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Google Translate iOS App Gets Real-Time Headphone Translation

Google Translate's Live Translate with headphones feature is now available on iPhone, giving iOS users a way to translate speech in real-time through any pair of wireless headphones.

google translate headphones ios 2x
Launched on Android late last year in beta, the feature now supports more than 70 languages, and setup is minimal – open the Google Translate app with Bluetooth headphones connected to your iPhone, tap Live Translate, then select Listening.

Google says it is also expanding the feature to additional countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Thailand, and the U.K.

Apple launched its own Live Translation feature for iPhone in late 2025, but that version requires AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 2/3 and an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence. Google's offering doesn't have hardware restrictions, so you can use it with any wireless headphones.

It's worth remembering however that Apple's equivalent feature handles translations on-device, so your data stays on the iPhone. Google's version processes translations in the cloud, which is likely to make privacy-conscious users think twice about using it.

The feature is free and available now in the latest version of the Google Translate app, which is available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

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Top Rated Comments

14 weeks ago

I didn’t know some people still use Google Translate. Is it really still around?
For people who travel internationally, it's indispensible. LLMs are better for long/nuanced translations, but not for getting around town.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
14 weeks ago

Google Translate has been better for me than Apple Translate thus far, but, if they push this down onto me, I'll delete the app and use Apple's.

Edit: it appears there is an option called "Classic" that (supposedly) doesn't use Gemini
I understand the anti AI sentiment but in this specific case it seems like a good thing. Of all the companies shoving AI everywhere it doesn’t belong, this is one place it’s actually designed for.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dammit Cubs Avatar
14 weeks ago
I have been using Chat GPT translate and its been so much better than both.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MarchyStar Avatar
14 weeks ago

People will stop learning languages now 😂
or perhaps start?
Since it'll be much easier to and the wall/resistence to doing so much lower?

It's absolutely the case in my case. Smaller wall – more willingness to do so!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Adysubman Avatar
14 weeks ago
This is how the Star Trek universal translator began. True story.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
14 weeks ago
Google Translate has been better for me than Apple Translate thus far, but, if they push this down onto me, I'll delete the app and use Apple's.

Edit: it appears there is an option called "Classic" that (supposedly) doesn't use Gemini
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)