Apple Announces Live Translation Feature Extends Beyond New AirPods Pro 3
Apple has unveiled a new live translation feature for its AirPods line, a tool that promises to break down language barriers in real-time conversations. While demonstrated with the upcoming AirPods Pro 3, the company confirmed the software upgrade will not be exclusive to the new model.
The innovative feature is also coming to the existing AirPods Pro 2 and the new standard AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation. This provides a significant benefit for users who do not wish to immediately upgrade their hardware to access the latest technology.
To utilize Live Translation, users will need the latest firmware on their supported AirPods and, crucially, an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone running iOS 26 or a later version. This requirement ties the advanced on-device processing power of the phone to the functionality of the earbuds.
The feature operates exactly as its name implies. When wearing the compatible AirPods, the software translates spoken languages in real-time directly into the user’s ear. This is designed to facilitate a more natural back-and-forth conversation between two people who speak different languages, effectively acting as a personal interpreter.
At its initial launch, Live Translation will support a core set of languages including English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. Apple has plans to expand this repertoire significantly by the end of the year, with promised support for Italian, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese.
As for the new flagship earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3 are now available for preorder at a price of 249 dollars. Beyond the translation software, these new earbuds introduce several hardware upgrades such as an integrated heart rate monitor for health tracking, improved active noise cancellation, extended battery life, and support for spatial audio playback. This move to bring key software features to older hardware generations highlights a shift in strategy, offering greater value to users within the Apple ecosystem.
