Live Translation on AirPods Won’t Be Available in Europe Anytime Soon
Apple unveiled its next-generation AirPods Pro 3 at its 2025 flagship event on September 9, highlighting a major new feature: real-time audio translation. But according to TechCrunch, the feature won’t be available in the European Union at launch.
On its official iOS 26 feature page, Apple confirmed that EU-based users or Apple IDs tied to the region will not have access to live translation powered by Apple Intelligence. The capability will eventually roll out across AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Pro 2—but not for European users anytime soon.
The likely reason: the EU’s strict data protection and digital regulations, including the GDPR, Digital Markets Act (DMA), and the newly enforced AI Act. These frameworks impose tougher requirements on how user data is processed, forcing Apple to delay or disable certain AI features in the region.
It’s not the first time Apple has had to hold back features in Europe. Last year, some AI-driven iOS tools were postponed until March 2025 due to regulatory hurdles.
For now, European AirPods users will have to wait to experience Apple’s live translation breakthrough—a feature that could reshape how people communicate across languages.
