Customers of Apple in the European Union (EU) will not have access to the real-time translation feature on the AirPods Pro 3, which was unveiled earlier this week, because of regulatory issues.
Politico has stated that the iPhone manufacturer is restricting access to live translation following the European Commission’s March conclusions regarding its Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The news site clarified that the March ruling demands Apple to ensure certain features work with rival devices.
TechCrunch stated that Apple responded by saying other legal obligations regarding user data protection did not influence its choice to disable the translation feature.
Apple’s support page indicates that live translation with AirPods “is unavailable if you are located in the EU and your Apple account’s country or region is also in the EU.”
Real-time translation on the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, and AirPods Pro 3 necessitates an iPhone with Apple Intelligence operating iOS 26, set to launch on 15 September. The latest AirPods 3 are set to be released on 19 September.
Last year, Apple delayed launching features like its Apple Intelligence generative AI tools in the EU because of regulatory worries regarding the bloc’s DMA regulations.
A spokesperson for the European Commission informed Mobile World Live that the action “is a one-sided choice by Apple.”
The Commission hasn’t been approached, and we cannot grasp the specifics of Apple’s issues. The DMA does not hinder the introduction of new products in EU markets. Conversely, it maintains innovation and the ability to choose freely.
Richard Windsor, founder of Radio Free Mobile, informed Recon Click Media House that the translation service employs models on the iPhone to interpret what the AirPods Pro 3 capture and communicate it to the user “through voice while lowering the speaker’s voice volume for enhanced clarity.”
“The responses from AirPods Pro 3 users can be shown as text on the iPhone display, or if both individuals have AirPods Pro 3, a genuine conversation can occur,” he clarified.
