AirPods 5 Live Translation: How to Use It, Languages, and the iPhone You Need
AirPods 5 live translation works on both models, but only with iPhone 15 Pro or later. How to turn it on, the 11 languages, and what to do on an older iPhone.
On this page
- Do AirPods 5 have live translation?
- What iPhone do you need for AirPods 5 live translation?
- How to use AirPods 5 live translation
- AirPods 5 live translation languages
- AirPods 5 with an older iPhone: how to still get live translation
- AirPods 5 vs other AirPods for live translation
- Apple’s feature or an app?
- Quick answers
Do AirPods 5 have Live Translation? Yes. Apple put translation front and center when it announced AirPods 5 on September 9, 2026, and both AirPods 5 models are on Apple’s support list. You press both stems, and you hear the other person in your language.
The catch is the iPhone. AirPods 5 only bring Apple’s Live Translation when they are paired with an iPhone that runs Apple Intelligence. Many people buying AirPods 5 this fall have an iPhone 13, 14 or 15, and on those phones the feature never shows up. This guide covers both cases.
Short answer: Both AirPods 5 models (with the standard case and with the Wireless Charging Case) support Apple’s Live Translation. You also need an iPhone 15 Pro or later with iOS 26 or later, Apple Intelligence turned on, the Translate app and the latest AirPods firmware. It covers 11 languages. On an older iPhone, AirPods 5 work as normal earbuds, and a third-party app is the way to hear live translations in them.
Do AirPods 5 have live translation?
Yes. Apple’s page Use Live Translation with your AirPods lists “AirPods 5 (both models)” next to AirPods 4 (ANC), AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2. The two models are AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. Both have Active Noise Cancellation, which is part of why translation sounds clear: the original voice is turned down while the translation plays.
The translation itself does not run inside the earbuds. Apple says all processing takes place on the iPhone. That is why the iPhone model decides whether you get the feature.
What iPhone do you need for AirPods 5 live translation?
An iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence: iPhone 15 Pro or later. Here is how common iPhones line up with AirPods 5.
| Your iPhone | Apple’s Live Translation with AirPods 5 | Live translation in AirPods 5 with a third-party app (iOS 18+) |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo | Yes | Yes |
| Any iPhone 17 model, iPhone Air | Yes | Yes |
| Any iPhone 16 model, including 16e | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 15, 15 Plus | No | Yes |
| iPhone 11 to iPhone 14, all models | No | Yes |
| iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation), XS, XS Max, XR | No | Yes |
Buying new AirPods will not add Apple Intelligence to an older iPhone. Our full device list is in Live Translation on iPhone.
How to use AirPods 5 live translation
- Update your iPhone to the latest iOS (iOS 27 is current) and keep the AirPods 5 in their case near the iPhone so the firmware can update. You can check the version in Settings > Bluetooth > the (i) button next to your AirPods > About.
- Turn on Apple Intelligence in Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- Download both languages: Settings > [your AirPods name] > Live Translation (Beta) > choose the languages. Do this on Wi‑Fi before you travel.
- Put in both AirPods 5. Open the Translate app, tap Live, and pick the language being spoken and the language you want to hear.
- Start it. Press and hold the stem on both AirPods at the same time, tap Start Translation, use the Action button, or say “Siri, start Live Translation.”
The other person talks, you hear the translation in your ears, and the text shows on your iPhone. When you answer, the iPhone speaks your reply in their language. If nothing happens, work through our Live Translation not working checklist.
AirPods 5 live translation languages
AirPods 5 use the same language list as every other supported AirPods model. Apple lists 11 languages on its feature availability page.
| Language | Apple’s feature on AirPods 5 | Our app on AirPods 5 |
|---|---|---|
| English (US), English (UK) | Yes | Yes |
| Spanish (Spain) | Yes | Yes |
| Spanish (Mexico) | No | Yes |
| French, German, Italian | Yes | Yes |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | Yes | Yes |
| Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional) | Yes (Simplified not in China mainland) | Yes |
| Japanese, Korean | Yes | Yes |
| Turkish | No | Yes |
| Arabic | No | Yes |
Neither one covers Hindi, Vietnamese, Russian or many other languages yet. Every language, with its status, is on our languages page.
AirPods 5 with an older iPhone: how to still get live translation
If your iPhone is not on Apple’s list, your AirPods 5 can still play live translations. Apps can use Apple’s on-device speech and translation tools, which do not need Apple Intelligence, and send the audio to any headphones.
Our app, Live Translation on Headphones, works like that. The other person speaks, and you hear the translation in your AirPods 5 about a second later while they keep talking. Each phrase shows on screen with its translation. On the Speak tab, you say your reply and the iPhone says it out loud in their language.
- Works offline once a language is downloaded. Nothing is uploaded and there is no account.
- Keeps going with the screen locked, so the phone can stay in your pocket.
- 14 languages in any direction, including Turkish, Arabic and Spanish (Mexico).
AirPods 5 vs other AirPods for live translation
For Apple’s feature, AirPods 5, AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 all do the same job, with the same languages and the same stem gesture. The differences are fit and noise control. AirPods 5 are open-ear and comfortable for long days. AirPods Pro have ear tips that block more of the room, which helps in a loud train station or market.
If you already own AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4 with ANC and a supported iPhone, you do not need AirPods 5 for translation. See AirPods 4 live translation and AirPods Pro 2 live translation for those models.
Apple’s feature or an app?
If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or newer and you need one of Apple’s 11 languages, use Apple’s feature. It is built into iOS and starts with a press of the stems. It is the better choice in that case.
Use an app if your iPhone is older than iPhone 15 Pro, if you need Turkish, Arabic or Mexican Spanish, or if you don’t want to turn on Apple Intelligence.
The app is made by Little Tough LLC, not Apple. For everything about Apple’s feature on every AirPods model, read our guide to Live Translation on AirPods.
Quick answers
Do AirPods 5 have live translation? Yes. Both AirPods 5 models support Apple’s Live Translation when paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or later with iOS 26 or later and Apple Intelligence turned on.
How do I use live translation on AirPods 5? Download your languages in Settings > [your AirPods name] > Live Translation (Beta), open the Translate app, tap Live, choose the languages, then press and hold both stems at the same time.
What languages does AirPods 5 live translation support? English (US and UK), Spanish (Spain), French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). Turkish, Arabic and Mexican Spanish are not included.
Can AirPods 5 live translate to English? Yes. Pick English as the language you want to hear, and choose one of the other supported languages as the one being spoken.
Do AirPods 5 live translation work with iPhone 13 or 14? Not Apple’s feature, because those iPhones lack Apple Intelligence. A third-party app on iOS 18 or later can play live translations in AirPods 5 on them.
Is AirPods 5 live translation free? Yes. Apple’s Live Translation is built into iOS on supported iPhones and AirPods.
Sources: Apple Support: Use Live Translation with your AirPods, Apple Newsroom: Apple introduces AirPods 5 (September 9, 2026), Apple: iOS Feature Availability, Apple Support: Apple Intelligence devices, Apple Support: AirPods firmware, App Store: Live Translation on Headphones.
