Even though I'm not a language expert, I speak English and I can get by in Spanish and Portuguese... But beyond these relatively accessible languages, I don't know any other languages... When traveling, I usually manage to get by thanks to English, but when this universal language is not enough, situations can quickly turn into farce! And if sign language doesn't do the job, it's hard to make yourself understood and achieve your goals!

This is why accessories like the Pocketalk S take on their full meaning! So, is it an essential gadget or accessory for your travels to faraway lands? That’s what we’re going to see!

Unpacking and getting started

Not much to say about the Pocketalk packaging except that the box is solid and well-designed. It gives a good first impression of quality. Inside, you will find some safety and getting started guides, a USB to USB-C cable for charging and of course the translator itself!

The Pocketalk S is available in 4 colors: black, white, gold or red.

Unlike what is often done with electronic accessories, the Pocketalk does not arrive charged or partially charged in its packaging. The first thing to do will therefore be to plug it in to give it a little juice. You will even have to wait a good quarter of an hour of charging before being able to turn it on. So be patient when starting up!

Once the first charge is complete, getting started is very simple. Press the power button for a few moments, select the display language, check the mobile network connection, connect your device to WiFi if you wish… and off you go!

As you can see, one of the great strengths (and weaknesses) of this device… is that it works online. To use it, you need to be able to connect to the Internet in one way or another. That’s why the device comes with a 2-year prepaid and unlimited mobile data plan that works in more than 130 countries around the world… Otherwise, you’ll need to connect via WiFi.

After the 2 years of the package, you can renew your subscription for €50 per year… It’s a bit expensive if you don’t travel much, but if you’re a globetrotter constantly on the move, it’s really reasonable. It all depends on the intensity of your use!

Finally, it is very interesting to register your product online, because this will allow you to consult the history of your translations on the web, but also to manage the data plans of the SIM card.

On the material level…

On the hardware side, the Pocketalk S is equipped with a 53G Hz AEM Cortex 1.3 Quad-Core processor, dual built-in speakers, dual noise-canceling microphones, and an 8-megapixel camera with flash. The device also has a Bluetooth chip that allows it to be connected to headphones or a speaker.

Pocket translator or gadget?

With a list price of €299, it is legitimate to ask the question of the usefulness of such a device at a time when our smartphones can do just about everything... The answer will depend a little on your habits. If you are going to faraway places, it is very likely that you will not be able to have a local data subscription at a reasonable price. Then, when traveling, you may not want to constantly walk around with your phone at the risk of losing it, having it stolen... or simply to feel like you are on vacation! In which case, this pocket translator that goes everywhere is really a good solution!

Now let’s get to the heart of the matter… Does this pocket translator do its job well?

When testing this device, I didn't have the chance to go abroad. So I used my language skills and especially the goldmine that is the Internet to test it from all angles.

But first of all, I think it is important to mention the fact that this device was designed in Japan by Sourcenext, a company specializing in translation software and devices and which is even listed on the stock exchange. It is therefore a real serious product in the field of translation. In fact, discovering this product, I find a little of the pleasure of Japanese gadgets from before the mass industry of Chinese copying…

But let's get back to our sheep and talk about translation. The Pocketalk S which supports 82 languages (or variants) offers two translation modes: from a photo or in audio mode.

Translation of a conversation

One of the primary uses of the Pocketalk S is to help you understand conversations in foreign languages. To do this, the first thing to do is to select the language to translate and the language in which you want to obtain the translation. You can scroll through the list of available languages, listed alphabetically, or you can display the countries (represented by their flag). In this second option, you will then see for each country, the spoken languages ​​supported by the device.

Once you have selected your languages, it is very easy to switch between the two languages ​​of the conversation. Simply click on the blue arrow to reverse the translation direction.

You can then start translating. To do this, you need to keep the button on the device pressed. As the sentence progresses, the text will be displayed as is on the device and when you release the button, the translation will start on Pocketalk's servers. A few seconds later, the translation will be displayed on your screen. For some languages ​​(61 languages ​​- see the list at the bottom of the article) you will even be able to hear the pronunciation of the sentence... This is particularly interesting if you are looking to learn or improve in a language that is a little complicated and difficult to pronounce.

Well obviously if you start a conversation with this bidirectional translator it will take away a lot of spontaneity… but at least you will be able to understand and make yourself understood!

On the translation sheet that appears on the screen, you have many options with the possibility of adding the translation to your favorites, translating it into another language, performing a reverse translation, practicing pronunciation, sending it to yourself by email, etc.

By swiping down from the top of the screen, you can access a history of your translations, which can be very useful.

In order to see what this translator is worth, I carried out many translations in different conditions and with languages ​​that I knew… and in the end the result is really correct! I found very few errors, both in the interpretation of the sentence (and proper names) and in the translations. The translation engine and the speech synthesis are Pocketalk's proprietary tools.

This tool knows how to translate! And it does it well! Verdict: This is not just a gadget, it is really a beautiful tool.

The only downside is that this translator will not be able to handle very long tirades. It is only capable of translating one or two sentences at a time…

Translating text from photo

One of the great things about the Pocketalk S is that it has a camera with a flash. So, I'll stop you right there, don't count on it to take your holiday photos, no, this camera is 100% dedicated to translation. Take a photo of any text in a foreign language and after a few seconds, the device will superimpose the translations on the image. It is possible to click on the translation to have a better view. And if the language allows it, you can listen to the pronunciation.

The system is very fast despite the back and forth with the translation server, and relatively efficient and accurate! It works well and can be very useful in many situations: billboards, restaurant menus, various documents, etc.

Other interesting features

Beyond its main function as a pocket translator, Pocketalk S offers some more or less interesting “extras”.

The most useful of its features is in my opinion the currency converter tool. Indeed, Pocketalk S allows you to convert most currencies between them. Enter the two currencies you are interested in, enter an amount and you will have the conversion.

The device also has a “Role Play” function. This learning tool allows you to converse with an Artificial Intelligence in English or Chinese to simulate a real interactive conversation to improve your skills.

Finally, Pocketalk offers a “Medals” system which aims to reward your use and your progress in mastering languages!

Characteristics

Languages ​​with text-only translation

Languages ​​with audio and text translation

Article updated on January 7, 2025 by Byothe