Apple’s AirPods Could Offer Real‑Time Language Translation
Apple’s latest iOS 26 beta hints at a new translation feature that could turn the AirPods into a mobile Babelfish. The feature is triggered by pressing both AirPods at once and appears on the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) and AirPods (4th Gen).
Key Details from the iOS 26 Beta
- Trigger Mechanism: Press both AirPods simultaneously.
- Languages Displayed: English, Portuguese, French, and German appear on the screen.
- Device Compatibility: AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) and AirPods (4th Gen).
- Pre‑WWDC Speculation: Bloomberg reported earlier this year that a similar tool might be in development, although Apple did not mention it at WWDC 25.
- Existing Translation Features: Apple already offers Live Translation for FaceTime, Messages, and Phone.
- Competitors: Samsung Galaxy S24 series, Meta Ray‑Bans, and others also provide live translation.
How It Might Work
The translation is expected to run locally on the AirPods, so it would not require an external iPhone app. Devices that support Live Translation are likely the only ones that will receive this new AirPods translation capability.
Potential Limitations
- Translation likely restricted to the same air‑waves as existing Live Translation devices.
- iPhone support may be limited to future models like the iPhone 17 due to latency constraints.
- Spanish, as well as Korean, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese, are currently supported by the Live Translation app.
Why It Matters
If implemented, this feature would let users instantly understand conversations in supported languages, even if they don’t speak the language. With compatible devices on both sides, the AirPods would act like a real‑time bridge, making bilingual chats seamless.
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