At the recent WWDC25, Apple unveiled its innovative Live Translation feature, showcasing its potential across various platforms such as FaceTime, phone calls, and messages. However, one significant application was notably absent: the ability to facilitate real-world conversations. Excitingly, it has come to light that this much-anticipated feature is also in development.
In the latest iOS 26 developer beta 6, a new system asset has surfaced that hints at a groundbreaking gesture for Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods (4th generation). This newly discovered image illustrates a gesture that is activated by pressing both AirPods stems simultaneously. Notably, the text displayed in the image is in multiple languages, including English, Portuguese, French, and German, and is closely associated with the Translate app.
While Apple did not highlight real-world translation capabilities for AirPods during the WWDC25 keynote, earlier reports from Bloomberg indicated that this feature was indeed in progress. The introduction of real-world live translation aligns seamlessly with the existing Live Translation functionalities already demonstrated for FaceTime, Messages, and phone calls. This capability also serves as a compelling use case for wearables, similar to what we have seen with other devices like the Meta Ray-Bans.
As of now, it remains uncertain which iPhone models will support this new gesture, as it’s improbable that the feature will operate solely on the AirPods. However, it is reasonable to expect that the compatibility will align with Apple’s established hardware requirements for other Live Translation features. Currently, Live Translation in Messages supports several languages, including Chinese (Simplified), English (US and UK), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain) when enabled on compatible devices such as the iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Additionally, the feature is also available on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 when paired with a compatible iPhone.
Given the requirement for low latency in real-world interactions, there is speculation that this feature may be exclusive to the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup. This could explain Apple’s decision to keep it under wraps until now. Regardless of speculation, it is evident that Apple is gearing up to launch a live translation feature linked with AirPods, which is particularly exciting for individuals living abroad or those traveling to regions with unfamiliar languages.
Could you envision yourself utilizing AirPods for live translation? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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