The Vasco Translator Q1 introduces voice cloning technology to real-time translation, aiming to make conversations sound like the speaker in another language. This compact gadget supports multiple translation modes but shows mixed results in voice replication. Priced at $489, it offers global connectivity without subscription fees, except for extra call minutes.
The Vasco Translator Q1 is a standalone, handset-like device resembling a small smartphone, measuring about 4 x 2.5 inches and less than 0.75 inch thick, weighing over 5 ounces. It features a 3.5-inch touchscreen and buttons for power, volume, and talk functions. Equipped with a preloaded 4G SIM card, it works in nearly 200 countries, plus 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz Wi-Fi support. The 2,500-mAh battery charges via USB-C, providing less than eight hours of intensive use in testing and up to 160 hours on standby.
Language support varies: 86 for voice-to-voice translation, 108 for text, 113 for photo-based, and 53 for real-time calls. The interface includes conversation mode for one-on-one talks, where users hold buttons to designate speakers or use automatic mode, though the latter sometimes confuses languages like mistaking Swedish for English. Translations are generally accurate but slower than expected, with few errors.
Photo and text modes perform well, aided by a 13-MP camera, though the small screen hinders text input. Group chat supports up to 100 participants via the device or Vasco’s MultiTalk app, requiring setup. A learning mode quizzes users on vocabulary.
The voice cloning feature records a speech snippet to approximate the user's voice in translations. In testing, it produced a deeper, guttural tone unlike the reviewer's voice but closer to his wife's, though still altered, limited by the tinny speaker.
New live call translation dials numbers after selecting languages, playing an automated intro. It translates speech with multi-second delays but enables robust conversations, as tested with a Polish speaker. Only 10 minutes are included; extra pricing is undecided. Setup issues arose in the US due to SMS authentication, resolved with a foreign number.
At $489, the Q1 is $100 more than the prior V4 but more compact and feature-rich, with no subscriptions except calls. Similar functions appear on Samsung Galaxy, iPhone, and Google Pixel devices.