I used to believe that Google had the top AI translation app, but I was mistaken.

      If you travel frequently, you’re likely aware that one of the main challenges is communicating in nations where your primary language isn’t spoken. Many countries consider English as a second language, but few tourist areas have locals who can converse in English.

      For the majority of travelers, Google Translate is the preferred choice for translation services. It supports more than 200 languages, allowing for both text and voice input, and is functional wherever you may be. However, there is a major downside: as it's a Google product, it may not be accessible in certain countries where Google is restricted.

      The most significant of these is China. While Google services are largely unavailable unless you're using a VPN, there are other translation alternatives. The iPhone's translation app and a Microsoft-powered option work acceptably, but during my recent visit, I discovered a far superior alternative. Here’s the most effective AI translator I’ve encountered on a smartphone and why I believe it’s the best.

      Introducing the Oppo Find X8 Ultra

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      I spent the last two weeks in China, engaging with Oppo, attending the Find X8 Ultra launch, and meeting various businesses and individuals in Shenzhen. My activities included riding Didi – China’s version of Uber – dining in restaurants, purchasing some of the finest Chinese smartphones, and holding business discussions, all while being immersed in the Chinese language. Unfortunately, I don’t speak Mandarin.

      That’s where the Oppo Find X8 Ultra comes in, along with my favorite shortcut button feature on a smartphone. Unlike some languages where word meanings can often be inferred from their appearance, I cannot read Mandarin.

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      The translation app on the Find X8 Ultra addresses this by allowing you to translate either a photo or a screenshot of whatever appears on your screen. Unfortunately, it lacks an alternative to Gemini Live that would enable real-time translation of everything on-screen, but this is the only downside in an otherwise phenomenal translation experience.

      The result is an enhanced ability to grasp and immerse oneself in the local culture. When shopping for gadgets in Huaqiangbei, China’s largest tech market, it becomes quick and easy to ask questions, comprehend replies, and negotiate prices. If you’re faced with a food menu where pictures or pre-written English translations are unclear, simply snap a photo and let the translation app handle it.

      Its greatest advantage lies in facilitating conversations, particularly during back-and-forth exchanges.

      Designed for dialogue

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      One of the most surprising aspects of my visit was seeing many people utilizing AI translation applications. Whether ordering beverages at a bar, food at a restaurant, or negotiating with a market vendor, virtually everyone had a translation app on their phone, making it feel natural to do the same.

      This makes it easy to engage in conversations solely through a smartphone app. However, none of the other apps that I observed were as effective as Oppo’s new translation app. Powered by DeepSeek, it is remarkably swift and highly capable; importantly, after consulting friends and new acquaintances, it has proven to be very accurate.

      This app is one of the primary reasons I will always carry a Find X8 Ultra during my travels. It is only available on phones with a Chinese ROM, but as I also found out, it’s quite similar to the global ROM. Nearly every pre-installed app can be uninstalled, you can install the Google Play Store with a simple tap, and it operates just like a phone found elsewhere.

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      Besides translating screenshots or photos, the app also allows you to translate text that you write or record your voice. There’s a conversation mode, where you can choose to have a live exchange, alternating back and forth in real-time, or a more controlled conversation where you manually initiate and stop recordings in different languages.

      The latter option comes with a significant benefit: conversation history. This feature is a primary reason why this translation app stands out as the best I’ve ever used.

      Is this the future of language learning?

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      Have you ever attempted to learn a new language? It’s one of the most challenging endeavors since many translation apps push you to learn an overwhelming amount of unnecessary information before you grasp what you actually need to understand.

      I find that I learn much more effectively through practical experience and immersion in the language than through theoretical study. The conversation history feature is my secret weapon for quickly mastering essential phrases I frequently need. I don’t necessarily have to understand the four tones in Mandarin—which can change a word’s meaning—but I do need to know what to say and how to pronounce the phrases accurately.

      This is particularly critical when dealing with food allergies and needing to ask the same question repeatedly: as someone with a life-threatening allergy, being able to revisit the same translation as many times as needed rather than asking for it over and over is incredibly helpful.

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends