Google Translate now uses Gemini for nuanced translations, plus a beta of live translation in headphones. Rolling out on iOS and Android with learning tools.
© A. Krivonosov
Google has formally upgraded Google Translate, weaving in the capabilities of the Gemini model and markedly improving translation quality. The company says the new version handles subtle shades of meaning more confidently, including idioms, colloquial expressions, and slang—areas that have often tripped up automated translation. The focus on nuance suggests a bid to move beyond literal word swaps toward speech that feels more human.
The refreshed Translate is already available in Google Search and in the mobile app on iOS and Android. The rollout began on December 13 in select countries, where users can translate between English and nearly twenty languages, including Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, and German. Google frames it as a next-generation approach built on its latest AI advances.
One standout addition is a beta of live translation in headphones. It lets you hear speech translated in real time while preserving the speaker’s intonation, rhythm, and accent, which makes the result sound more natural and easier to follow. To try it, connect your headphones, open the Google Translate app, and tap the Live translate button. The beta has started reaching Android users in the United States, Mexico, and India, supporting more than 70 languages; in 2026 the feature will expand to other countries and to iOS. If it performs as promised, on-the-go conversations should feel noticeably less stiff.
Google is also broadening language-learning tools inside Translate. Users now receive more detailed feedback with prompts based on speaking practice, and they can track progress—and keep motivation up—by recording learning streaks. These tools are becoming available in nearly twenty additional countries and regions. For casual learners, that gentle structure can be the nudge that turns good intentions into routine.