The best way to test the AirPods' transformation was to show it a Chinese soap opera, which proved to be the perfect testing ground.

With iOS 26.2 beta, one of Apple Intelligence's most anticipated features has finally arrived in Europe: real-time translation...

With the arrival of iOS 26.2 BOA, one of the most anticipated applications has arrived in Europe: the real-time version of Airpods.We talked about how it works, but the main question is: how can it be trusted?To eliminate any doubts, I wanted to conduct a special stress test.Use these new features to watch Chinese opera Sech.

Like other Asian languages, Chinese can be a challenge for Spanish speakers. Its structure, intonation, and lack of an alphabet similar to ours is a challenge for any translation system, especially one that promises to work directly in your ear in real time. If we add the speed and drama of a soap opera, the experiment is a success.

Preparation and the first obstacle

The function, officially called Real-Time Translation, is intended to make personal conversations easier.Not being able to translate the audio of a video you're watching on your iPhone.So for my test I needed two devices: the soap opera on the Mac with the speakers at normal volume, as if someone in the room was talking, while my AirPods were connected to the iPhone, which was responsible for listening and translating.

In the video with this article you can see how it works: Interpretation appears on the screen in real time, while I listen to them at the same time through irpods and the voice of Siri.

First Contact is the series’ opener.Here, the AirPods translation barely survives.He managed to capture a few individual words and incoherent poetic phrases, such as "Fire in the Rain."To be honest, sometimes I find the lyrics of "Bad Bunny" difficult to understand in my language, so I didn't expect that Chinese songs can do wonders.

A plot that supports against all odds

When the dialogues started, I was surprised.Even though the actors spoke quickly, the translation worked surprisingly well.I followed the main plot thread without any problems.It is true that I felt that I missed nuances or side conversations, but the system was able to convey the essentials to me with a slight delay of one or two sentences.In addition, the Translate app on the iPhone saves the transcription, which allows you to check what was said if you get lost.

Keep in mind that the feature is optimized for real-world interactions where people tend to vocalize more and speak slower when they notice the opposite;fast, coincidental opposite.fast, matches the opposite.

A glimpse into the not-so-distant future

There was a moment while watching that made me think about the future.Posters and text in Chinese appeared on the screen.My brain, already immersed in the experience, wished for a moment that the letters could also be translated.It was a small reminder of where we were headed.

This AirPods feature is just the first step.It makes us imagine future Apple glasses, not Vision Pro, but glasses for everyday use that combine this real-time audio translation with visual text translation.Something we can already do with the iPhone camera and translation app, but integrated in a more natural way into our daily lives.

The important thing is how you try it yourself

In case you were wondering, you need some fancy hardware for this to work.This is because it depends on Apple's expertise and technology.You will need:

- An Apple-compatible iPhone, i.e. iPhone 15 version or any model and Air range from iPhone 16 or 17.

- Some wireless components with H2 chip.This includes AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation.

- Software required is IOS 26.2 (Beta available) and the app that converts it.

Then open the translation app, go to the "real-time" tab and download the languages ​​you want.This allows the entire process to be performed on the device ensuring privacy.

Verdict: The beta feature more than delivers

After this test, my satisfaction is really great.Does it replace professional dubbing?No way.But the magic of flying is that everything happens in real time, on the device, with privacy in mind and without relying on the cloud.This is the closest thing to science fiction Babel.

Although the songs resist this and there is a slight delay, the main goal (understanding the conversation) is achieved.It might not be ideal for a technical presentation yet, but for navigating a trip, ordering at a restaurant, or just chatting with someone, it's a very good, fantastic feature.On the other hand, it's interesting how AirPods have evolved from a tool to disconnect from the world to a bridge that connects cultures.

In |How to Install iOS 26.2 Beta on iPhone: Step by Step Do It Safely and Officially

In |now how to test AirPods real-time translation and which models are compatible.You don't need to buy new ones, not even the most expensive ones.

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