Apple Adds Live Translation to AirPods Pro 3

The importance of Apple’s wireless earbuds through the announcement on September 9 speaks volumes. The newly announced AirPods Pro 3 propagate the ability to have live conversations translated into your ear. This is a leap in how AirPods can also be utilized not only for music or calls. The Live Translation experience utilizes Apple Intelligence to listen to someone nearby, and translate the conversation live into your desired language back into your ear. As you sign a response, your iPhone shows or speaks your response at the same time.

When participants can put on compatible AirPods, the translation is the utmost experience. Both participants will hear a private, live translation in their ear, while ambient noise is temporarily controlled as they go back and forth in conversation with each other. The discussion is sustainable, private, and practical. For example after traveling, in bilingual conversations, or in accessibility.

Apple Intelligence is Being Utilized Across the Ecosystem

Preorders for the AirPods Pro 3 can be made at the present, and general availability on Friday, September 19. Although, the translation experience is not only for the newest model and compatible with AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, and is important to expanding the Apple translation infrastructure.

Apple translated work product is due to Apple’s preference of native translation technology which has increasingly been included in its services since WWDC 2025 (and recently via iOS 26 meaning that they have folded the translation tools into its core apps, i.e., Phone, FaceTime, Messages). The being-a-more-translation-if-you-will than usual, type of app on AirPods that takes what typically manifested on a screen and makes is hands-free enjoyable, and discreet.

The Live Translation is a massive new paradigm change in AirPods’ planned obsolescence (not just rebranded – as a personal audio device), but as communication tools to be reckoned with. Other branded earbuds such as Google and Samsung have attempted similar experiences/feature set, Apple offers an additional software-hardware integration which provides seamless level of polish and immediacy. For the iPhone user, they brighten the level of imagination (as they are now not only earbuds, but language mates).