Apple seems to be working on a feature that could make AirPods much more than just premium wireless earbuds. The company is reportedly adding real-world live translation, something that would be especially useful for travellers who often face language barriers.
A report from 9to5Mac says that the latest iOS 26 developer beta 6 includes a new system graphic showing what looks like a gesture for triggering the Translate app. The image displays text in English, Portuguese, French, and German, and seems to be designed for the AirPods Pro 2 and the upcoming AirPods 4. The gesture itself is simple — pressing both AirPods stems at the same time could instantly start translating a conversation right in your ear.
From WWDC to In-Person Conversations
Apple had first revealed its Live Translation feature at WWDC 2025, but at the time it was aimed at FaceTime calls, phone conversations, and messages. The company didn’t mention in-person conversations back then — which is why this new discovery is interesting. If rolled out, AirPods could end up competing with other translation-focused wearables like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Earlier, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had already hinted that Apple was developing real-time translation for face-to-face interactions, so this lines up with what’s now being spotted in beta builds.
Which Devices Will Support It?
Right now, it’s not confirmed which iPhones will be able to use this feature. The processing is expected to happen on the iPhone, not the AirPods themselves, which means only certain models might qualify.
Currently, Apple’s translation tools powered by Apple Intelligence are available only on select devices and support languages like Chinese (Simplified), English (UK, US), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain). Considering the extra processing power needed for live conversations, there’s a chance it could be exclusive to the iPhone 17 series, which Apple is expected to announce in September 2025.
Why It Matters for AirPods Users
If Apple rolls this out worldwide, it could be a game-changer. Millions of AirPods users would suddenly have the ability to hold conversations in different languages in real time, making them far more versatile than just being high-end earbuds for music and calls. Even if Apple starts with limited language or device support, it’s the kind of feature that could reshape how people use AirPods in daily life.
AirPods Pro 3 May Be on the Way
Alongside this, Apple might also launch the AirPods Pro 3 around the same time as the iPhone 17. According to Bloomberg, this would be the first major update to the Pro lineup since 2022. While minor changes like the move to USB-C have happened since then, the overall design has remained the same.
However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the new Pro model could be delayed until 2026 due to production issues. When it does arrive, expected upgrades include a faster Apple H3 chip, a U2 chip in the MagSafe charging case, and IPX4 water resistance. There are also talks about new health features, such as ear canal temperature sensing, which could provide more accurate results than wrist-based devices like the Apple Watch.
