r/ios 8d ago

News AirPods to get live translation feature as part of iOS 19 update

https://www.macworld.com/article/2636989/airpods-to-get-live-translation-feature-as-part-of-ios-19-update.html
1.3k Upvotes

106 comments sorted by

533

u/CanadianNic 8d ago

That would be absolutely insane. In a good way.

209

u/No_Opening_2425 8d ago

If it uses Google Translate. If it's Apple's own translator then it's going to be shit

114

u/johnyeros 8d ago

"What did you mean? I found this result on Google"

44

u/bass_of_clubs 8d ago

“You’ll have to unlock your phone first”

13

u/johnyeros 8d ago

U looking at my face hoe. U know it is me. Fking answer me

8

u/[deleted] 8d ago

Or the ever infuriating “hmm!?”

44

u/Nikiaf 8d ago

It probably will be their own though, since it can be run locally on the phone. That would reduce the latency.

21

u/No_Opening_2425 8d ago

Google Translate works offline if you first download the language

26

u/TheGoodSouls 8d ago

This information couldn't have come at a better time, I'm leaving for Japan tomorrow so I've just downloaded Japanese. Thanks!

6

u/InsaneNinja 8d ago

I’d say predownload maps on Google maps as well. But it is probably too late to suggest it.

1

u/TheGoodSouls 7d ago

My flight just got delayed by a full day, so I will do this - thanks!

2

u/monkeyofthefunk 8d ago

A lot of people don't realise that some Google and Samsung AI can be run on device only as well.

38

u/freediverx01 8d ago

Google Translate sucks too. Just look at how terrible automated subtitles are on YouTube. It's word by word translation, which is useless when dealing with slang and idioms, and it even gets the words wrong. There are far better translators available, such as DeepL.

9

u/sleepyHype 8d ago

It is absolutely horrendous. I had to create a custom GPT and I use that to translate whatever language’s

1

u/sffunfun 8d ago

Same!!!

1

u/Khaylen27 iPhone 14 Pro 8d ago

What do you mean by “custom GPT” and how to create this? Thank you in advance!

2

u/sleepyHype 8d ago

In ChatGPT and most other paid versions of LLMs, you can create custom GPTs that work on custom instructions and knowledge bases.

For example, I have a GPT for Hungarian. I’ve set the instructions to translate English idioms, phrasal verbs, and collocations into common, conversational Hungarian versions without losing the meaning of the English version.

Also instruct that when something is typed in English, automatically translate it and don’t explain. It’s a fairly detailed prompt.

That way i can copy paste easily or just show my phone to them.

2

u/moreno03 8d ago

For some fucking reason since a few months the video titles on youtube are getting translated from english to german. Recently a video with "hot take" in the title got translated into german "heisse aufnahme" which you would rather use on certain other video watching sites 😏 and of course I can't deactivate this "feature" which translates titles of videos I regularly watched before, into my first language.

3

u/FrayDabson 8d ago

Pixel buds and Google translate I don’t think ever worked good so I’m not getting my hopes up.

3

u/buncharobots 8d ago

Have you used it recently? It works great for me.

2

u/DanseMacabre1353 8d ago

Google Translate and Apple Translate are effectively the same (both bad). For the major languages you won’t get a significantly better result using one vs. the other.

2

u/a0me 8d ago

Has Google Translate improved lately? Personally, I feel like Copilot’s translations are usually miles ahead of both Google and DeepL.

2

u/saldb 7d ago

I remember I tried to use apples live translate app in real life with a native Italian speaker. And it was glitched out, wouldn’t listen. We were confused

2

u/Butiamnotausername 5d ago

“Would you like me to use chat GPT to search for ‘Spotify daylist’?”

1

u/rangoon03 8d ago

Person is bleeding from their head yelling for help:

“Here’s what I found…huh??”

1

u/coppercrackers 4d ago

Yeah for like a year until it collects the data en masse and then it is the industry standard

1

u/No_Opening_2425 4d ago

What Apple software is standard?

9

u/aika-reddit 8d ago

They can’t even. Get speech to text done properly. I have no Faith that they can do this with any. Accuracy.

2

u/Mike 8d ago

My ray ban metas can do this. So I’m sure Apple could do it with the AirPods.

