Apple is quietly toggling a switch that transforms millions of existing AirPods into on-the-fly translating devices. With iOS 26 and a new AirPods firmware update under its belt, this headline feature isn’t just for the newest model anymore – not unless Apple wants to start stirring up some resentment.
Apple’s own product pages and comparison charts suggest that the feature only works on AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 (aka Gen 2), and the new AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation when connected to an Apple Intelligence–enabled iPhone running iOS 26 or later. In other words, if you already have one of the earbuds and a compatible iPhone, your next software update could redefine how you travel, work together and make your way through multilingual moments — without needing to buy more hardware.
Which AirPods will get Live Translation
The feature set revolves around the models with Apple’s latest audio architecture and microphones tuned for voice clarity. Its footnotes tell us it works with the AirPods Pro 3 (by default) and then falls back to work on AirPods Pro 2 and ANC-ified AirPods 4 once they are updated with the latest firmware. The crucial part is the phone: you need an iPhone with Apple Intelligence, as iOS 26 passes translation through on‑device intelligence so that latency can be minimal and private conversations retain that way.
Of course that broader compatibility is a marked difference. Apple sometimes introduces software features alongside new hardware, only to bring them to recent older devices with processing power to spare. In this instance, that means owners of last‑gen Pro buds don’t get left on the sidelines.
How live, in‑ear translation really works
When Live Translation is turned on, the feature listens through the AirPods’ beamforming mics to identify the spoken language and then plays a translated version directly into your ears. There are two core modes. In conversational mode with compatible AirPods and iPhone, one person can speak while the other listens, translation will be done into the second participant’s language in real-time. Your words are translated and appear on the other person’s iPhone screen, provided only one of you gets that far in setup, with his or her replies (hopefully) translated into your language.
Apple relies on its technology Transparency mode and Adaptive Audio to allow you hear ambient cues (useful at airports, in cabs and along busy street) while hearing translations loudly and clearly even over soft background noise. The company says that translations go through Apple Intelligence for on‑device processing whenever possible, which should help reduce dependence on the cloud and increase responsiveness.
Why this is a big deal for more than just travelers
Real‑time translation is great on the road, but it means so much more. Teachers in multilingual classrooms, intake service providers and customer support teams are all examples of potential users. Apple has what Counterpoint Research says is about a 30% share of the world market for true wireless earbuds, so those numbers are in the tens of millions with regards to Live Translation’s addressable base. Such a software‑driven upgrade that unlocks new utility for that many users is unusual in consumer audio.
There’s also an accessibility angle. For those who depend on captions or translation to be part of a conversation, the layer of support just floating passively into your ears — no wrangling with phones or apps — reduces friction. And by extending the value of current hardware, Apple is pushing the AirPods upgrade cycle from necessity toward value.
Performance, privacy and the fine print
Inter-annotator rater agreement would vary across language pairs and acoustic conditions. AirPods’ noise suppression and voice isolation features should help, but even the most powerful system will have difficulty competing with a crowded café. With Apple Intelligence, machine learning enables on‑device processing of your data and should keep many of your translations private and speedy.(*1) You can download a whole language to work offline, but some features or language packs require an Internet connection. Battery life will drain more quickly with continuous translation — expect similar on-paper drops as long calls with ANC and Transparency turned on.
Not every iPhone will qualify. Apple Intelligence software is only supported on select devices with the necessary neural processing power as well, so check under Settings to see if your iPhone supports it today before banking on Live Translation. And be sure that your AirPods least firmware is up to date; the update will install automatically when the earbuds are charging and close to a connected iPhone.
How to turn it on
Once you’ve installed iOS 26, connect your AirPods and go to Settings. Tap your AirPods at the top of the list and then look for Live Translation, following any prompts that appear to download language packs you have not already stored. You can assign a press‑and‑hold gesture on the AirPods stem to quickly switch on translation, or add a Control Center tile for faster access. For two‑way discussions, both people will need to turn it on and select their desired languages.
If you don’t see that setting, make sure your AirPods model is compatible and look for a firmware update by keeping the case open but inside (or next to) it so it’s connected with proximity to your iPhone, and also confirm that your iPhone can support Apple Intelligence features.
Bottom line
Live Translation is the most important software update in years for AirPods, and it’s coming as a freebie with iOS 26 to even more models than initially indicated. And if you’ve got AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods 4 with ANC — and have them connected to an iPhone running a compatible version of the software — your earbuds are about to get even smarter at no extra cost.