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Back in the day when you traveled overseas to a foreign country, or when speaking to someone else who doesn’t speak your native language, you would need to either hire a translator or buy a book of phrases and maybe a dictionary so that you can converse with other people.
These days, that is no longer an issue as there are a variety of translation apps available that we can easily download on our smartphones. That being said, while the convenience of these apps are undeniable, an argument could also be made for standalone translation devices.
These types of devices can be useful, especially when you travel and you encounter an issue like a medical emergency and you need to quickly communicate your needs. It can also be useful at immigration where you might need to answer some questions from a customs officer, purchase tickets at the train or bus station, or if you need help finding a lost item. By having such a device readily available on standby, you can have a sense of peace of mind while traveling.
Today we’ll be looking at a comparison between Fluentalk’s latest T1 mini, which is launching this June, versus its larger sibling, the T1, which we have covered in the past.
Size
The Fluentalk T1 is a pretty small device to begin with featuring a 4-inch display, making it slightly larger compared to the early smartphones, which means that slipping it into your backpack or pocket won’t be an issue.
The T1 mini, on the other hand, has been shrunk down even further to a 2.83-inch display. Its overall measurements are 91 x 54. X 13.1mm, versus the T1 which measures 116.8 x 58.6 x 11.2mm. The mini is also lighter weighing in at a mere 86g, whereas its larger T1 sibling weighs 115g.
Like we said, the original T1 is already a pretty small device, but we can see why the T1 mini might have its appeal. For example, people who hate carrying bags and don’t want to put items in their pockets that could create unflattering bulges might prefer the smaller T1 mini, which is about the size of a standard credit card.
Battery life and performance
Some of you might think that because the T1 mini has been shrunken down, its components like its battery might have been reduced as well. The good news is that it hasn’t. Fluentalk has managed to retain the same 1,500mAh battery as its larger sibling. In a way, it might actually be a good thing.
This is because the T1 mini’s smaller display means that it should use less energy than the T1’s larger 4-inch display, so on paper you could squeeze more battery life out of the same 1,500mAh battery compared to the T1.
As for its performance, Fluentalk is keeping the same quad-core processor as the T1, but they have reduced its RAM to 1GB and its storage has dropped from 32GB to 8GB. For the most part we don’t think this will be an issue. Unless you’re planning on downloading all the available language packs for offline use, 3GB should be more than plenty for your day-to-day needs.
Translation capabilities
Translation is obviously the meat and potatoes of the T1 mini and the T1, and for the T1 mini, there is support for 36 languages and 88 accents. Keep in mind that this is slightly less than the T1 which supports 40 languages and 93 accents, but pretty much all the major languages are supported so you should be safe.
There are also 13 language pairs for offline usage. These are languages that are commonly spoken and translated, so unless you’re traveling to somewhere far and off the beaten path, the language pairing should make it easier for you to have conversations with the locals and have their replies to you translated on the fly, even if you don’t have an internet connection.
Fluentalk also boasts that their translations have up to 95% accuracy, and with the built-in dual microphones and ENC algorithm, you can use it anywhere, even in bustling markets or loud cafes, and still get pretty accurate translation results.
Similar to the T1, the T1 mini has a built-in camera of the 5MP variety that can translate text in photos from as many as 39 languages. This works similar to other apps like Google Lens so you can use it for objects like signboards, posters, or menus.
The company’s translation capabilities also work pretty fast, where it can react quickly to words and translate them in as little as 0.5 seconds up to 3 seconds, which will help speed conversations along without awkward silences waiting for the app to translate or your internet connection.
In fact, one of the advantages that the T1 mini has over the T1 is its one-button translation. The T1 requires users to choose a target language when translating which can slow down the process while fiddling with additional buttons, but with the T1 mini, you won’t have to as the automatic source and target language will be based on your preset languages. This makes the overall operation faster and simpler, especially for kids or elderly users who might not be as tech savvy.
Free global data
Speaking of internet connectivity, the Fluentalk T1 mini works both offline and online, so if you’re traveling somewhere and you don’t have an internet connection, or if your current connection is acting up, not to worry as the offline translation feature works great in a pinch.
But what if you want an internet connection? Does that mean you have to use your phone as a hotspot? That won’t be necessary because Fluentalk will be including 1 year of free global data with the purchase of the T1 mini. This is versus the 2 years that they are giving the T1, so if you feel that having a 2-year free trial of global data is more important than size and weight, then the T1 could be a better option.
This means that wherever you go, you will be able to access the translation features thanks to the free global data. The T1 mini does have a built-in eSIM so once that free global data trial has run out, you are free to purchase your own data plan for it.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills translator that can easily fit into your pocket, then the T1 mini is the perfect companion. Granted, it might not have as many supported languages as the T1, but if you aren’t planning on going anywhere particularly exotic or remote, the T1 mini is more than capable of covering most spoken languages.
It also has the added advantage of being more affordable. The T1 mini is priced at $149.99 on their website and on Amazon as well, which half the price of the T1 which is priced at $299.99. This makes it a great budget option for a dedicated translation device, and also a must-have device (as important as your phone or power bank) while you’re traveling to foreign countries, where you can now rest assured that if you ever need help in an emergency situation, or just want to converse comfortably with the locals, the T1 mini is there by your side, ready to go at a press of a button.
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