Apple is set to launch an exciting new feature for its AirPods later this year — real-time translation capabilities.
According to Bloomberg, the real-time translation function will be part of a major software update for AirPods on Thursday, slated for release in the second half of this year. Developed by Apple, the feature will integrate with iOS 19, the company’s next-generation mobile operating system for iPhones and other Apple devices. Bloomberg likened the new translation technology to the universal translators featured in Star Trek, where characters effortlessly communicate with alien species.
For example, if an English speaker is listening to a conversation in Spanish, their iPhone will automatically translate the speech into English and relay it through the AirPods. At the same time, the English speaker’s response will be translated into Spanish and played through the other person’s iPhone.
Although similar translation features have been available on competitor devices, like Google Pixel Buds, for several years, Apple has offered its translation app for iPhones since 2020.
This new AirPods upgrade is part of a more extensive software overhaul Apple is preparing for this year. In addition to the translation feature, the company plans to enhance iOS19’s translation technology, continuing its tradition of adding new features to AirPods through software updates. For instance, in 2024, Apple introduced hearing aid and hearing test capabilities to the second-generation AirPods Pro. Reports indicate that Apple is also working on new AirPods hardware, including a third-generation AirPods Pro model, which could feature AI-powered cameras designed to analyze the surrounding environment.