AirPods let you translate conversations in real-time with iOS 26
Apple’s latest iOS 26 beta version all but confirms a Live Translation feature is coming to AirPods.
Live Translation feature
Back in March, there was speculation that Live Translation might be coming to AirPods with the next iOS update. At the time, it was just a rumour. Apple stayed tight-lipped even at WWDC25 in June, where they announced Live Translation for FaceTime, calls, messages and even new translation features for Apple Music. However, there was no sign of real-time translations coming to AirPods.
Now, the latest iOS 26 developer beta has all but confirmed the feature. The feature is set to be a game-changer when it comes to international travel and conversing in other languages, as we discussed in our previous blog about how the feature will work.
What the beta reveals
Spotted by 9to5Mac, the latest iOS 26 beta (released yesterday) contains an image found in the Translate app files. The graphic shows four languages circling a pair of AirPods: English, German, Portuguese, and French. It also indicates a gesture which will trigger Live Translation if both stems are pressed at the same time.
This points towards compatibility with AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. It’s not known whether it will extend to older models, but seems unlikely given they lack the pressable stem needed for the gesture.
Which iPhones will it be compatible with?
There’s still no news on which iPhones will support AirPods Live Translation. However, already announced Live Translation features are linked to Apple Intelligence, which only runs on certain devices. That means you might need a newer iPhone to use it.
Interestingly, 9to5Mac even suggests the feature could be exclusive to the iPhone 17 lineup, which potentially explains why Apple is yet to announce it.
When could it launch?
Considering that the feature is being tested in the latest iOS 26 beta, it’s reasonable to expect that Live Translation for AirPods could arrive as soon as the public release of iOS 26 next month. Of course, Apple could also hold it back for a follow-on update later down the line.
Find out more about what to expect from iOS 26 in our blogs below: