Even a casual glance at pop culture’s vision of the future—think Star Trek and its iconic universal translators—makes it easy to see why tech giants have long been chasing the dream of seamless, instant language translation. Now, as of September 2025, Apple has taken a bold step in that direction with the introduction of the AirPods Pro 3 and their headline feature: Live Translation. For many, this could finally bring the sci-fi fantasy of effortless cross-language conversation right into their ears.
Unveiled during Apple’s much-anticipated 2025 event on September 17, the AirPods Pro 3 are set to hit Canadian stores on Friday, September 19, with a retail price of $329 plus tax, according to National Post. The buzz, however, isn’t just about upgraded sound or sleeker design—though there is a modest improvement in noise cancellation. It’s all about language, and how these earbuds, powered by Apple’s proprietary AI platform, Apple Intelligence, aim to break down barriers in ways that previous translation tools just couldn’t manage.
So, what exactly can Live Translation do? At launch, the feature will support English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with plans to expand to Italian, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese by the end of the year. The technology works in real time, translating both spoken and written communication across the iPhone, Messages, and FaceTime apps. Users can activate it by pressing both AirPods stems and saying, “Siri, start Live Translation,” or by using the Action button on their iPhone. The translation typically plays about one second after the speaker finishes, delivering a natural-sounding version in the listener’s preferred language.
Unlike the clunky translation apps of yesteryear—think Google Translate or Microsoft Translator, where you’d awkwardly hold your phone up to someone’s face and wait for a robotic voice to stumble through their words—Apple’s approach is designed to let conversations flow. According to a demonstration at the unveiling event, two people wearing the AirPods Pro 3 were able to hold a conversation in Portuguese and English that felt, well, almost human. The AI interprets the meaning of phrases, not just the literal words, so the output sounds less like a phrasebook and more like real people talking. That’s a big leap forward for anyone who’s ever had to muddle through a stilted, word-for-word translation.
Of course, the applications are easy to imagine. Picture yourself wandering the bustling streets of Tokyo, Paris, or Mexico City, striking up a chat with a local shopkeeper or asking for directions—all without having to know more than a handful of words in the local language. For many, the prospect of engaging in basic, natural conversation abroad is tantalizing. Closer to home, the technology could help bridge language divides in multicultural countries like Canada, where English and French speakers often find themselves at linguistic crossroads. It might also make life easier for immigrant children who feel more comfortable in their native tongue, or for service workers who aren’t fluent in English.
“The robust translation technology in the AirPods is a sign that Apple is still in the A.I. race,” wrote a New York Times reviewer, noting that the company’s previous stabs at AI were uneven—Apple had even promised similar features for the iPhone 16 in 2024 but failed to deliver. Now, with Live Translation, Apple is signaling its intent to compete head-to-head with other tech giants in the AI space.
But it’s not just Apple in this race. According to CNBC, both Google and Meta have rolled out their own real-time translation products this year. Google’s Pixel 10 phone, for example, offers “Voice Translate,” which can translate phone calls on the fly while preserving the speaker’s inflections—a subtle but important touch for natural conversation. This feature is rolling out to Pixel phones via a software update. Meanwhile, Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta glasses, announced in May, will soon let users hear translations through the glasses’ speakers, while the other party in the conversation can see translated responses on their phone. The competition is fierce, and the stakes are high, as each company vies to make its translation technology the go-to choice for travelers, businesspeople, and everyday users alike.
Still, even as Apple touts the power and convenience of Live Translation, there are some serious caveats. Not every conversation is a good fit for AI-powered translation. In high-stakes situations—think hospital emergency rooms, courtrooms, police interactions, or legal contracts—accuracy is paramount. A mistranslated symptom could lead to the wrong treatment, while a single word out of place in a legal context might have life-altering consequences. As National Post points out, “Translation errors can have a huge impact on people’s rights and futures.” In educational settings, too, where students with limited English need precise translation and parents rely on clear communication with teachers, there’s little room for error. For these scenarios, human translators remain irreplaceable.
Despite these limitations, the potential for positive impact is undeniable. Millions of people could soon find it easier to connect across language barriers, whether they’re navigating a foreign city, helping a neighbor, or simply making a new friend. The technology also promises to smooth out the rough edges of past translation efforts, delivering results that feel more like genuine conversation and less like a game of telephone gone wrong.
It’s worth noting, however, that aside from the Live Translation feature and some incremental improvements to noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro 3 are not drastically different from their predecessors. For die-hard Apple fans, the real draw will be the chance to try out a technology that, until recently, seemed like the stuff of science fiction. For everyone else, the question may be whether the promise of seamless, real-time translation is enough to justify the upgrade—or whether they’ll wait to see how Apple’s competitors respond.
As the battle for AI-powered translation heats up, one thing is clear: the dream of universal communication is closer than ever before. The AirPods Pro 3 may not be perfect, but they’re a sign that the future imagined by Star Trek is no longer light-years away.
