### Apple AirPods Pro 3: Live Translation Feature and Compatibility
Apple has unveiled the new AirPods Pro 3, which come with multiple upgrades, including a captivating Live Translation feature. Nonetheless, owners of earlier models such as the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 equipped with Active Noise Cancellation can also benefit from this feature via a software update, making an immediate upgrade unnecessary.
#### How Live Translation Works
Live Translation is not an independent feature of the AirPods; it requires a paired iPhone to operate. To make use of this feature, users need an iPhone 15 Pro or later, running iOS 26. This prerequisite stems from the advanced processing power of Apple Intelligence, which drives the translation capability.
Compatible iPhone models include:
– iPhone 15 Pro
– iPhone 16 series
– iPhone 17 series
– iPhone Air
#### Supported Languages
Upon its release, Live Translation accommodates multiple languages, which include:
– English
– French
– German
– Portuguese
– Spanish
Apple intends to broaden this selection with the rollout of iOS 26.1 later this year, adding Italian, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese.
#### Activating Live Translation
To enable Live Translation, users can press both stems of their AirPods at the same time or select the feature via a new ‘Live’ tab in the Translate app on their iPhone. Once turned on, the microphones of the AirPods will listen for foreign language speech during dialogues, translating it into the user’s preferred language and broadcasting it through the headphones.
#### Limitations and Solutions
Although this feature improves communication, it mainly supports one-sided conversations unless both individuals possess compatible AirPods and software. To remedy this, Apple offers a solution: users can show a transcript of their translated dialogue on their iPhone screen, enabling the other person to read the reply in their own language.
#### Offline Functionality
A key feature of Live Translation is that the translation models are stored locally on the iPhone. This allows the feature to function entirely offline, providing convenience for users without an active internet connection.
In conclusion, Apple’s Live Translation feature signifies a substantial enhancement in real-time communication, accessible to users of compatible AirPods and iPhones, enriching the manner in which individuals engage across language divides.