Well, the guy says it does it but it doesn't. I have all the other clever bits such as dictation and the ability to translate photos but not the download option.

It doesn't worry me as I always have a good GSM signal and a 2gb contract but I was interested to see the download option working.

It seems to be one of the rare occasions where an Android app has something that the Apple app doesn't. But then, Google are not exactly buddies with Apple are they!

Has anyone else tried it with iOS?

Fred done a bit more research and as you suspected I'm afraid offline is not available for the iPhone . I even tried finding a YouTube video of how to download languages but none for iPhone I'm afraid. My apologies that previous link I put on did lead me to believe it was avsilable.

Thanks for that info but it will not use voice offline (Moto G) just text.

It will not play sound off line but you can speak into the phone and will translate it into Spanish text which you can show the person you are speaking with they can speak back the reply and you can read what they say in English. That is the same for all android phones which the Motog is. As I said not perfect but use able.

Just as a point of reference, which dual sim phone are you using? Any pros or cons to it?

The one I have is Doogee DG310 (odd name I know) it has a 5" screen, I find it realy good. It looks very like a Samsung S4. It is a Chinese phone but aren't most branded ones as well. I only paid £48 including delivery off eBay. As for pros and cons well it has front and rear camera the front one is fine for Skype people have said the video is very clear. The rear camera for me is OK for snaps etc but it is not a high spec camera it does have dual flash on it which can also be used as a flashlight. The phone is certainly quick enough it is not 4g son that is a downside but I don't use that. Internet on it is fine both WiFi and via sim. One real positive is that unlike most dual sim phones which only have one g3 sim this one both sims are 3g. This is good for me as I need when in the UK my UK sim 3g due to poor reception where we live and in Spain the Spanish sim 3g for same reason, so I used to have to keep swapping sims depending where I was. This one no need to bother. I am very happy with it but I am not a brands fiend. A friend has the Motog his camera is very good but as I say mine is fine for my snap shots. I did research it and name is naff but for me it is as good as any in fact most people probably think its a Samsung. It has all the normal thongs GPS for sat nav / mapping Bluetooth etc.

Hi Bob.
Just checked that both Spanish/English are loaded (they are) and also checked that it works online (it does)
Still will not take speech offline & tells me so, will take text mind & in settings it looks all good.

Thoughts ?

I am afraid I have no idea. I tried it on my phone off line spoke English which it translated into English and Spanish text but didn't give the Spanish in audio. I have just tried it on my Acer android tablet off line it did exactly the same but gave the Spanish translation in audio! Only thing I would check is the microphone setting , does the google voice search work,? I,m afraid I am no expert I just tend to find my way around these techie things by trial and error!

I have tried searching for possible solution the strange thing is everything I read on google translate says that even with the downloaded language downloaded it says that the speech output pronunciation should not work off line? So why when my tablet off line does it actually work?
Just one thing I am presuming you are touching the microphone icon in translate before speaking?

One other thing to check is open settings the three dots top right corner, then speech output and make sure the speak output box is checked !
Also one other thing to try is ensure that you are totally off line I.e. not WiFi and not sim data. As trying it on my phone if data is on but poor signal the microphone symbol when pressed keeps spinning as it trys to Initialise by data. When data switched of it initialises within seconds and recognises speech?

Yes all the box's you mention are ticked & data is off.
Google Translate from Google inc is the installed app & works great online via speech but will not function offline and throws a message up when touching the mike that it needs to be online to work. ?

I am following your conversation with great interest! Have not bought the phone yet. Is it possibly a problem unique to the Moto G? A question to show my ignorance of smartphone technology - is the Android OS versión a potential problem - kitkats and lollipops !?

It would be useful to hear of anyone elses experience of using google translate offline on a smartphone.

I don't think it is the android version as both my phone and tablet are Kitkat, phone does voice translate but no audio out off line just text and tablet works just the same as when online? VFR i get that message on the phone but only when trying to get it to give the translation in audio?
All phone makers do offer slightly different android although they may be kitkat or whatever.
VFR do you have an android tablet you could try it on?

Ah sorry about that, yes I get the translation in text (had that on my Lumia for a few years now) but I was under the impression that the voice would also work offline (ie speak and it prints it out in Spanish)

Yes I will download the app on our Hudl and let you know.

Ok loaded the app on the Hudl & of course online it works a treat.
Offline (where is the cat) it will catch most but leave off "the car" and any other phrase when it prints it out.

Still look how far these things have come on in just a few years & in another few they will almost be flawless IMO.