Apple’s new live translation tool AirPods was one of the many announcements that got us excited during the iPhone 17 launch event this week. But if you’re in the EU, you should temper your hopes for its imminent availability.
It seems that European users, despite living in a linguistically diverse region, will not have access to the feature. According to Apple’s feature access list first spotted by MacRumors : “Online translation with AirPods is not available if you’re in the EU and your Apple account country or region is also in the EU.”
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Fear not, if you’re visiting an EU country from the US, UK, or elsewhere and were hoping to use this feature to carry conversations around during your travels. Online translation will be available, but your new European acquaintances won’t be so lucky.
Apple has to tread a careful line in the EU when it comes to introducing new features in the region due to the Digital Markets Act, under which the company is designated a “gatekeeper.” The company has already had to delay the introduction of other tools and features that will be available with iOS 26 this year, including a “places visited” list with its Maps app.
For anyone outside the EU, Live Voice will be available on the new AirPods Pro 3, as well as the existing AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 models. It will be able to translate between English (US and UK), French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.
