![\"AirPods](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AirPods-3-live-translation-scaled.png\"\/ "\\"AirPods")
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Apple\u2019s new Live Translation<\/a> feature has rolled out for the iPhone 15 Pro+ running the latest iOS 26 firmware. Originally announced solely for the newest AirPods Pro 3<\/a>, the feature is now available on the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC<\/a>. Unfortunately, it\u2019s off-limits to millions of European users due to strict EU regulations. According to Apple, \u201cLive Translation with AirPods is not available if users are in the EU and their Apple Account country or region is also in the EU\u201d. While it doesn\u2019t specify the exact reasons, previous grievances between Apple and the EU indicate that the bloc\u2019s Digital Markets Act (DMA) may be to blame.<\/p>\n \nHere we go again\n<\/p>\n Harley Maranan \/ SoundGuys<\/p>\n The AirPods Pro 2 can be used as a hearing aid.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the first time the EU has scrutinized Apple\u2019s conduct and features. For example, a ruling<\/a> by the European Commission on March 19, 2025, specified measures Apple<\/a> must take to comply with certain aspects of its interoperability obligation. These include nine iOS connectivity features used for smartwatches, headphones<\/a>, and TVs. The mandate grants manufacturers and app developers improved access to iPhone interaction features. For example, iOS devices must now allow connected third-party devices to access notifications, allow background app execution, conduct Wi-Fi file transfers, and support media casting similar to AirPlay.<\/p>\n As you can imagine, Apple isn\u2019t happy about this. The EU\u2019s regulations aim to dismantle Apple\u2019s walled garden<\/a> by allowing seamless integration between iPhones and third-party accessories. Responding to the commission\u2019s specifications, the company told our sister site, Android Authority<\/a>, that \u201cToday\u2019s decisions wrap us in red tape, slowing down Apple\u2019s ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give away our new features for free to companies who don\u2019t have to play by the same rules\u201d. Apple clearly considers interoperability a danger to its products and services in Europe, despite the obvious benefits to consumers.<\/p>\n The European Commission’s Digital Markets Act aims to end the monopoly of tech giants like Apple.<\/p>\n Additionally, on April 23, 2025, Apple was fined<\/a> \u20ac500 million ($591 million) for breaching its anti-steering obligation under the European Commission\u2019s DMA. This stipulates that app developers should be able to inform, steer, and allow customers to make purchases when distributing their apps on the Apple App Store. However, the company was found to have failed to comply with this obligation. This was due to several restrictions imposed by Apple that prevent app developers from directly informing consumers of offers.<\/p>\n This follows delays to the rollout of Apple Intelligence across the EU. Launched in the US in 2024, the feature remained unavailable in the European Union until April 2025. Apple again blamed<\/a> the DMA, stating that regulatory uncertainties and concerns around interoperability requirements could force the company to compromise the integrity of its products in ways that risk user privacy and data security. That\u2019s not to mention the regionally dependent regulatory approval requirements for the AirPods Pro 2\u2019s Hearing Aid<\/a> feature. This remains unavailable in major economies, including France, Spain, and Canada.<\/p>\n \nEuropean FOMO\n<\/p>\n You must accept the end-user license agreement to access the Sony Headphones Connect app.<\/p>\n The irony of Apple\u2019s Live Translation feature being unavailable in a continent with freedom of movement and 24 popular languages won\u2019t be lost on anyone. The feature enables seamless, hands-free, cross-language communication by using the Apple Intelligence AI suite. It is most powerful when both conversationists wear compatible AirPods<\/a> with Live Translation enabled. Doing so allows active noise cancellation<\/a> (ANC) to automatically lower the volume of the other speaker, focusing instead on the translated audio. Conversations with non-AirPods users also work and can be displayed horizontally on a compatible iPhone. This shows translations in each person\u2019s preferred language.<\/p>\n That visiting Americans and Brits can use the feature in the EU will no doubt rub salt in the wounds. This is because, like the U.S., the UK no longer faces the same regulatory hurdles as the EU. That\u2019s not to say that UK watchdogs don\u2019t have Apple in their crosshairs, though. For example, the UK\u2019s Competition and Markets Authority<\/a> stated in July that Apple and Google hold an \u201ceffective duopoly\u201d with their mobile platforms. It may only be a matter of time until they are designated in the UK with strategic market status (SMS). This could force both companies to open up to the markets in the same way as the European Commission\u2019s DMA.<\/p>\n Apple Live Translation is currently available in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.<\/p>\n That may be a far cry from today, though. In the meantime, consumers with an up-to-date iPhone and compatible AirPods outside of the EU can converse in English (UK and U.S.), French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish with Apple Live Translation. The feature will also support Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) later this year, although Apple has yet to set a date for this.<\/p>\n Live Translation in Messages will also work on supported iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This feature is compatible with Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, and SE 3 when paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone. Similarly, Live Translation in Phone and FaceTime supports English (UK and U.S.), French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish. But with other companies already successfully offering live translation features in the EU, should Europeans even bother waiting for Apple?<\/p>\n \nAn Apple in a powerful Galaxy\n<\/p>\n The Galaxy Buds3 Pro support live language translation with newer Samsung phones.<\/p>\n Samsung\u2019s<\/a> Live Translate feature was first announced in November 2023. Powered by the company\u2019s Galaxy AI tool, it requires a recent Galaxy smartphone or tablet running software version One UI 6.1. What\u2019s handy, though, is that the feature works locally on your phone. So, you don\u2019t need to worry about what device the other person is using, even if it\u2019s a landline. It also doesn\u2019t require a network connection \u2014 once you\u2019ve downloaded the relevant language pack, you\u2019re all set.<\/p>\n Better still is the ability to use this feature with the Samsung Galaxy Buds3<\/a>, Buds3 Pro, and Buds3 FE earbuds. These use Listening Mode and Conversation Mode to translate foreign languages in different ways. For example, users can open the built-in Interpreter app on their compatible Samsung smartphone to listen to, pause, and replay instant translations through the buds. The app also provides a text transcript to accompany the translation. This is ideal for one-way conversations, such as during guided tours, lectures, and international conferences.<\/p>\n Samsung’s Galaxy AI Live Translate feature is already supported across the European Union.<\/p>\n Conversely, Samsung\u2019s Live Translate Conversation Mode provides interpretation for conversations in both directions. This new Galaxy AI option works directly within the phone app and others, including WhatsApp, Google Meet, Telegram, and Instagram. However, Live Translate for phone calls is not enabled by default. You must navigate to the Phone app, then Settings > Live Translate\u00a0to turn it on. Once enabled, you can pick your language, choose one voice among two, change the speech speed, and mute your own voice. While the feature originally supported 13 languages, Samsung now provides 20 options. These include Arabic, Korean, Chinese, and German.<\/p>\n![\"AirPods](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/airpods-pro-2-hearing-aid-setup-guide-settings-page-scaled.jpg\"\/ "\\"airpods")
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<\/p>\n![\"Samsung](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Samsung-Galaxy-flip6-Conversation-mode-with-Galaxy-Buds3-Pro-scaled.jpg\"\/ "\\"Samsung")
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