not be submerged in water.

Pinclaw requires an iPhone running iOS 17.0 or later. Android support is on our roadmap.

The Pinclaw hardware clip is $99 (originally $129 — early bird pricing). The device works with the free BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) plan, or you can subscribe to Pro for $29/month ($279/year) for managed AI access with no API key needed.

BYOK is free — you bring your own API keys for Claude, GPT-4o, or Gemini and pay the model providers directly. Pro ($29/month) includes managed access to all models, priority support, and cloud features like voice history and usage analytics.

Yes. Download the Pinclaw iOS app and use it with your phone's microphone — no hardware required. When you're ready for the hands-free experience, order the clip.

Yes. We offer a 30-day return policy for the hardware clip. If you're not satisfied, return it for a full refund.

No. Pinclaw only listens when you press the button or use the wake word. Audio is streamed for transcription and immediately discarded — we do not store raw audio recordings.

Voice is transcribed on-device (Apple Speech) or via Deepgram, then sent to the AI model you've selected. With BYOK, requests go directly to the model provider. With Pro, they route through our secure cloud. We never sell your data.

Health data accessed through HealthKit is processed locally on your device. It is never sent to our servers or shared with third parties, in compliance with Apple's HealthKit guidelines.

Yes. Pinclaw uses the OpenClaw plugin system — an open standard for AI agent tools. You can write plugins in TypeScript that add new capabilities to your Pinclaw, from home automation to custom APIs.

The OpenClaw protocol and plugin SDK are open source. The firmware, iOS app, and cloud infrastructure are proprietary but well-documented.

Yes. With BYOK mode, the AI processing happens between your device and the model provider — no Pinclaw servers in the loop. Advanced users can also run local models through the plugin system.