This iPhone accessory saved me while travelling to non-English speaking countries
The best bit of travel tech I've used in years is this MagSafe iPhone accessory. It's a translator puck that sits on the back of your iPhone to help you communicate like a local. I know what you're thinking: 'It's 2025, why is a tech magazine praising a translator?' Trust me, I also had my doubts when this thing first turned up. But trust me when I say it got my out of a fair few jams.
This year, I've spent some time in China, among other places. Having struggled to learn much Mandarin, communicating can be quite hard. But this translation iPhone accessory from InnAIO is one of the best devices I've ever used. It lets you translate without having to open any apps… in your own voice… while offline… and also directly into text fields. Yeah – it's the real deal.
Translation, translation, translation: What it's like to use
So this translation iPhone accessory is about the same shape and size as Apple's MagSafe charging puck – minus the cable. It sits on the back of your phone (quite securely I might add), ready to translate. Set-up is easy, you just need to connect to the device via Bluetooth and download InnAIO's companion app.
Once you've got the app set-up, I'd recommend downloading some languages for offline use. You're also going to want to dive into the settings and go through the voice cloning feature. This feature needs you to record your voice reading out a short paragraph, and then uses this recording to play out translated phrases in your own voice. It works a lot more reliably than I expected, and I think it's a great feature that takes some of the awkwardness away from using a translator.
After that, you're ready to start using the iPhone accessory, and it couldn't be easier. There's a small button on the back of the InnAIO puck that you hold down and talk into. The puck has a built-in microphone, so you're not reliant on your phone's. It also means you won't get messed up if you're watching content or listening to audio on your smartphone. It'll then read aloud the phrase in your chosen language, and also display the translated text in the companion app.
The part that really sold this device to me is that you don't need to have the InnAIO app on-screen. As long as it's open in the background, you can be on your homepage or doing something else on your phone, press the button, and it'll still read the translation out loud. It takes away the friction of having to constantly open an app like Google Translate.
One of the other best features is that you can use the puck to directly translate text. If you're in the text field of any app (messaging, search, or maps), you can press the translator's button and it'll autofill the text field with the correct translation. While the iPhone accessory does a great job of this, it's not perfect. You have to keep a picture-in-picture video window minimised on your iPhone. It's a little annoying at first, but I got used to that and it didn't affect my battery life. This is due to iOS limitations so it seems like this can't be avoided.
Is it worth getting this iPhone accessory?
If you're a frequent traveller that struggles to learn language, I'd say absolutely. InnAIO's translation puck is smoother experience than apps like Google Translate, and it offers plenty more features to get your hands on. Slapped to the back of your iPhone, it's also pretty slim at 0.17-inch and light at 35g.
While there are some experience quirks, like the PiP window, overall it made my life a bit easier while travelling. It's not the cheapest device, but I think it's worthwhile for frequent travellers. It's available to order on Amazon or directly from InnAIO for $200.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Stuff.tv
2 hours ago
- Stuff.tv
I've found these amazing Prime Day deals a month early!