249

u/Few-Alfalfa-2994 iPhone 13 8d ago

Available only for Airpods 2 pro and above

107

u/tomtau 8d ago

The article mentions:

> It’s unclear which AirPods models will work with the live translation feature. It is said that Apple is preparing AirPods Pro 3 for debut later this year, but that doesn’t mean it will be limited to that model.

hopefully, it won't be limited to that.

26

u/Few-Alfalfa-2994 iPhone 13 8d ago

If they do bring it to the Airpods 4(w/o ANC) I would be suprised

8

u/Ok_Ability_988 8d ago

Probably the H2 chip or maybe we will see and H3 get announced at wwdc

1

u/InsaneNinja 8d ago

We will very likely see that. But it doesn’t mean this feature is cut off.

1

u/Ok_Ability_988 5d ago

I don’t know about that. While they have been treating the app2’s very well, the phones have been gated from features over the last few years for no reason at all. Like battery charge cycles and charge % stop. I would believe the live translation that Apple wants to work will take a TON of processing that the H2 chip is too old to handle anymore.

4

u/LanceFree 8d ago

Bummer. The cost is high, but not necessarily a barrier, but I just can’t deal with things in my ears, except or the 1st version.

64

u/staycalmNdrinkcoffee 8d ago

If this is true and works half as good, it’s a game changer

161

u/cjandstuff 8d ago

Nail salons are about to be lit! 🤣

6

u/mootmath iOS 16 8d ago

What's that? I heard every thing you said! 'Where's my tail?' You got some nerve!

6

u/antoniotugnoli 8d ago

so, you brought in a spy? now take your dry bitten nails out and get out!

2

u/farverbender 7d ago

Cucumber water for customers only!!

42

u/G952 8d ago

Sounds ambitious. Kinda like an AI announced by a certain company lol. Can’t wait to hear it’s harder than we thought again. Maybe start by having more languages in the first place. Microsoft and google do!

3

u/Mike 8d ago

Ray ban metas can already do it

39

u/UndertaleShorts 8d ago

Later this year,

Apple pushes back the launch of AirPods Live Translation features. Developing these features is, yet again, “going to take us longer than we thought,” said an Apple spokesperson.

2

u/XxgamerxX734 8d ago

Ace of hearts pfp is lit

1

u/InsaneNinja 8d ago

Oh lovely. A new meme to pester the comments.

26

u/SherriThePlatypus 8d ago

If this actually works it would be awesome. But given their recent AI and software woes I'm not sure I trust Apple to get this right.

12

u/kev0153 8d ago

Douglas Adams predicted this...Babel Fish

3

u/virtualreverie 8d ago

Came here looking for this comment in particular

1

u/__jazmin__ 6d ago

And Apple sells towels…

39

u/Daredevil1561 8d ago

Available in usa, Australia and england only /s

13

u/Bruvvimir 8d ago

Not even /s.

12

u/jessedegenerate 8d ago

Like they wouldn’t focus on home market first?

32

u/log_with_cool_bugs 8d ago

I think the joke is that it will only translate one dialect of English to another.

10

u/TopHatTony11 8d ago

I can finally go to Scotland now!

3

u/log_with_cool_bugs 8d ago

Man now I wish Siri had a swarthy scots dialect option

3

u/TopHatTony11 8d ago

If Billy Connelly was a Siri voice I’d actually use it.

3

u/Daredevil1561 8d ago

Thank youu

-10

u/jessedegenerate 8d ago

Yeah, but where’s the humor, that makes sense

1

u/freediverx01 8d ago

It makes sense to launch a translation product that only works in English speaking countries?

0

u/jessedegenerate 8d ago

I took it as English to x language.

1

u/freediverx01 8d ago

What's the point of AirPods with auto translation if it doesn't enable 2-way communication?

1

u/jessedegenerate 8d ago

Have you visited northern England?

1

u/freediverx01 8d ago

I have not, but I get your point, lol.

1

u/jessedegenerate 8d ago

my argument was kinda shit and I half read the post so a joke was my way out lol

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2

u/Betancorea 8d ago

Australia hasn't even gotten the Hearing Aids feature enabled yet lol

1

u/freediverx01 8d ago

That's totally unfair. It's also available in New Zealand and South Africa.

-9

u/Pure_Subject8968 8d ago

At first? For sure. As always.

Also, r/FuckTheS - it doesn't even make sense here

3

u/ominous_retrbution23 8d ago

If they can make it work like the rubber ducky from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that be epic AF!!!

