Google has launched a beta update to its Translate app that turns any pair of headphones into real-time translation earbuds. The feature, powered by Gemini, delivers live translations of conversations, speeches, TV shows, and movies. Users sync their Android device with headphones through the app. Gemini preserves the speaker’s tone, emphasis, and cadence. Both live and text translations localize idioms rather than translating them literally.
The beta became available today for Android devices in the United States, Mexico, and India. It supports more than 70 languages, including English, Spanish, German, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, standard Arabic, Palestinian Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, and Zulu. Google plans iOS support and expansion to additional countries next year.
Separately, Gemini-powered text translations launched in the United States and India, covering 20 languages such as Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, and German. Users access these on Android, iOS, and the web.
The update rivals a feature Apple introduced with iOS 26 in June. Apple’s live in-ear speech translation works on select iPhones with Apple Intelligence, but audio translations require specific AirPods models and support only nine languages: Mandarin Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and European Spanish.
Google also enhanced the Translate app’s language-learning tools to mimic Duolingo. Courses now provide improved feedback and daily progress tracking. Support expanded to nearly 20 new countries, including Germany, India, Sweden, and Taiwan.
New courses for English speakers cover German and Portuguese. English-language courses added for speakers of Bengali, Mandarin, Dutch, German, Hindi, Italian, Romanian, and Swedish.
