Apple today announced the new AirPods Pro 3, the next-generation of AirPods hardware.
One of the big new software features is Live Translation. By tapping on the stems of both buds, AirPods enter a new translation mode which cancels out background noise and listens in to your conversations. When it hears a foreign language it can understand, you hear the translated version spoken back to you through your AirPods.
Apple said the new Live Translation feature is powered by Apple Intelligence, using similar technology as the translation features that it has deployed across its OS 26 operating systems.
Of course, many rival earbuds offer similar translation features. It remains to be seen how good Apple’s implementation will work in practice. But the promise of live translation is certainly appealing to many customers.
Language support will be limited at launch. Initially, the AirPods translation feature will support English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish right now. The company says support for Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese will arrive later this year.
If both people having a conversation have compatible AirPods in, they can use Live Translation transparently, with each person hearing the translated form in their ear. If one person does not have AirPods, they can have their iPhone show a translated transcript on their iPhone.