A recently circulated press release by Samsung India has led to a commotion amongst consumers and media about an alleged new update for Galaxy Buds. The announcement claimed that an OTA update would enable Galaxy AI features like Live Translate and Interpreter on Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Buds 2, and Buds FE. Contrary to these statements, such an update does not exist, and the press release appears to have been a marketing mishap that has sown more confusion than clarity.
Miscommunication and Reality
It was mistakenly believed that the Galaxy AI features could function on Galaxy earbuds independently without the need for a Galaxy S24. This information has been widely misinterpreted, leading to erroneous reports. To rectify the misunderstanding, it is important to explain how these features actually operate in conjunction with the Galaxy S24 and compatible Bluetooth headsets.
Understanding Galaxy AI’s True Functionality
In reality, the Live Translate feature works with any capable Bluetooth headset that is recognized on a call screen. This functionality does not require specific Galaxy Buds nor any special update to utilize. For instance, Live Translate can be used on a Galaxy S24 paired with Xbox Wireless headphones without the need for the Galaxy Wearable app. The app can even be removed entirely from the device without affecting the feature’s usability.
Moreover, AI tools for transcription and summarization in the Voice Recorder app are compatible with any wireless headphones, as long as the option to use the Bluetooth microphone is enabled in the app’s settings. However, the Interpreter tool remains an exception, being restricted to Galaxy Buds by default for reasons not entirely clear. Yet, this too does not necessitate any updates to the Galaxy S24 or the Galaxy Buds firmware.
Testing these features and Samsung’s claims did not require any firmware updates to the Galaxy S24+ nor the original Galaxy Buds Pro, which were humorously not even included in the misleading promotional content by Samsung India.
The incorrect marketing campaign by Samsung India has led to a need for clarification about the Galaxy Buds’ capabilities and the actual functionalities of the Galaxy AI features.
