Apple has confirmed that the highly anticipated live translation feature will not be available to users in the European Union or to those with an Apple ID registered in a country within the regional bloc.
This measure has caused strong criticism, as the tool was presented as one of the main innovations of the new AirPods Pro 3 and was also planned for AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2.
Live translation allows automatic interpretation of incoming audio in real time, which represents a significant advancement for communication between people who speak different languages. However, according to the official iOS 26 page, this feature, based on Apple Intelligence, the company's artificial intelligence system, will be blocked in the European region at least during the initial stage of its rollout.
AirPods Pro 3
In statements to TechCrunch, Apple explained that the decision is a response to interoperability requirements imposed by the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This regulatory framework requires major tech companies to ensure "fairer" competition conditions by opening their systems and services so they can interact with third-party solutions.
Industry sources indicate that the innovation behind live translation places Apple at a clear advantage over its competitors. In fact, the restriction in Europe is due to the tool being considered too innovative and "disadvantageous" for other companies that do not yet have equivalent developments.
Europa prohibió la traducción en vivo de los AirPods por ser 'demasiado innovadora'
This is not the first time the company has faced delays in the region for regulatory reasons. In 2024, Apple also had to postpone the launch of several artificial intelligence features in the European Union. These features only arrived in March 2025, which caused European users to temporarily fall behind other markets in terms of access to technological innovations.
This way, while consumers in other regions will begin to experience innovation with the next iOS update, Europeans will have to wait until the company manages to comply with the bloc's regulatory framework.
