Remember those old-school TVs in the 80s with the built-in VCR? Inevitably, the VCR was always some off-brand model that stopped working after three months, leaving you with an oversized mediocre television with a bolted-on, non-functioning slot to store your morning toast.
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This is how I’ve always felt about combination devices. More often than not, they’re good — but not great — at doing one thing and entirely mediocre at several other things.
So, I admit that I was skeptical about the new Langogo AI-Powered Language Translator. It’s a unique, multipurpose device that promises travelers a few very useful things. Namely: near-real-time language translation and global Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity.
Few companies have been able to deliver on even the second most interesting feature: global Wi-Fi. (Thus far, Google’s Project Fi has been the only provider to deliver comprehensive, seamless, and rock solid service in this department). So I was skeptical Langogo could deliver on that and simultaneously turn me into a polyglot overnight.
In short: they’re promising a tall order. But, I was intrigued, so they sent me a review unit to see what I thought.
Langogo AI-powered Language Translator Review
The Skinny
In the brand’s own words, Langogo is:
Made for global travelers. Langogo accurately translates speeches between 60 languages in less than 1 second and helps you stay connected to global Wi-Fi anytime and anywhere, bringing you a world of conversations at your fingertips. With its AI-voice assistant by your side, you will be ready to go out and speak out loud!
So, how’s it stack up?
The Traveler’s Take
Design & Durability
From the packaging to the device itself, it’s clear that serious thought was put into Langogo’s design. The stark white, minimalist packaging even steals clear inspiration from Apple’s playbook. The unit itself is sleek, compact, well-built, and sturdy to hold — not unlike a high-end smartphone. No surprise really as it’s made from many of the same materials as today’s best phones including polycarbonate and shatter-resistant Asahi glass.
The company also touts a number of stress tests that their design has passed including:
- Screen press test: 2,000 times
- Screen scratch test: 1,000 times
- Freefall test: 750 times
- Function button test: 100,000 times
While we’re not in the habit of torture-testing our gear here at VagabondishHQ, the unit feels solid and very well-built. So, we have no doubt that it’s designed to take a beating.
Functionality
We’re fast approaching a world where it won’t matter what language you, as a traveler, speak. We started with clunky language-to-language translation dictionaries, then moved on to slightly less clunky language-to-language translation apps. Now, Langogo is one of only a few companies looking to take the next step forward. Its biggest selling point is near-real-time language translation.
Imagine sitting in a Parisian cafe where you casually place the unit on the table in front of you. When the waiter/waitress comes to your table, you place your order in English and Langogo automatically “speaks” your order out loud in French. The server jots down your order, responds in French, and you hear their reply spoken aloud in English. The translation process is almost entirely seamless, requiring less than a second. A dedicated noise-canceling chip helps filter out up to 30% of background noise and ensure better sound quality.
By connecting with the world’s largest language database (including 24 translation engines), Langogo currently supports more than 60 languages. These include the most common like Spanish, French (both Canadian and France dialects), and German, as well as more obscure languages like Turkish, Norwegian, and Tamil. Because all of the translation is handled by a remote server, new languages can easily be added in the future without needing to update your actual Langogo device.
I’m a hands-on gadgeter, preferring to skip the instruction manual and start fiddling with new toys right away. This is often a good test of how intuitive a product actually is. In this respect, Langogo fares very well. Physical buttons are limited to a power button, a translation button, and a volume rocker. Everything else is handled via the capacitive touchscreen which I found to be easy to read and very responsive.
Other Features
Because the unit relies on intelligent AI-powered translation, it does require an internet connection. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that the device itself is a global Wi-Fi hotspot. Not only does it provide the necessary connection for the translation functionality, but it supports a total of six additional connected devices. This works in 72 countries without the need for a physical SIM card as it instead relies on eSim technology. Just switch on Langogo and it automatically connects to the best local cell network.
Pricing + Availability
Crowdfunded gadgets are always a gamble. Without thoroughly vetting each project — and who has the time for that? — it’s impossible to know when or if you’ll see a return on your investment. The good news for anyone interested in Langogo is that (as of this publication) the project passed 850% funding on its meager goal of just $10,000. What’s more: it’s already in production.
Langogo is expected to retail for around USD $230 when it goes on sale later this year. Early birds investing in the current Indiegogo project can score a discounted unit for just $159.
The Bottom Line
With a sleek, durable design, simple, user-friendly interface, and an affordable price point, Langogo delivers on its promises as both a language translator and a global Wi-Fi hotspot. For these reasons, we highly recommend it.