A new feature coming to AirPods in iOS 26 developer beta 6 has attracted attention. AirPods, in conjunction with the Live Translation feature on iPhones, will be able to instantly translate foreign language conversations. Previously only available during calls and messaging on iPhones with Apple Intelligence, this feature appears to be integrated into AirPods in the beta version.
AirPods Gain Live Translation
The new beta version also includes a gesture system unique to AirPods. This system, activated by pressing both earbuds simultaneously, works in conjunction with a visually-aided interface. A screenshot from the beta shows AirPods with text in different languages, revealing that the headphones are equipped with live translation.
It hasn’t been confirmed which AirPods models the feature will be available for, but it appears it will initially be limited to the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4, which are not yet released.
Currently, this feature only works with Apple Intelligence-enabled devices. Therefore, for live translation to be enabled, iPhones, iPads, or Macs must be compatible with this AI infrastructure. However, it is not yet clear which iPhone models will support the new AirPods gestures.
At WWDC25 in June, Apple announced that Apple Intelligence would offer Turkish language support by the end of the year. However, when the system language is set to Turkish, Apple Intelligence still fails to activate. This leaves it unclear when features like live translation will become available for Turkish users.
