With the year 2020 well on its way and innovative products like Obii by Biird being released, let us take a look at the devices that help us understand and be understood in the world of languages. When it comes to choosing the best translator device, what should we consider first? At the moment, there are four main brands that offer their own devices for translating. Each of them have distinctive features so let us compare the differences and similarities among the most popular handheld translators for travel or business on the market.

Choosing the Best Translator Device in 2020

List of Translators Reviewed

    1. Travis Touch Go
    2. Pocketalk
    3. ili
    4. WT2 Plus

Travis Touch Go

Price: $199

Travis Touch Go is a third-generation pocket translator designed for face-to-face conversations between travelers, business partners, family members or strangers. 155 languages are available for online translating and 12 languages are supported without an Internet connection (limited translations; basic words, and phrases). Travis, with the help of AI technology, uses 20 different translation engines, including Google Translate,  to provide the most accurate translations for each language. Its dual noise-canceling microphones and high-quality speakers allow translating outdoors, on the move or in noisy environments. Travis Touch Go can be used straight for 12 hours without charging and the same amount converts to approximately a week with occasional translations while traveling. Travis Touch Go is a standalone translator and doesn’t require a phone or extra app in order to translate. 

Travel use:

If you’ve ever had to direct a taxi driver in a language you don’t speak or tried to explain your specific food allergies in a foreign restaurant, you know how difficult communication can be. A language translator device like Travis can help breaking those language barriers and share what’s on your mind, while getting a clear answer in your native language.

Business use:

Imagine being able to speak fluently with your foreign clients or business leads on the go, anywhere you travel to. Negotiations become instantly easier, while you build trust with your future partners.

Medical use:

Explaining your symptoms to a foreign doctor can lead to dangerous complications. Make sure to receive the right treatment while discussing fluently in any medical institutions around the world.

Pocketalk

Price: $219 (without built-in data) or $249

A compact pocket-translator with 74 languages at hand. Pocketalk is able to translate long sentences, therefore it is suitable for traveling, face-to-face conversations. Due to the dual noise-canceling microphones and speakers, outdoor translations are possible even in a loud environment. The translating history stores up to 10,000 past translations and they are accessible in the timeline. There are two options to purchase the device: with the built-in mobile data or without. Pocketalk doesn’t support offline translations at all, meaning that the device has to be connected to the Internet at all times in order to work. With the built-in mobile data, the translator arrives together with a global SIM card installed which is valid for two years after initial activation. Afterward, it costs $50 a year to extend your mobile data coverage.

Pocketalk Voice Translator
Pocketalk Voice Translator

ili Translator

Price: $199

As the opposite of Pocketalk, ili is an offline translation device. It supports three languages: Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish. A beta version of the Korean language has been recently added. The most distinctive feature of ili is that it offers only one-way translations. For instance, if I choose to translate to Mandarin, then I have to speak in English (default input language) and the translation will be configured to English-Mandarin, giving me an output of what I have said in Mandarin. Not the other way around. It proves to be a quick method of translating, with a focus on Asian languages. The device is comfortable to hold in hand because of its oblong shape and well-positioned translation button. Because translations are done without internet connection and the device itself does not have major energy usage, the battery is measured to stay for three days.

ili Offline Translator
ili Translator

WT2 Plus

Price: $219

While Pocketalk and ili specialize on face-to-face translations, WT2 Plus are translator earbuds that offer ear-to-ear translation. Two wireless headphones come in the charging case to be shared between two speakers. The earbuds are connected to the Internet via a mobile app and require a phone to be present at all times. WT2 Plus claims to have three translation modes available – Simul Mode, Touch Mode and Speak Mode. Each mode is designed to optimize the ways of translating on different occasions or environments. WT2 Plus supports 36 languages together with 13 English accents, 15 Arabic accents, and 18 Spanish accents. Earbuds can operate for 5 hours without charging and the fully-charged case provides up to two full earbuds’ charges. You will need a phone and an app for these earbuds to work. Approaching strangers on the street and asking them to pop in an earbud might give for some very awkward reactions.

WT2 Plus Best Earbud Translator
WT2 Plus

Best Electronic Translators Comparison Guide

Travis Touch Go

Comparison of translator Travis Touch

Pros:

  • 155 languages supported, which makes it the most complete real time translator on the market
  • Two-way translation
  • Dual microphones with noise-cancellation
  • Works online (with Wi-Fi or SIM card) and offline
  • New eSim functionality that allows you to buy data packages directly online at a cheap price (for example, a 7 days 1GB data package valid in Japan and South Korea is only $4.8) without the need of a physical SIM card
  • The first month of international data is FREE
  • Hotspot functionality to share your internet connection with up to 11 devices
  • Voice commands to easily change languages
  • Long-lasting battery with up to a week of conventional usage
  • You can learn languages with the Travis Teacher add-on, currently FREE with every Travis Touch Go purchase (on the official website only)

Cons:

  • No mobile data pre-installed
  • Only available in 1 color (Black) – White is sold out

Pocketalk

Comparison of Translator Pocketalk

Pros:

  • 74 languages supported, which makes it the 2nd most complete translator in this list
  • Two-way translation
  • Dual-noise canceling microphones
  • Translating history stores up to 10,000 past translations
  • Built-in data if you purchase the $249 option
  • Available in 3 colors

Cons:

  • Does not provide offline translations, it requires you to be connected to internet at all times
  • Price can be up to $50 more than Travis Touch Go with less languages supported
  • Need to pay $50 a year to extend your mobile data coverage once you’ve reached the initial limit
  • Only ships to US and Japan

ili Translator

Comparison of Translator ili

Pros:

  • Small size
  • Works entirely offline
  • Battery lasts longer than other devices

Cons:

  • Only one-way translation, so don’t expect to understand any answer you might get from your foreign interlocutor
  • Only 4 languages supported
  • No screen to display your translation
  • $199 is a high price for one-way translation only

WT2 Plus

Comparison of Translator Earbud WT2 Plus

Pros:

  • Ear-to-ear translation can be convenient when talking with the same person for a long time
  • 3 translation modes available
  • Supports up to 84 accents (more than any device in this list)

Cons:

  • Sharing an earbud with a total stranger
  • Only 36 languages supported
  • Only 5 hours of operation time
  • Does not work offline, as it needs an app on your phone, and your phone to be connected via Bluetooth at all times

 

What is the Best Offline Translator of 2020?