In case you hadn't heard, Amazon Prime Day is back! It's a day (well, more like 2-3 days now) where Prime members get exclusive access to a boatload of special deals. Amazon has confirmed it's coming back for 2025 this July – and naturally we'll be covering all the deals. We don't quite know the exact dates just yet, but expect things to kick-off mid-July based on previous years. Deals will be available on items including electronics, video games, movies, toys, clothing, sporting goods and outdoor gear for patios, gardens and the like. All items will qualify for one-day delivery. Amazon promises there will be 'hundreds of thousands' of products on offer. But while the savings event might not start for another month, there are still some Prime Day deals already live. Surprisingly, there are quite a few Apple devices already discounted. I've spotted loads more, and here are the best in both the US and UK. Apple iPad 10th-generation: $299/£310 This Touch ID iPad is designed as the new entry-level model (despite the 9th generation still being sold) and it runs on the A14 Bionic chipset from the iPhone 12 Pro series. There's a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2360×1640 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and Apple's True Tone technology. Right now, you can score the cheapest Apple tablet for even less. It's down to $299 on Amazon US – a decent saving of $50. Over on Amazon UK, it's a less impressive £19 off – down to £310 from the usual price of £329. Apple MacBook Air M4 (13-inch): $849/£899 Apple's MacBook Air has been refreshed with M4, and as a laptop, it's the complete package. In fact, I'd go as far as calling it on of the best laptops you can buy. In our review, we said 'the MacBook Air is still the everyday laptop to beat.' It scored a full five stars! Right now, you can score the M4 MacBook Air for £899 on Amazon UK – a £100 saving from the regular price of £999. Over on Amazon US, you get an even better $150 off – bringing the price down to $849 from $999. Now these might not sound like the largest savings, but they're insanely good for a laptop that barely launched 2 months ago. The M4 chip brings a 10-core CPU, an up to 10-core GPU, and support for up to 32GB of unified memory. A new 12MP Center Stage camera makes video calls look better, while the laptop now supports up to two external 6K displays. As for ports, you're getting MagSafe charging, two Thunderbolt ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Apple Watch Series 10: $299/£299 The Apple Watch Series 10 is Apple's latest and most current model. You get 30% more display than the Series 6, while the wide-angle OLED display gives you better (and brighter) viewing angles. There are new colours on offer, headlined by Jet Black – just like the iPhone 7 series. The body is thinner than ever at 9.7mm, around 10% thinner than Series 9. Powering the Apple Watch Series 10 is a new chipset – the S10 processor. Sleep Apnea tracking is the flagship new health feature. Ahead of Prime Day, you can grab it for even less. In fact, it's the lowest I've seen the watch – including on Black Friday. Over on Amazon US, you'll find the smartwatch $50 off – down from $399 to $299. It's identically discounted in the UK as well – down from £399 to £299. This applies to the 42mm size without cellular connectivity. Apple AirTag 4-Pack: $75/£92 Head in hands moments don't come much bigger than realising you've lost your keys, but Apple came to save the day. AirTags are Apple's answer to 'Where did I put my [insert easily lost item here]?' Powered by the same technology that makes Apple Maps less of a nightmare, AirTags use Ultra Wideband tech. You get Precision Finding, which means your iPhone can lead you to your lost item with the accuracy of a homing pigeon. Right now, you can bag £27 off a four-pack of Apple's AirTag trackers – bringing the price from £119 to £92. Or, you can save $25 on the AirTag four-pack from Amazon US at $75. While buying in the multipack is the best value for money, even if you might not lose as many things as me. Apple AirPods Pro 2: $199/£189 After a new set of wireless earbuds? Apple's top-tier AirPods are an excellent choice. We awarded them a perfect five stars in our Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) review. We praised AirPods Pro 2 for noise cancellation, versatility, and convenient feature set – all of which saw improvements in the second-generation. Right now, you can bag the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) for $199 at Amazon US – that's an excellent saving of $50 from the regular ticket of $249. Or on Amazon UK, you can score them for an even better £189, which is a decent £40 saving. Beats Studio Pro: $250/£199 This cheaper pair of Apple over-ear headphones were launched in 2023 – two years after the AirPods Max. What's more, they're basically the same as AirPods Max inside – even capable of wired lossless audio, which AirPods Max aren't. They offer USB-C charging, 40 hours of battery, and personalised