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Your AirPods could become a live translation tool with iOS 26 — here’s how
Way back in June during WWDC 2025, Apple announced that Live Translation was coming with iOS 26, with the feature appearing in the FaceTime, Messages and Phone apps. As part of our iOS 26 beta testing, we’ve taken a look at live translation on the iPhone, and while Apple’s version may not support as many languages as rival offerings at the moment, it feels more aesthetically engaging.
Additional real-time conversation translation features could be on the way, too, if an image found in the just-released iOS 26 developer beta 6 is anything to go by. As spotted by 9to5Mac, the image shows AirPods surrounded by text in English, French, German, and Portuguese.
It appears that you use a gesture where you press on the stems of both AirPods at the same time to trigger live translation. Apparently, the gesture works with the Translate app that’s already included on iPhones.
According to 9to5Mac, this feature would only be available on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. Apple is rumored to launch an upgraded AirPods Pro 3 this year, which reportedly will come with a number of new tracking and sensor features. Those have also been hinted at in iOS 26 code.
When could it arrive?
Previous reports have indicated that this feature was in the works. However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed that Apple didn’t reveal it during WWDC 2025 because the feature wasn’t ready yet, and the company doesn’t want a repeat of WWDC 2024 and the controversy over delayed Siri features.
Based on what can be seen, we’re not sure which iPhones will be able to support this gesture. However, the new Live Translation features require Apple Intelligence on compatible iPhones, iPads or Macs as well as Apple Watch Series 9 or later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 watches.
It’s possible this feature may only be available in the iPhone 17 series. Apple’s next iPhone event has been tipped to start on September 9 where the feature could debut alongside the latest Apple smartphones and potentially a new pair of third-generation AirPods Pro.
