Apple is reportedly working on a live translation feature for AirPods, allowing users to translate conversations in real-time.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this feature will be tied to iOS 19, which will launch later this year.
While this is a big step for Apple, other companies have already introduced similar features. Google first added live translation to its Pixel Buds in 2017 and later expanded it to the Pixel Buds Pro in 2022. Meta and Humane have also experimented with translation in their wearables, though with mixed results.
The new feature will play translated speech directly into the user’s AirPods. For example, if someone speaks Spanish, their words will be translated into English and played in the listener’s AirPods. When the English speaker responds, their iPhone will broadcast the Spanish translation through its speakers.
Apple hasn’t officially commented on the report, but if true, this could revolutionize travelers’ and multilingual conversations.