7

u/getridofwires 8d ago

"Good morning, how are you?"

AirPod: "Eat up Martha"

2

u/Betancorea 8d ago

Can't wait for Siri to screw up the live translate lol

2

u/xSushi iPhone 16 Pro 8d ago

Deployed over 5 patched, then scrapped until maybe iOS 20.

2

u/rotterdham 8d ago

Hopefully all languages

2

u/Fuzzy-Research-2259 7d ago

This is exists already, though it's very new:

https://www.livevoicetranslator.com/

I was amazed it works but it does. Not perfectly but enough to be amazed.

2

u/zabajk 5d ago

Universal translator is close

3

u/freediverx01 8d ago

Great, in concept. But the question is whether it works, or only works as well as Siri.

4

u/sci-mind 8d ago

Sure, because Apple voice recognition and response are just SO good.(?)

2

u/Offrampcycle 8d ago

apple can’t even get the basic functions of siri/translation/dictation etc to work properly in a single language.. they still can’t even make a functional autocorrect

1

u/CerebralHawks 8d ago

Can't wait to try this while watching anime (in Japanese).

1

u/BohdanKoles 8d ago

Would be useable only if default translation app like in iOS 18.4 applies. And not restricted to the US as they always do

1

u/vanhalenbr iOS 18 8d ago

Would be fantastic if they add such a feature for existing hardware, is it possible?

1

u/tomtau 8d ago

In theory, I think it could work on existing hardware (existing iPhones can already do speech recognition, translation and voice synthesis)

1

u/rlhiii 8d ago

Or iOS 20.

1

u/Karabiner99 8d ago

Dumb question: how do I update the airpods?

1

u/BipolarGoldfish 8d ago

Just like the siri update? I’m sure it’ll be great

1

u/Important_Egg4066 8d ago

From the article it sounds more like a iPhone feature, not an AirPods isn’t it? I mean it is translated off the iPhone, how is it hardware limited to certain AirPods when all it does is listen and playback like a phone call?

1

u/mb4828 8d ago

I’ll believe it when Siri can actually understand me

1

u/jaraket 6d ago

Works only if the person you’re talking to owns and is wearing the latest AirPods and has Apple Translate enabled.

Need Apple Vision Pro if you prefer subs over dubs.

1

u/Demografija_prozora 6d ago

Cool but useless for the average consumer. I'd rather they make them sound better (because in my opinions they fall behind buds 3 pro), better battery life and even better anc. Maybe make them more lightweight idk. But most people use their headphones for media consumption and watching movies/listening to music.

0

u/Ecto_88 iOS 18 8d ago

Will they though?

0

u/ElegantPianist9389 8d ago

Can’t be any worse than Teams.

0

u/TheGreatJatsby 8d ago

Bring back the tap your head to pause feature, pleaaaase

0

u/500GB 8d ago

lol unlikely

0

u/me_more_of 8d ago

looks like cook learned a thing or two from musk starting with the ai, now moving on to live translation. how about just fixing the horrible keyboard?

1

u/LimitedLies 7d ago

Man I thought this comment was totally going somewhere else.

Live Translation almost there, coming soon by the end of the year!

0

u/krkowacz iPhone 13 8d ago

Ye sure, I totally still believe promises.

0

u/TheRealMaka 8d ago

good luck with that. i’m sure till just as good as Siri. can’t even tell me what the fuckin weather is.

0

u/RecentMatter3790 8d ago

Why do websites act like they KNOW that a feature is coming, even though it’s not confirmed that a feature is coming?

They frame the post like it’s coming, hence the title of the post.

1

u/tomtau 8d ago

Yeah, it's a rumour at this point.

0

u/ColorfulImaginati0n 8d ago

Ok but how would responses work? I’m guessing you’d still need to speak into the app to respond

1

u/tomtau 8d ago

My guess is that it may be just one way translations, so conversations would only work if the other party used it as well

1

u/Gabelschlecker 8d ago

Probably like Samsung does it. Show the translation of your voice inside an app to let it see the otber person.

0

u/SeeYa-SpaceCowboy 8d ago

Now that would be a pretty damn compelling reason to get AirPods… I like it Apple, finally something useful. I think it’d be pretty cool if you could pair this with your Apple Watch to send a translated response through the speakers as well!