Timekettle W4: Babelfish earbuds aim to break down language barriers with AI support

Even without knowledge of foreign languages, menus and signs can be easily read abroad thanks to image recognition and translation. Furthermore, dialogue functions in translation programs even make it possible to communicate more or less fluently with locals. In this context, Timekettle may already be familiar to attentive readers: The company offers certain translation tools, one of which we have already reviewed.

At IFA 2025, the manufacturer will present the W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds, new wireless earbuds designed to enable fluid communication across language barriers. The devices are said to be user friendly, even for those who aren't particularly tech-savvy. Each conversation partner wears a pair of earbuds, their own speech is recorded, and a translation is played back to the other person. According to the manufacturer, the devices have a translation accuracy of 98%, with a delay of just 0.2 seconds. Thanks to the use of bone conduction, background noise is said to have no negative impact on the results.

Babel OS 2.0 is an AI-driven translation system that uses language prediction and user-defined lexicons, intelligently correcting homophones, for example. A voice clone function is planned for 2026, which should make the experience even more personalized. 42 languages ​​and 95 accents are supported, allowing communication with over 95% of the world's population. A battery life of up to four hours of translation without recharging is advertised. The earbuds are now available directly via the manufacturer for a price of $349.