Apple's Live Translation Feature for AirPods Excluded from EU Launch

Apple's new Live Translation feature for AirPods, a key highlight of the AirPods Pro 3, will not be available to users in the European Union at launch. This restriction applies to users physically located in the EU and those with EU-based Apple IDs.

The feature, which enables real-time translation of incoming audio, is powered by Apple Intelligence and is also set to be available on AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. However, due to the EU's stringent data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the upcoming EU AI Act, Apple has decided to withhold the feature's rollout in the region.

Live Translation allows users to communicate naturally with speakers of different languages, with translations displayed on an iPhone or heard through AirPods. Initially, it supports translations between English, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish, with plans to add more languages later this year.

The feature requires AirPods updated with the latest firmware and an iPhone running iOS 26 or later. While the exact timeline for when the EU restriction will be lifted remains unclear, Apple is likely working to ensure compliance with EU regulations before enabling the feature for EU users.