AirPods Could Get Live Translation as Part of iOS 19 Update

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Apple is reportedly gearing up to introduce a live translation feature for AirPods, set to debut with the iOS 19 update later this year according to Bloomberg. Live translate does what it says on the tin; it facilitates the translation of in-person conversations in different languages in real-time.

For instance, if an English-speaking user is conversing with a Spanish speaker, your iPhone will detect the Spanish speech, translate it, and relay the translation in English back through the AirPods. Conversely, the English speaker’s response will be translated into Spanish and played aloud via the iPhone’s speakers.

Integration with iOS 19 and compatibility

This live translation capability is expected to be part of a broader overhaul in iOS 19, which is rumoured to feature significant design changes across Apple’s operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

While Apple has not officially confirmed which AirPods models will support the live translation feature, reports indicate that it will be delivered through a software update linked to iOS 19. This suggests that existing AirPods users may not need to purchase new hardware to access the functionality.

But wait, doesn’t this already exist?

Yes, it does. Google has offered a similar service in their Pixel Buds since 2017. Why has it taken Apple this long to follow suit? Who knows but Apple is increasingly falling behind in some software departments such as AI so maybe this is an attempt to catch up.

Either way, you can bet Apple will be plastering this front and centre of new AirPods campaigns in future.