How to do real-time call translation on your phone

It might not be an everyday occurrence, but have you ever had a phone call from someone that doesn’t speak your language?

We’re not talking about spam calls or anything like that. Perhaps you’ve booked a trip and the hotel is calling you to confirm, but they don’t speak your language. Or maybe you want to book a restaurant or order food while abroad. Whatever the reason, your Android phone can now translate in real-time.

It’s a new AI-powered feature on some of the latest Samsung smartphones that can translate your phone calls in real-time. It works both ways, so you can have a back and forth conversation, and only one person needs a compatible device.

But how does it work, and what are those compatible devices? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Samsung’s Live Translate feature?

Samsung’s live translation feature uses AI to help you hold natural, real-time conversations with people who speak different languages. Whether you’re answering or making a call, Live Translate kicks in with just a few taps, transforming your phone into a bilingual conversationalist.

The feature can handle both sides of the conversation – translating your caller’s words and translating your replies back. You can pick from different voices and languages, so it’s personalised to you.

How to use Live Translate

Using the real-time call translation feature is easy. All you need to do is tap on the button that appears when you make or receive a call. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the Phone app and hit Settings
2. Find Live Translate at the top of the settings menu, marked with an enticing orange dot if it’s your first time. Toggle the slider to enable it
3. Select your preferred language and the language of the person you’re calling. If it’s a new language, your phone might take a moment to download the necessary language pack
4. Decide on the voice’s gender and speaking speed, and whether you want to mute the untranslated voices during the call. We recommend doing this so that there’s not too many voices on the call
5. If you’re dialling, tap Call assist, then Live Translate. If you’re receiving a call, the same steps apply
6. After a quick heads-up that the call will be translated, the conversation flows in both languages, with handy transcripts popping up to keep you in the loop.

Which devices does Live Translate work on?

Live Translate was initially exclusive to the Galaxy S24 series, but it’s was soon expanded to include lots more devices. Here’s the current list of compatible phones and tablets:

• Galaxy S22
• Galaxy S22+
• Galaxy S22 Ultra
• Galaxy S23 
• Galaxy S23+
• Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Galaxy S23 FE
• Galaxy Z Fold 4
• Galaxy Z Fold 5
• Galaxy Z Flip 4
• Galaxy Z Flip 5
• Galaxy Tab S8
• Galaxy Tab S8+
• Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
• Galaxy Tab S9
• Galaxy Tab S9+
• Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

To get access, you’ll need to make sure your device is running One UI 6.1 or later.

What if my phone doesn’t have Live Translate?

Your first option is to buy a new phone. Aside from the Galaxy A phones, all of the other handsets in our guide to the best Samsung phones are compatible.

Alternatively, the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra has a feature known as ‘Call Translator’, which is functionally almost identical to Live Translate.

Provided your phone is relatively modern, it might also be worth waiting. Many Android phone makers are likely to roll out similar features in the coming months and years.

And while it doesn’t work during calls, there are live translation built into apps such as Google Translate and Microsoft Translator. You might want to set it up on a spare device and put your call on loudspeaker to get a similar effect.

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