December 17, 2025, 7:12 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Apple and Google are expanding their translation features–both focusing on real-time communication. With iOS 26.2, Apple is officially bringing live translation to the EU for the first time, while Google is making its technology more widely available and enhancing it with AI. This brings the goal of having conversations without language barriers significantly closer.
Apple had already announced the feature, and now it is activated in Europe. Live Translation automatically translates conversations almost without delay. Although still in beta, Apple claims it is suitable for everyday use. The launch is set for December 2025–as previously promised.
Apple’s new feature relies on a completely hands-free concept. If both conversation partners wear AirPods, the conversation continues almost as usual while the translation occurs in the background. If only one person is equipped with AirPods, the iPhone displays a real-time transcription. The technical foundation is Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI system that recognizes spoken language and translates it immediately.
Delayed Start Due to EU Regulations
In other regions, live translation was already available. However, in the EU, Apple had to consider additional requirements from the Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to the company. The specific adjustments needed were not disclosed.
Google Expands Its Own Live Translation
Google is also advancing its real-time translation. An update for the Translate app allows the feature to be used not only with Pixel Buds but also with many other compatible headphones. The rollout is starting in several countries and will be gradually expanded.
Google is integrating its AI, Gemini, directly into the translation technology to render conversations more naturally. The app will not only translate individual words but also understand contexts and convey colloquial expressions meaningfully. This aims to deliver significantly more realistic results, especially in everyday situations.
Germany Has to Wait
The new live translation feature will initially launch on Android devices in the U.S., Mexico, and India. An iOS version is expected to follow in 2026, though no specific date has been set. There is also no launch window for Germany at this time.
With these innovations, Apple and Google are bringing real-time translation into greater focus–making a field more practical that once seemed possible only in science fiction.