Auvi vs Translation Devices & Apps
How does Auvi’s Translation compare to dedicated devices and apps?
The landscape
When you need to communicate in a language you don’t speak, you have a few options: a dedicated translation device like Pocketalk, a translation app like Google Translate or iTranslate, or Auvi with the Translation add-on.
Each approach has tradeoffs. Here’s how they compare.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Auvi | Pocketalk | Google Translate | iTranslate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works offline | Yes — fully on-device | Some models offline | Limited offline | Limited offline |
| Privacy | No data collected | Cloud processing | Google collects data | Cloud processing |
| Translation languages | 31 | 82 | 133 | 40+ |
| Transcription + captions | Yes — 40+ languages | No | No (conversation mode only) | No |
| Speaker identification | Yes — 8 speakers | No | No | No |
| Requires extra hardware | No — uses your iPhone | Yes — separate device ($150–300) | No | No |
| Ongoing cost | Translation subscription | Data plan or Wi-Fi | Free | Subscription ($36–60/yr) |
| Speak translations aloud | Yes — tap any caption | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Type-to-speak reply | Yes — with phrasebook | No | Yes (text input) | Yes |
| Scam detection | Yes — phone + tourist scams | No | No | No |
| Sound awareness | Yes — 15 sounds | No | No | No |
| Apple Watch | Yes | No | Limited | Yes |
| Transcript history | Yes (with Plus) | Limited | History of phrases | History of phrases |
Auvi vs Pocketalk
Pocketalk is a dedicated hardware translation device that typically costs $150–$300 upfront, plus an optional data plan for cloud translation. It supports more languages (82 vs 31), but it requires you to carry a separate device, sends all audio to cloud servers for processing, and cannot transcribe ongoing conversations.
Auvi’s advantage: No extra hardware — just your iPhone. All translation happens on-device with zero data sent to any server. Plus, you get live transcription with speaker identification, scam detection, and all the other Auvi features that a standalone translation device simply doesn’t have.
Pocketalk’s advantage: More languages (82 vs 31), dedicated physical buttons for quick use, and no subscription needed for basic translation.
Auvi vs Google Translate
Google Translate is free and supports 133 languages — more than any other option. However, it sends all text and audio to Google’s servers, contributes to Google’s data collection, and offers only limited offline capability with pre-downloaded language packs.
Auvi’s advantage: Fully private (no data collected, ever), continuous live transcription with speaker colours, and integrated features like scam detection, sound awareness, and meeting minutes. Google Translate is phrase-by-phrase; Auvi translates a flowing conversation.
Google Translate’s advantage: Free, supports 133 languages, includes camera translation and handwriting recognition.
Auvi vs iTranslate
iTranslate is a well-designed translation app with voice translation, offline mode for some languages, and a clean interface. It requires a subscription ($36–$60/year) for full features, processes via cloud by default, and doesn’t offer live transcription or speaker identification.
Auvi’s advantage: On-device processing (no cloud), live multi-speaker transcription alongside translation, scam detection, and more integrated features.
iTranslate’s advantage: More languages, camera translation, keyboard extension for inline translation.
The verdict
If you only need quick phrase-by-phrase translation and privacy isn’t a concern, Google Translate is hard to beat on language breadth and price (free). If you want a dedicated hardware device for travel, Pocketalk is well-made but expensive.
If you want live conversation translation with speaker identification, full privacy, and all the other capabilities of a transcription app — all running on the iPhone you already own — Auvi is the clear choice. No expensive hardware device needed. No cloud. No data collected.
Ready to try Auvi? Download it free from the App Store. A 7-day free trial gives you access to every feature, including Translation, with no commitment.