Live Translation on iPhone 15: Pro Models Yes, iPhone 15 and 15 Plus No
Live Translation on iPhone 15: it works on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, not on iPhone 15 or 15 Plus. Why, how to turn it on, and what to use if yours is left out.
Does Live Translation work on iPhone 15? It depends on which iPhone 15 you have. The iPhone 15 family is the one place where Apple split the line in two, so two phones bought the same week can give different answers.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support Apple’s Live Translation. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus do not. Below is why, how to set it up on a Pro, and what owners of the other two can use instead.
Short answer: Live Translation works on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max with iOS 26 or later, Apple Intelligence turned on and supported AirPods. It does not work on iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus, because Apple Intelligence is not available on them, and no iOS update changes that. On those two phones you can use the Translate app’s Conversation mode, or an app that plays live translations in any headphones on iOS 18 or later.
Does live translation work on iPhone 15?
Apple’s Live Translation with AirPods page asks for “iPhone 15 Pro or later” with Apple Intelligence turned on. Apple’s list of Apple Intelligence iPhones names iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, then every iPhone 16 model and newer. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are not on it.
The difference is inside the phone. The Pro models use the A17 Pro chip with 8 GB of memory. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus use the A16 Bionic chip with 6 GB. Apple Intelligence needs the newer chip and the extra memory, so the base models stop short.
| Model | Chip | Apple Intelligence? | Apple’s Live Translation? |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 | A16 Bionic | No | No |
| iPhone 15 Plus | A16 Bionic | No | No |
| iPhone 15 Pro | A17 Pro | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | A17 Pro | Yes | Yes |
Not sure which one you have? Open Settings > General > About and look at Model Name. A quick visual check also works: the Pro models have three rear cameras, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have two.
Live translation on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
If you have a Pro, you are set on the phone side. You still need three other things, and most “it’s missing” reports come from one of them.
| Requirement | Where to check it |
|---|---|
| iOS 26 or later (iOS 27 is current) | Settings > General > Software Update |
| Apple Intelligence turned on | Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri |
| Supported AirPods with the latest firmware | Settings > Bluetooth > (i) next to your AirPods > About |
| Translate app installed | App Store, search “Translate” by Apple |
Supported AirPods are AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2. AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods 4 without ANC and the original AirPods Pro will not start it, even on a 15 Pro. Apple Intelligence also needs free space: Apple says up to 8 GB on this model, so a full 128 GB phone may need some cleanup first.
How to use live translation on iPhone 15 Pro Max
The steps are the same on the 15 Pro and the 15 Pro Max.
- Put in your AirPods and make sure they are connected.
- Download the languages first: Settings > [your AirPods name] > Live Translation (Beta), then pick the language the other person speaks and your own.
- Open the Translate app and tap Live.
- Choose the language being spoken and the language you want to hear.
- Tap Start Translation. You can also press and hold both AirPods stems at once (AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 2 or later), or say “Siri, start Live Translation.”
One handy extra on the 15 Pro: it was the first iPhone with an Action button. Set it to open Translate in Settings > Action Button, and a single press gets you there. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus still have the old mute switch.
Apple’s AirPods feature covers 11 languages, including English, Spanish (Spain), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil) and Chinese. If it still won’t appear, work through our AirPods Live Translation not working checklist.
Live translation on iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
Both phones run iOS 26 and iOS 27, so the update screen can make it look like the feature should be there. It won’t be. There is no Apple Intelligence section in Settings, and the Translate app has no Live tab with AirPods.
That holds no matter which AirPods you pair. AirPods Pro 3 on an iPhone 15 Plus still cannot run Apple’s Live Translation, because the phone is the missing piece.
What you can do is use an app that does the listening and translating itself. Our app, Live Translation on Headphones, uses Apple’s on-device speech and translation tools, which do not need Apple Intelligence. The other person talks, and you hear the translation in your earbuds about a second later while they keep going. Each phrase shows on screen too, with its translation underneath.
| Your setup | Apple’s Live Translation | Live Translation on Headphones |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 or 15 Plus + any AirPods | No | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Pro + AirPods Pro 2, Pro 3, 4 ANC, 5 or Max 2 | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Pro + AirPods 2, 3 or 4 without ANC | No | Yes |
| Any iPhone 15 + Beats or other headphones | No | Yes |
| Any iPhone 15, Turkish, Arabic or Spanish (Mexico) | No | Yes |
The app works offline once a language is downloaded, sends no audio or text off the phone, and keeps translating with the screen locked. For your reply, the Speak tab says what you said out loud in their language through the iPhone speaker. It is made by Little Tough LLC, not Apple.
What already works on every iPhone 15
Even without Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are not stuck. Apple’s Translate app has a Conversation mode: tap Conversation, pick two languages, and take turns speaking while the phone reads each line aloud. Camera translation in the same app handles menus and signs.
It is good for a short question at a ticket desk. It is less good for a long talk, because each person waits for the other to finish, and everyone around you hears the translation.
Which option fits you
You have an iPhone 15 Pro and supported AirPods and only need Apple’s 11 languages: use Apple’s feature. It is built into iOS and works well.
You have an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus, older AirPods, other headphones, or need Turkish, Arabic or Mexican Spanish: an app is the way to hear live translation in your ears today. A new phone would fix the iPhone part, but not the language part.
For the full iPhone list, from iPhone XS to iPhone Duo, see Live Translation on iPhone. If you are on an older phone, our iPhone 13 page covers the same choice.
Quick answers
Does iPhone 15 have live translation? Not Apple’s Live Translation. Only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support it, because they are the only iPhone 15 models with Apple Intelligence.
Does live translation work on iPhone 15 Pro Max? Yes, with iOS 26 or later, Apple Intelligence turned on, the Translate app and supported AirPods such as AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3.
Does live translation work on iPhone 15 Plus? No. The iPhone 15 Plus uses the A16 Bionic chip and does not support Apple Intelligence. A third-party app on iOS 18 or later can still play translations in your headphones.
Can iPhone 15 use live translation with AirPods? Not with Apple’s feature, even with AirPods Pro 3. An app like Live Translation on Headphones plays live translations in any AirPods on an iPhone 15.
Will iOS 27 add Live Translation to iPhone 15? No. iOS 27 runs on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, but Apple Intelligence features still start at iPhone 15 Pro.
Is Apple Live Translation free on iPhone 15 Pro? Yes. It is built into iOS, with no extra purchase, on supported iPhones and AirPods.
Sources: Apple Support: Use Live Translation with your AirPods, Apple Support: How to get Apple Intelligence, Apple: iOS Feature Availability, Apple Support: Update your AirPods firmware, App Store: Live Translation on Headphones.
