With the arrival of Apple Intelligence, AirPods now benefit from a long-awaited feature: live translation. This new feature makes it possible to instantly listen to and understand a foreign language directly in the earbuds. Already announced by Apple at its fall keynote, this new feature is finally available in France. How does it work, and what are the conditions for using it?
Discreet, natural live translation
The feature is based on Apple’s Translate app, integrated into iOS 18. Simply press the stems of both AirPods to launch a translation session. Then, whatever the microphone picks up is instantly translated and played back in your earbuds. Once the session is activated, the user can talk with someone speaking another language in real time. To date, nine languages are supported: French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese and Korean.
This allows you to keep your hands free, while maintaining a certain discretion during your conversations. This approach makes interactions more natural than with an intermediate touch-sensitive or voice interface.
This innovation is designed to facilitate exchanges in a variety of contexts: trips abroad, business meetings, welcoming international customers, etc. Eventually, this type of function could well become an everyday tool, on a par with calls or voice commands.
Exclusive to recent Apple models
While the promise is seductive, it is not yet available to all users. This Apple Intelligence-based innovation is only activated on certain recent models. You need an iPhone equipped with an A17 Pro chip (like the iPhone 15 Pro) or an iPad with an Apple Silicon chip (M1 or later).
As for the earbuds, the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are currently compatible. So it’s not just a software update, but a combination of hardware and optimized software. This technical requirement underlines Apple’s strategy of integrating advanced functionalities in a controlled environment, to guarantee stability and quality of use.
A European version limited by regulations
European deployment has required specific adaptation. The reason: the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which imposes strict rules on service interoperability. As a result, the function is not available via Siri in Europe, unlike in the United States. To launch a translation session, European users must go through the Translate app on their iPhone or iPad.
Apple had to make this compromise to comply with the new obligations imposed by the DMA. This does not call into question the effectiveness of the feature, but introduces an extra step in the activation process, where Siri could take care of it automatically in other regions. A difference that illustrates the concrete effects of European rules on the user experience.
Summary
Live translation has officially arrived on AirPods in France, supported by Apple Intelligence. Intended to make multilingual interactions more accessible, this feature is nevertheless reserved for users equipped with the most recent models. In Europe, certain restrictions linked to the Digital Markets Act oblige Apple to use the Translate app, whereas Siri provides this function directly in other regions. Despite these adjustments, the experience promises to be smooth and promising for users.