spatial audio support with head-tracking. Plus, you get improved noise cancellation (with transparency) thanks to a new custom chip and completely redesigned hardware. Right now, they're down to $250 on Amazon US – $100 off the regular price. Over on Amazon UK, they're a much better £199 – £151 off the regular price of £350. This isn't the cheapest I've soon them, so I expect they'll go down more as we approach Prime Day. Marshall Tufton Bluetooth Speaker: $315 Marshall is extremely popular for Bluetooth speakers, and the Tufton is no exception. Right now, the speaker is discounted by $135 on Amazon US – down to $315 from the regular price of $450. It comes in a moody Black and Brass colourway, which Marshall claims looks particularly fetching next to 'modern industrial interiors' and against natural textures. The brass accents are a nice change from the standard finishes on speakers. It's designed for in and outdoor use and comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and 20-plus hours of rechargeable battery life. There's even a rear-facing driver for extra oomph. Fitbit Inspire 3: $80/£69 For those seeking a dedicated fitness tracker, Fitbits still remain one of the most popular options. The Fitbit Inspire 3 is known for its simplicity, reliability, and robust suite of fitness tracking features, including sleep analysis and continuous heart rate monitoring. It's perfect for individuals looking to enhance their fitness journey without breaking the bank. And right now, it's cheaper than ever. On Amazon US, you'll find it discounted to $80 – $20 off the regular price. Meanwhile in the UK, it's down to £69 from £85 in an almost equal saving of £16. Ninja Double Stack XL: $220/£229 If you often need to prepare food quickly, then an air fryer is a must. The Ninja Double Stack XL appeals a great deal for this, letting you cook in two drawers at once. While that's nothing new, the real draw (pun fully intended) comes in the fact that the fryers are stacked – so it takes up much less room on your counter. In fact, it still manages a huge 9.5L capacity for plenty of food. The version on sale ahead of Prime Day has copper handles as opposed to the usual silver, so looks pretty smart. It's now £229, which is a great saving of £40 from the usual price of £269. Over on Amazon US, it's discounted by a slightly lower amount of $30 to $220. Reolink Argus 4 Pro: $150/£150 If you're looking for a smart security camera with all the bells and whistles (and no subscription price), Reolink's Argus 4 Pro is a top pick. It's armed with dual 4mm lenses that deliver a sprawling 180-degree view in 4K UHD. Reolink's dual-lens setup eliminates blind spots and distortion issues that have plagued other cameras. With Reolink's ColourX technology, the Argus 4 Pro captures full-colour images even in low light. Right now, it's discounted on Amazon UK – down to £150 from the regular price of £180. Plus, you can take an extra 5% off with promo code: G7FE4L72. Over on Amazon US, it's down to $150 from the regular price of $200. Some of these deals are likely to improve (go lower) as we get closer to Prime Day. But for others, this is the best price I've seen – including previous sales like Black Friday. This page will be updated as we get closer to Prime Day.
Stuff.tv
4 hours ago
- Stuff.tv
Make Father's Day special with Yaber's T2 portable projector
Father's Day is approaching, and a meaningful and practical gift will be top of the shopping list for anyone who wants to show their dear old dad how much he means to them. Yaber's T2 portable projector with JBL speakers ticks all the boxes, bringing portability, ease of use and immersive audiovisual quality that will show him exactly how much he means to you. Yaber is offering a special Father's Day deal until June 15th, with an exclusive discount code for Stuff readers, so you could save up to 35% on this fantastic device. The Yaber T2 projector is available at 33% off in the UK, now just £239. That's a saving of over £120 off the usual price of £359. You can also save $122 on Amazon US, where the price drops from $349 to $227. A portable projector is the ideal gift for Father's Day, and Yaber offers the best battery-powered projector for outdoor use, with a big-screen, cinema-grade performance in a portable frame. It's sleek, portable and built for adventure, allowing you to enjoy films, sports, TV and games wherever you can find a suitable screen. Whether it's wildlife documentaries while camping, movie nights in the back garden, or football matches projected up to 120-inches across on the living room wall, the Yaber T2 has everything you need. The T2 is ultra-bright, producing a sharp 1080p image that's superbly detailed, even outdoors. Its maximum brightness means you'll get bright colours, and the projector's autofocus, four-point keystone correction and obstacle avoidance technology mean it's easy to set up. The carrying handle even folds underneath to create a stand, so it's stable even on uneven surfaces – something