Apple has revealed a new feature for its AirPods that enables live translation, expanding on the company’s existing Live Translation features in Messages and Phone. The new gesture allows users to translate conversations in real-time using their AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods (4th generation). While Apple didn’t mention this feature at WWDC25, it was reportedly in development.
The live translation feature appears to be associated with the Translate app and is available for English, Portuguese, French, and German languages. It’s unclear which iPhones will support the new gesture, but it’s likely that it will align with Apple’s hardware requirements for other Live Translation features. Some speculate that this feature may only be exclusive to iPhone 17 models due to lower latency requirements.
This development is exciting for users living abroad or traveling to unfamiliar places, as it could simplify communication and interactions. The release of the live translation feature on AirPods is also a natural extension of Apple’s wearable ecosystem, similar to devices like Meta Ray-Bans that offer language translation capabilities.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/08/11/ios-26-beta-hints-at-upcoming-airpods-live-translation-gesture