Apple is said to have planned a software update with new features for AirPods. With this update, the earbuds live-translate an in-person conversation into another language, according to a Bloomberg report. The real-time conversation translation feature will use a connected iPhone’s processor to translate audio received from the AirPods in real-time. This move promises to bring a Star Trek-like experience to AirPods users.
Citing people aware of the matter, the report says the tech giant plans to introduce the new in-person conversation translation feature for AirPods in the form of a software update later this year. This means that headset users will be able to access the functionality on existing AirPods models. It will reportedly be available alongside Apple’s next major mobile-device operating system update — iOS 19.
Wondering how this feature will work? If an English speaker is hearing someone talk in Spanish, the iPhone will translate the message and relay it to the user’s AirPods in English. The person speaking in English will see their words translated into Spanish and played back by the iPhone.
It is worth noting that Apple wouldn’t be the first company to introduce such an update. This feature is already available on rival earbuds, such as Google Pixel Buds. Google brought real-time conversation translation to its Pixel Buds TWS headset in 2017. The feature requires the wireless headset to be paired with the company’s Pixel phones. The Cupertino-based tech giant has offered its in-house Translate app on the iPhone since 2020.
Last year, the iPhone maker unveiled a feature that supports users connecting their AirPods to an iPhone and using them as over-the-counter hearing aids. Compatible AirPods can also be used to perform a hearing test to check for hearing loss using the wireless headset.
The company is steadily adding new features to AirPods via software updates. Reports suggest that it is reportedly working on a successor to the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), and it is also said to be developing a pair of AirPods equipped with built-in cameras and artificial intelligence features to analyse the surrounding environment.
In addition to this, the company is working on new AirPods hardware, including a third-generation version of the AirPods Pro.