Let’s have a look at how many languages these translators can handle while being offline:

Travis Touch Go: 15 languages while offline (155 while connected to Wi-Fi or 4G)

ili: 4 languages while offline (does not handle online translations)

Pocketalk: doesn’t offer offline translation (74 while connected to Wi-Fi or 4G)

WT2 Plus: doesn’t offer offline translation (36 while connected to Wi-Fi or 4G via your phone)

 

Understanding the Difference Between Budget Translators and Premium Translators

You’ve probably seen a good number of budget translators online, that offer up to 40 languages translation. What exactly differentiates those from more expensive devices?

The best way to understand those core differences are to ask yourself what you expect from a translator device.

Are you looking for a stand-alone device? The majority of budget translators work as glorified microphones that you link to your phone via Bluetooth. The entire translation process is done through an app that you have to download beforehand, and that means you constantly switching between your phone settings and the translator while trying to have a conversation with someone that doesn’t speak your language.

Audio quality can be a problem, as budget translators microphones and stereo outputs will not deliver a crispy result. Don’t expect noise-cancellation features neither, so translating your voice in crowded spaces is mostly out of the picture.

The quality of translation is also way lower than what you could expect from premium translators, that usually contain dedicated language translation softwares that combine A.I. learning and dozens of translation engines to provide the most accurate results depending on which language you want to translate to and from.

The fact that you have to carry your phone (that contains all your personal data) in one hand and the budget translator in the other hand can be troublesome, and lead to uneasy situations.

Premium translators usually benefit from other handy functionalities, such as being able to work as Mobile Hotspots (meaning you can share your internet data with other devices around you), which make it a perfect travel companion for you and your friends or family.

Voice commands to easily switch from one language to another is a huge plus, as well as microphones with noise-cancellation technology and improved speakers to make sure the other person understands you clearly.

 

How is Travis Different from Other Translator Devices?

Pocketalk vs Travis

Pocketalk and Travis are both voice-pocket translators of similar size that interface via touch screens. Both devices are connected to the Internet either through mobile data (using the global SIM card) or Wi-Fi. Bluetooth connection is used to attach external accessories. The sensitivity of high-quality microphones and the clear output sound allow translating anywhere you go. However, Travis offers a wider range of languages and accents making it more universal translator for global travelers. As well, Travis supports several languages for offline translations. These are limited in their depth and mostly used for basic words and phrases. For travelers, especially backpackers and busy business(wo)men, sufficient battery life is crucial and here Travis has an advantage. While in use, Travis can operate for up to 12 hours while Pocketalk has to be charged after 7 hours of use. In practical terms, Travis is more accessible (to purchase) since the device can be delivered worldwide and is significantly less expensive.

Pocketalk Price: $219 (without built-in data) or $249

Travis Touch Go Price: $199

ili vs Travis

Compared to ili, Travis outperforms it with a broader utility range. ili focuses on Asian countries, only having four translation languages available. In contrast, Travis offers almost global coverage. With the help of AI technology, translation engines are selected according to the languages prompted for translation, ensuring the most accurate scores for each. Moreover, Travis is capable of two-way translation: it translates back and forth between what you said and what your companion said, allowing an actual conversation to take place. With Travis, you can select from numerous languages to be translated from while with ili the default input language is English. It does not allow translating from Spanish to Japanese, for example. While Travis has several languages that are only available for one-way translation as well, these are the lesser-used ones.

ili Price: $199

Travis Touch Go Price: $199

WT2 Plus vs Travis

Translator earbuds WT2 Plus and a voice-pocket translator Travis hold quite different characteristics. First, the contact with technology itself. Earbuds have to be shared between two or four people, making it questionable whether it is comfortable to approach and talk to strangers. While traveling, it might be difficult to share an earbud with a taxi-driver or someone in the bar – not everyone would be willing to use an earbud from the stranger’s hands. Travis, however, is a more neutral device that does not require such personal contact between the speakers and technology. Second, the earbuds depend on the device they are connected to, thus the hassle might arise in less foreseen situations. The rainy day, dead phone’s battery, no Internet connection can be one of these. An independent translator device is more suitable to tackle the spontaneity. On the other hand, WT2 Plus has three translation modes that help to adjust the way the device translates depending on the conversation. That can be very useful but, again, barely applicable for on-the-spot translations.

WT2 Plus Price: $219

Travis Touch Go Price: $199

Specifications table

Find below the relevant specifications for the best translation devices Pocketalk, ili, WT2 Plus, and Travis Touch Go.

Travel Made Better with Travis Instant Portable Translator

NOTE: Translation accuracy was not compared in this article to preserve as much objectivity as possible. Translation accuracy often depends on a personal view and is hard to measure on general scores.

Notice of Non-Affiliation and Disclaimer

We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Pocketalk, ili, Timekettle, or any of their subsidiaries or their affiliates.