Translator with CAMERA, by photo, English Spanish and more

If you encounter a text or an image with text that you’d like to translate without manual transcription, you can simply use your cellphone camera to instantly view the translation. This feature comes in handy, especially when you have the text saved in your storage.

The concept of instant translation using a camera was originally introduced by WordLens. However, Google acquired and integrated this technology into its mobile applications, which are available for free download and use. I’m referring to the Google Translator and the native Google application that likely came pre-installed on your Android device. These applications are currently the best options for easily translating various language pairs, including English to Spanish.

Google Translator

1. Open the Google Translator app.
2. Tap on the camera button.
3. Point your camera at the English text.
4. Almost instantly, you will see the Spanish translation displayed on your screen.

The significant advantages of this tool include the ability to translate offline or without an internet connection (after downloading the supported languages from the Menu > “Offline Translation” section). The app also automatically detects the source language and features an instant image translator for photos or images saved on your device. Another equally capable app with these functionalities is…

Google Lens

1. Open the Google Lens app.
2. Tap on the “Updates” button, usually located at the bottom.
3. Click on the camera icon.
4. On the camera screen, press the “Translation” button and focus your camera on the image. If it doesn’t work, double-check that the target language is correct.

On certain devices, you can also access this feature by holding down the Home button. After bypassing the Google Assistant, you may find the “Updates” button at the bottom.

The standout feature of Lens is that it functions as a camera translator without requiring an additional app download. However, please note that an internet connection is necessary for generating translations (there is no “offline” mode as in the previous case).

Points to Consider:

• Both utilities allow translation not only from English to Spanish but also between various languages, including German, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and even Arabic. You can select from over 100 target languages.
• They automatically identify the source language and translate it into your chosen language.
• Google employs a technology called [technology name] which works effectively. To maximize its performance and obtain accurate translations, minimize errors, and prevent nonsensical phrases, ensure that your mobile device is connected to the internet. Also, keep the following tips in mind:
• Texts from books or texts with unique styles may not translate accurately.
• The text or phrases you want to translate should be of a reasonable size and well-lit.
• The text to be translated should be aligned with the top of your mobile screen and read from left to right.
• Unfortunately, there isn’t an online camera translator that can be used directly from a mobile browser or a PC. The closest to this concept is [mention closest service], which translates images online. On the other hand, [mention other service] enables document translation.