Apple’s AirPods have been getting a lot of extra features in recent years, including the ability to use the AirPods Pro as hearing aids in iOS 18. We’re already getting a few new features in iOS 26, and now the latest beta has added one more: live translation gestures.
This new live translation capability is likely to join other translation features that have been added to the iOS 26 beta, such as messages and calls. And the good news is, Macworld has found evidence that live translation on AirPods will also work on older iPhones, too.
Live translation coming to AirPods
The live translation feature for AirPods was first reported by Bloomberg back in March, long before Apple announced iOS 26 at WWDC. According to Mark Gurman’s report, the feature would be offered as part of a software update for certain AirPods models. However, Apple made no mention of the feature at WWDC despite a lengthy section on live translation.
With this feature, users could talk to someone in another language, and AirPods would quickly provide a spoken translation. Apple’s Translate app already offers a Conversation tab, but it requires pressing a button on the screen every time someone speaks.
With the sixth beta of iOS 26, which was released on Monday to developers, 9to5Mac found a hidden image in the system that corroborates the existence of such a feature. But why isn’t it available to beta users? Is Apple saving it for the iPhone 17 and AirPods Pro 3 launch? Will it be exclusive to those who buy the brand-new phone next month?
Apple is seemingly working on a new AirPods feature that will let you instantly activate live translation.
Foundry
You probably won’t need an iPhone 17
Well, based on code from iOS 26 seen by Macworld, that doesn’t seem to be the case. The feature isn’t available because it doesn’t appear to be ready yet, which means that Apple is probably still making some final adjustments before making it available to the public.
But more than that, the same code also suggests that the only requirements are to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled (iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16) and compatible AirPods paired. In this case, the live translation should support AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4, as well as the new rumored AirPods Pro 3. Of note, the image depicts what looks like a pair of AirPods Pro 2.
The feature will work within the Translate app, and it seems that users will be able to start a translation by pressing one of the AirPods stems.
Given that we’re less than a month away from the official release of iOS 26 with likely just two betas left, Apple might save the new feature for a future iOS 26.1 update. It also seems likely that the company will talk more about the live translation feature for AirPods during the iPhone event next month.
According to rumors, Apple is likely to hold an event on Tuesday, September 9, to announce the iPhone 17. Stay tuned to Macworld for all the latest news and rumors as they arrive.