In 2018, I did not understand why people would choose handheld translators instead of just using their mobile phones...until I tried it a few times...
People did not choose handheld translators over mobile apps, but the convenience and the feeling of security of having something that always stands-by - just as no matter how advanced the calculator app is, yet people still spend $50 for a standalone calculator.
But, does that rationalize handheld translators inevitable? We can not answer for you, but we gave our answer by designing the ZERO translator.
The core value of a handheld translator is that it is always stand-by. Weaknesses? They are expensive, poor portability, and clumsy experience the same as mobile apps. Besides, the difference in accuracy is minimal across all translation devices.
Take a look here: