Google Translate brings Word Lens magic to Chinese

Google's Translate app is one the most robust translation apps available. Beyond being able to translate 103 different languages, Google Translate has improved since its release with features like Word Lens, which uses your smartphone's camera and augmented reality to instantaneously translate written text.

The app is getting some more improvements in its 5.0 update that enhance usability for people around the globe, which will be rolling out to users over the next couple days according to Google.

Google Translate's offline mode is coming to iOS

First, Google Translate's offline mode is coming to iOS and will now support Filipino, making it the 52nd language available in offline mode. To use a language in offline mode, you have to download that language's package through the app. Previously, these downloads were around 250 MB each, but Google has compressed them down to about 25 MB each, easing up the pressure these packages put on your phone's storage. Offline mode has already been available for Android users.

Next, the instant translation feature Word Lens is getting support for Chinese, which is the 29th language that works with Word Lens. Word Lens can translate both Simplified and Traditional Chinese to English, or the other way around.

Via Giphy

Along with these updates is Tap to Translate, a feature that allows Android users to easily translate text while in other apps. It's similar to this previous feature but is easier to use will now be reaching a much wider audience. When enabled, a button will appear in apps where translatable text is present, which you can tap to get a quick translation. The feature is coming to countries like India, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand. 

According to Google, over 90% of Google Translate users are outside the U.S., so increasing the usability for non-U.S. users is vital to keeping the app alive.

UPDATE: May 11, 2016, 4:02 a.m. EDT Updated to more accurately describe Tap to Translate.

BONUS: Google Translate IRL

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