AirPods May Beam Live Translations Directly Into Your Ears
So, Apple might just be about to drop a real-time translation feature for AirPods. I know, it sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, right? But according to the latest iOS 26 developer beta, it looks like it's happening. Instead of fumbling with translation apps on your phone, you could just chat with someone, and your AirPods would translate what they're saying directly into your ear.
Apparently, some eagle-eyed folks at 9to5Mac spotted references to English, French, German, and Portuguese in the beta. I'm guessing these will be the first languages supported when the feature launches. It's pretty standard for companies to start with a few languages and then add more later, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see more languages rolling out down the line.
Now, here's the thing: it seems like this live translation magic will be exclusive to the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. I know, it's a bummer if you have older AirPods. But hey, that's tech for you – always pushing you to upgrade. And whether it will be exclusive to the USB-C version is still a big question. I think we'll just have to wait and see what Apple officially announces.
Real-time translation in earbuds isn't exactly new. Google and Samsung already have similar features in their Pixel Buds and Galaxy Buds, respectively. But here's where Apple could really shake things up: AirPods are everywhere. They dominate the wireless earbuds market. That means that if Apple nails this translation feature, it could become mainstream much faster simply because more people own AirPods.
I think it's a smart move for Apple. It's a genuinely useful feature that could make a real difference in how people communicate. And let's be honest, compared to some of the other AI features we've seen lately, like Genmoji, this actually has some practical value. It is one of the first AI features that people will actually find useful. I think it's the correct step foward for Apple, especially in the AI hardware domain.
Don't be surprised if Apple uses this as an excuse to launch some new, beefier AirPods. Who knows, maybe we'll see the AirPods Pro 3 with even more processing power for handling all that language translation. And imagine the holiday marketing potential – "Give the gift of understanding!"
Source: Gizmodo