When my kids were little, the most common question I heard was:
“Mom! How do I say this in Chinese?”
As a non-native speaker, I relied heavily on my phone to answer that question. Whether it was translating a new word or checking pronunciation, the kids knew I needed my phone. And while I’m grateful for all the apps that we have now that didn’t exist when I was a kid, I don’t want them to see me always on my phone. And I definitely didn’t want them always to need my phone either.
We already own a few reading pens and a reading robot, but when I saw the Dex AI Camera, a new language learning device for kids, I messaged them on Instagram to see if I could try it before it hit the market.
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Wondering if the DEX AI Camera is worth it? Read my full review of this language learning toy and save $50 with code JEANNE50.
Why Dex Is a Game-Changer for Parents Who Aren’t Native Speakers
If you’re not a native speaker of your child’s target language, it’s easy to feel like you’re not good enough to teach them. I know that feeling all too well. It’s hard to teach beyond what you know yourself, and lesson planning requires so much time and research. I remember how helpless I felt during the toddler “what’s that?” phase, trying to answer their endless questions using Google Translate. Many times, they got impatient with me and walked away. Or worse, I was in the middle of cooking or a work meeting and was not able to look up a translation, and they walked away frustrated.
This is why I wish we had Dex when my kids were little. For bilingual families and parents who aren’t native speakers, Dex lets kids explore vocabulary independently without parents having to pull out their phones for every question.
What Is the Dex AI Language Learning Camera?
The Dex Camera is a handheld AI-powered educational toy that helps kids learn languages through play. It’s a sturdy kid-sized camera with a built-in screen and speaker. Your child snaps a photo with Dex and hears the translation immediately. No waiting for a parent or teacher, and no need for a phone to translate!
Dex gives kids instant feedback without interrupting you.
What Languages Does Dex Support?
I’ll start with Chinese, since that’s the focus of my blog. Dex currently supports Mandarin Chinese with regional settings for China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia, so families can choose the version that matches how they speak at home. The pronunciation is clear and native-like, which means kids hear accurate tones from the start.
Beyond Mandarin, Dex is a great fit for multilingual families. It also supports Spanish, Korean, Hindi, French, Japanese, German, and Italian. This is exciting for me because my husband always hoped our kids would learn Italian, but it was too much for me to learn Mandarin and Italian, along with parenting, working, and helping my husband with his business.
How Does the Dex AI Camera Work?
Dex is simple enough for kids to use without tutorials, just power on and play! It has three modes:
Camera Mode
Kids can take photos of any object, and DEX instantly names it in Mandarin or another supported language. It’s powered by AI, so it recognizes what it sees and describes it accurately in a native accent.
Story Mode
Through interactive games and stories, Dex encourages kids to speak their target language, not just listen. The device asks simple questions and gives instant feedback, so kids know right away if they got it right. During story time, Dex prompts them to repeat key words and phrases, helping build both listening and speaking confidence. The stories aren’t animated, but the changing illustrations on screen keep kids engaged without overstimulation. I counted 40 stories for your child to listen to! (As of November 2025)
Bonus: Dex makes learning playful with seasonal challenges! During the summer Fruit Challenge, kids snapped photos of fruits to unlock special stories.
Game Mode
In Game Mode, Dex turns learning into play with interactive “speak and learn” flashcard games that cover vocabulary themes like body parts, colors, fruits, animals, vegetables, and shapes. Kids stay motivated as they practice pronunciation and earn positive feedback for speaking correctly.
Parent App
Parents can easily track their child’s progress through the companion app, which shows what they’re learning and how often they use DEX. The app tracks words learned, active days, stories completed, and challenges participated in. You can even view daily reports highlighting the new vocabulary your child discovered.
Why I Love Dex for Bilingual Learning
Although DEX is designed for younger children (ages 3–8), my kids, aged 9 and 11, love it. They actually fought over who gets to use it! My 11-year-old even asked if we could buy a second one.
DEX Gives Instant Feedback
Snap a photo and get an instant response! That quick feedback keeps kids engaged. I’ve noticed that by the time I pull out my phone to look something up, my kids have already lost interest or gotten frustrated from waiting.
Smarter Than You’d Expect from a Toy
DEX doesn’t just translate words. For example, my son took a photo of a bottle of slime. Instead of just saying, “This is slime,” DEX recognized it as sparkly slime and even described how it feels sticky and soft, adding that the sparkles look like little stars. It’s surprisingly detailed and makes learning feel much more interactive.
At one point, my kids took a photo of a popped balloon, and DEX correctly identified it as a balloon! I was shocked and impressed. As a mom, I love that it keeps them off their iPads. Even if there is a mobile app version, kids would figure out that they can play games or watch cartoons instead. Or worse, for older kids, they try to get on YouTube. So I love that Dex keeps them off their iPads or my phone.
DEX AI Camera Discount Code
As a parent with older kids, I’ve learned there’s no single product that does it all when it comes to teaching a language. Every tool adds something to your language-rich environment. You can’t compare DEX to other “toys” because there’s really nothing else like it. If you’re serious about raising kids who speak Mandarin, you’ll probably try several devices and resources to find the tools that work for your family.
The DEX AI Camera is priced at $249, which is comparable to other high-quality language learning tools like the Luka Reading Robot or AI flashcard sets, but Dex doesn’t require extra books or subscriptions. For a one-time purchase that helps kids learn languages independently and keeps them off tablets, I think Dex is worth adding to your language learning toolkit.
You can also save $50 with my exclusive code JEANNE50 at checkout: dex.camera/discount/jeanne50.
