3 Minutes
Apple announces AirPods Live Translation, but EU users are left waiting
At its latest event Apple introduced the iPhone 17 lineup and refreshed AirPods, including the AirPods Pro 3. One headline feature is Live Translation for AirPods — a real-time translation mode that promises to make multilingual conversations frictionless. The capability will also roll out to AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) and AirPods Pro 2 on the newest firmware when paired with an iPhone running iOS 26.
EU availability: a frustrating exclusion
Despite the broad rollout plans, Apple’s official feature availability page states that Live Translation with AirPods is not available if you are located in the EU and your Apple Account Country or Region is set to an EU nation. For European consumers and professionals who expected to use real-time translation on the go, this is disappointing and raises questions about regulatory or technical roadblocks.
Supported languages and roadmap
At launch Live Translation covers English (US and UK), French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish. Apple plans to add Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese later this year. Apple has not clarified whether EU users will gain access now or at a later date, so the timeline remains uncertain.
Product features
- Live Translation: low-latency speech-to-speech translation for supported languages
- ANC (active noise cancellation): improved on AirPods 3 and newer models
- Smaller form factor and longer battery life on the latest earbuds
- Built-in heart rate monitoring on AirPods 3
Comparisons and advantages
Compared to AirPods Pro 2 and legacy models, the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 bring better ANC, improved fit, and updated sensors — making them more attractive for commuters, travelers, and fitness users. Live Translation, when available, would add a compelling use case for business travelers and multilingual teams.
Use cases and market relevance
Live Translation is valuable for real-world scenarios: instant translation during international meetings, on-the-fly conversations while traveling, accessibility for non-native speakers, and faster localization for customer support. However, the EU restriction may push European buyers toward third-party translation apps, standalone translator devices, or competing earbuds that offer localized services without regional blocks.
Bottom line
Apple’s Live Translation could be a game-changer for wearable translation, but regional limitations in the EU hinder its potential reach. While AirPods 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Pro 3 still offer tangible upgrades — better ANC, battery life, and health sensors — the missing Live Translation feature may influence purchase decisions for international users. Keep an eye on Apple’s support pages for any changes to EU availability as iOS 26 and firmware updates roll out.
Comments