Although I travel frequently, I’ve always felt most comfortable visiting places where I can speak and understand the language. So when I heard about the Timekettle X1 AI Interpreter Hub, the first AI translator of its kind, I was eager to see how it stacks up against Google Translate for personal and professional communication.
Launched earlier this year, the X1 offers real-time translation in up to 40 languages and 93 accents. It aims to make international travel seamless when you don’t speak your destination’s native tongue.
In this review, we’ll explore some of its features, performance and overall value to determine if the Timekettle X1 is the ultimate communication tool, whether it can replace your language learning app and if it should be on your summer vacation packing list.
The Timekettle X1 AI Interpreter Hub offers real-time translation in 40 languages, two-way simultaneous translation and support for up to 20 participants.
What we liked about it
It’s easy to set up and get started
Setting up the Timekettle X1 AI Interpreter Hub is quick and easy.
Just power it on, connect to Wi-Fi (or your phone’s personal hotspot) and follow the on-screen prompts to select your languages. No additional apps or complex configurations are needed.
The right/left earbud design is genius
There are various settings, including a one-on-one mode where each speaker uses an earbud. In the picture above, the right earbud user speaks Bahasa Indonesia, and the left earbud user speaks English, with the earbuds translating in real-time.
This allows seamless conversation without passing the device back and forth, and users can also follow along on the display.
Easy to follow display
I’m also a fan of the responsive touchscreen with a clear layout and vibrant graphics. Even non-tech-savvy users can quickly select languages and adjust settings.
What we didn’t like about it
Doesn’t preform well with background noise
Frankly, it struggles in noisy environments. In our tests, background sounds disrupted translation accuracy. That’s especially a problem in busy settings like restaurants, bars and hotel lobbies where multiple voices and ambient noise interfere with its performance.
Unnatural sounding voice
Even though you can select different accents in various languages, I couldn’t help but feel the voice output was unnatural and robotic. It’s nowhere as clear as Apple’s Siri, for example.
I thought the synthetic quality made conversations less personal and engaging, particularly in nuanced discussions where tone matters.
Spotty offline translation
Even though I paired it to my phone’s hotspot on the go, the Timekettle also has limited offline translation capabilities with fewer languages and reduced accuracy. And it seems my experience wasn’t a one-off. Amazon reviewers report spotty performance which can be frustrating communication in areas with no internet access
That’s especially a problem if you don’t have an international phone plan.
Hellacious price
Finally, the Timekettle’s steep $700 price is unaffordable for most buyers. While it offers advanced features, the cost largely isn’t justified with occasional inaccuracies. Put frankly, it’s a significant investment compared to other translation options, especially considering many phone translator apps are free.
Bottom line
The Timekettle X1 AI Interpreter Hub is unlike anything else I’ve tried. It offers advanced real-time translation and a user-friendly experience. And I liked the one-on-one mode with the two earbuds. However, its performance in noisy environments, robotic voice output, limited offline capabilities and steep $700 price tag may make it a tough sell.
So while it excels in certain areas, a simple translator app on your phone probably is still the best solution.
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