Head to head with Apple: Google launched simultaneous translation through all types of headphones

Google’s innovation is based on using the existing translation application, without the need for dedicated smart headphones or additional equipment. The user connects normal headphones, opens the application, clicks on the Live translate option and hears a real-time translation into the language of his choice. According to the company, the system preserves the tone, emphasis and rhythm of the original speaker, so it is easier to understand the context and also identify who is speaking at any given moment.

The beta version is now available for Android users in the United States, Mexico and India, and supports more than 70 languages. The feature works with any type of headphones, wired or wireless, and is not limited to a specific model. Google states that the intention is to expand availability to iOS and other countries during 2026, but at this stage it is a phased launch.

At the same time as the live translation, Google integrates advanced capabilities of Gemini in the Translate application, which aim to improve the quality of the textual translation. According to the company, the upgrade enables a more natural and accurate translation, especially in phrases with complex cultural or linguistic meaning. An example of this is the translation of slang, idioms or local expressions, which are not always understandable in a literal translation. The system analyzes the context and tries to convey the meaning and not just the words themselves.

This update is available now in the United States and India, and focuses on translating between English and nearly 20 languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and German. It is available in the app on both Android and iOS as well as the web version.

Meanwhile, Google continues to expand the language learning tools integrated into the Translate application. These tools, which are mainly intended for practicing speaking and understanding, have been expanded to almost 20 other countries, including Germany, India, Sweden and Taiwan. English speakers can practice German, and Bengali, Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, German, Hindi, Italian, Romanian and Swedish speakers can practice English. The company also added more detailed feedback on the practice, as well as an index that shows how many days in a row the user practices, an element that brings the experience closer to dedicated language learning apps.

On the other hand, Apple is not left behind. At the end of the week, the company began to operate simultaneous translation in several cities in Europe and Japan, as part of expanding the translation capabilities of its devices. The parallel moves illustrate a clear trend, simultaneous translation is no longer seen as a tool for casual travelers only, but as a basic element that connects people, cultures and business markets.