Matt Horne / Android Authority
Timekettle’s AI Interpreter Earbuds aim to usher in a “new era of seamless global business interactions.” That’s a bold goal, but a device that can fluidly translate a two-way conversation in real time might just achieve it. We’ve put the device through its paces by running side-by-side comparisons to see how the Timekettle W4 Pro stacks up against Google Translate’s Conversation Mode, on its own and when paired with the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
What is the Timekettle W4 Pro?
Matt Horne / Android Authority
The Timekettle W4 Pro is a pair of open-ear AI-powered interpreter earbuds engineered for real-time conversations across languages. Unlike traditional translation apps that rely on and turn-taking, the W4 Pro is built for fluid, two-way speech. With support for 40 languages and 93 accents, and powered by the advanced Babel OS platform, it enables multiple conversation modes. This includes One-on-One, which lets two people speak freely while wearing one earbud each.
Designed for a professional level of clarity and speed, the W4 Pro also supports offline translation, phone call translation, and even real-time subtitles while watching video content.
Google Translate: Free, but limited
Matt Horne / Android Authority
Google Translate’s Conversation Mode is a solid starting point for multilingual communication. It’s free, easy to use, and can get you through basic interactions. For simple travel phrases or transactional exchanges, it does the job well enough. But like most app-based systems, it’s built around turn-taking. You tap the mic, speak, and wait.
Accuracy is generally good, though it occasionally stumbles over informal phrasing and filler words. The voice output is functional but lacks emotional nuance. Most notably, the app won’t start translating until the speaker has clearly finished, leading to long pauses that can break the flow of conversation.
... continue reading