dads always appreciate. It easily adapts to various spaces and settings, so you'll always be able to make it work. A battery life of 2.5 hours from a full charge makes this the best battery-powered projector for outdoor use, as it's easily able to complete a whole movie or football match without needing to be topped up. If you use it in its Bluetooth speaker mode to play music, this endurance rises to a phenomenal 18 hours. And you'll want to do this too, as the JBL dual 8W internal speaker system with Dolby Audio is capable of delivering rich, immersive audio for a true musical experience, whatever you're listening to. You can also hook it up to an external Bluetooth speaker (or headphones to keep the noise to a minimum), and there's a 3.5mm audio jack too if your speaker choice doesn't include a wireless connection. Dreams of streaming Getting your movies and TV shows onto the Yaber T2 is simple. There's a built-in HDMI port that can be hooked up to any streaming stick, DVD or Blu-ray player, games console or PC. Alternatively, you can use the Yaber app on your phone for seamless screen mirroring and remote control, all through a tap on the side with NFC. There's also a USB port, which you can fill with a drive full of image or movie files if you're watching without WI-Fi – and which can also be used to power your streaming stick of choice. The Yaber T2 is distinctively designed, with a minimalist, modern aesthetic, bold visual impact, and artwork inspired by American pop artist Keith Haring. It's exceptionally light, at just 2.5kg, and can be transported easily to anywhere with a large enough surface to use as a projection screen, and measures 165 x 140 x 290mm so can be conveniently carried in a bag. If you're looking for a smart projector with auto-focus and keystone correction this Father's Day, or a compact cinema projector for travel, or just something to provide outdoor viewing on the long summer evenings, the Yaber T2 is a great gift that will make Father's Day really special. You can save up to 35% on the Yaber T2 portable projector with the exclusive discount code STUFFDAY (valid until June 15). Just click the Amazon links below: Amazon UK Save 33% Original price: £359.99 Final price: £239.21 Amazon USA Save 35% Original price: $349.99 Final price: $227.99
Stuff.tv
19 hours ago
- Stuff.tv
The Glastonbury 2025 app includes this one gamechanging new feature
It's nearly time for Glastonbury 2025 and mobile network Vodafone has revealed its updated Glastonbury phone app (available for iOS and Android) which is obviously a must-have if you're going to the festival. The app includes a few new features, but crucially there's one that's going to be a bit of a gamechanger for groups split across the vast 900 acre site. You're now able to live share your location with your friends, which is a huge improvement. OK, so apps like Apple's FindMy can do that already of course, but speaking from experience this is going to be very useful to be able to do this across friend groups when you split off to see different bands and other acts. And in particular it's going to be handy to work out where people are within a crowd in a situation where 'we're by the bar at the left of the stage' won't quite cut it. Another new feature is step count tracking which will be part of the 'My Highlights' post-Festival wrap, so you'll be able to compare to see who covered the most ground around the site. Vodafone is also making donations to its campaign depending on how many steps festival goers do. As before the app includes a customisable festival lineup so you can create your own schedule of acts to see and you'll get reminders before the various sets begin if you add an artist. There's also an interactive map so you can get to all the stages over the vast site that straddles Worthy Farm. This is now fully searchable, so you can find everything from water and the nearest toilets to different types of food on site. Naturally, you can also search for artists to find out when they're playing as well as browse an A-Z of them, too. And you can toggle between a timeline as well as a list view. Features including Spotify integration, shareable Line-Ups, and map pinning also return to help you make the most of the festival and find your tent/car. In an update, Shared Line-ups will now automatically update, so your friends will see the latest version. You can also get directions to Vodafone's Connect and Charge tent so you can keep your device juiced up. Speaking of power, Vodafone also has a plan there, too – you can pay £20 (plus £10 deposit) for a battery pack that you can exchange daily for a new one at three locations – the Connect and Charge tent in the Leftfield market as well as opposite San Remo and in the Worthy View Campsite. Vodafone says last year's version of the app saw 226,215 total downloads. 88.9% of downloads were from festival-goers attending Worthy Farm, while 11.1% were from people viewing at home. Data consumption at the festival hit over 225 terabytes last year.
