Timekettle Unveils W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds: Breaking Language Barriers with Advanced Translation Technology

Timekettle's new translation earbuds are made for sharing

Timekettle has announced a new pair of real-time translation headphones called the W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds. They use bone conduction technology that helps improve accuracy in loud environments. Available now for $349 in navy blue and sandy gold color options, the earbuds are a more affordable alternative to the company's $449 over-the-ear W4 Pro released earlier this year that looked like the clunky Bluetooth headsets that were popular a few decades ago. Timekettle says its new W4 AI are instead "optimized for casual use" with a design that looks more like modern wireless earbuds, but with a much larger stem. The reason the W4 AI aren't as compact as other wireless earbuds like Apple's AirPods is because they contain additional electronics to run Timekettle's Babel OS 2.0 real-time translation software that's powered by AI LLM models. The company says the system "instantly converts speech between 42 languages and 95 accents" with up to 98 percent accuracy thanks to its ability to understand and anticipate the context of what you're saying so it can differentiate between similar sounding words. As with the W4 Pro, you can also create your own custom lexicon for the new W4 AI so it doesn't get confused when talking to someone about skibidi toilets. To further improve its translation accuracy the W4 AI includes a new feature not seen on Timekettle's other products. The earbuds use a combination of a standard microphone and a sensor that detects voice vibrations through the bones in your head to more accurately recognize what you're saying, even in loud environments. The bone conduction sensor also improves sensitivity so you can talk quieter, potentially allowing for more discreet conversations when talking in public. Battery life is rated at up to four hours of continuous translation or up to 10 hours when paired with the W4 AI's charging case that splits in two with an earbud on either side. They can also be used as standard wireless earbuds when you just want to listen to music which boosts battery life to up to eight hours, or 18 with a top-off in their charging case.

These new AI earbuds offer real-time translation of 42 languages - different accents too

They use AI and bone conduction technology for clear translation. Timekettle adds another translation earbud to its product lineup, announcing the W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds at IFA 2025. Also: The 4 coolest gadgets I've seen at IFA 2025 (including ones you can actually buy) The W4 earbuds use bone conduction technology to produce and capture more precise sound. According to Timekettle, the W4 earbuds can help users communicate with 95% of the world, making them a dedicated translation device for international professionals. Timekettle's press release said the W4 earbuds can translate 42 languages in 95 accents with 98% accuracy and 0.2 seconds of audio latency. Instead of using traditional audio that can be muffled or overtaken by other voices in busy environments, the W4 earbuds use bone conduction technology. Also: I put my Shokz away within seconds of testing these bone conduction headphones According to Timekettle, the bone conduction technology uses the vibrations transmitted through your bones when you speak to deliver dialogue more accurately to the W4 earbuds. This technology should also help improve translation accuracy when the speaker talks quietly, which should help keep communication clear when two people try to have a discreet, intimate conversation in public. Also: Google can translate your voice in real time now - try it free Timekettle's W4 earbuds are equipped with the company's Bebl OS 2.0 translation software that uses AI large language models. The company said the large language models have higher accuracy rates because they can understand and predict the context of the speaker's words, avoiding homophonous errors. Users can also create a custom vocabulary, so the earbuds are aware of slang and colloquial terms. The W4 earbuds promise four hours of continuous translation and up to 10 hours with the charging case. They're now available for $349 in Midnight Blue and Sandy Gold.

Timekettle's new Interpreter earbuds aim tobreak down languages barriers in real time

Anker launches a tiny AI voice recorder with a hefty price tag At IFA 2025, Timekettle unveiled its latest gadget that sounds like something straight out of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." The new W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds, powered by the company's Babel OS 2.0 software, promise near-instant, real-time translation across 42 languages and 95 accents -- basically a modern take on the Babelfish from Douglas Adams' book, without the need to stick a slimy, alien bug in your ear. Bridging communities across the world One step closer to universal understanding Where previous Timekettle devices leaned more toward professional use cases -- like the chunkier W4 Pro -- the W4 is built for everyday travelers and casual users. They look much closer to your average set of wireless earbuds, though the longer stem hides a lot of extra tech. At $349, they're also $100 cheaper than the Pro model. The W4's standout feature is that it uses bone conduction to pick up speech by detecting vibrations from your jaw. Combined with a traditional microphone, this dual system lets the earbuds distinguish your voice from the surrounding chaos of an airport terminal or a trade show floor. It also means quieter speech can still be recognized which is handy if you're trying to keep conversations discreet in public. Timekettle claims the system can translate with 98% accuracy and a lag of just 0.2 seconds. Babel OS, the company's translation platform, doesn't just swap words directly. It uses large language models to parse context and clean up homophones, so it can tell the difference between "write" and "right" without tripping up mid-sentence. Custom lexicons are supported, too, in case your conversations veer into slang or meme territory. Battery life lands at four hours of continuous translation, or up to 10 when paired with the charging case. If you just want to use them as regular earbuds, they'll stretch to eight hours, or 18 with the case. They also double as high-quality music headphones, which is more than you can say for the fictional fish. Available in navy blue and sandy gold, the W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds are on sale starting today through Timekettle's website and Amazon. Whether they truly make cross-language conversations feel "natural and effortless," as the company's CEO promises, will come down to real-world testing. But if they work as advertised, the W4 could be the closest thing we've had yet to universal translation on demand. Timekettle W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds The W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds are designed for seamless, real-time multilingual communication. They use a mic and bone conduction sensor to improve the accuracy of its voice recognition. Expand Collapse

From Babelfish to Babel OS: Timekettle W4 Introduces the Future of Translation at IFA 2025

Timekettle made a commanding impression at IFA 2025 on the opening day, with the launch of its W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds. This device brings humanity one step closer to the sci-fi dream of the Babelfish. With a packed booth, a standing-room-only launch event audience, and a lively panel of experts, the atmosphere was filled with awe and curiosity about the future of communication. CEO Leal Tian opened the showcase with both vision and detail, explaining the function and design of the W4. He revealed how the bone-voiceprint sensor begins capturing vibrations before speech even leaves the body, enabling the system to accelerate translation and minimize lag. This innovation, paired with Babel OS 2.0's context-aware AI, allows the W4 to achieve 98% accuracy with a near-zero delay. Tian also demonstrated a forthcoming upgrade that enables the translator to replicate the speaker's unique tone of voice, preserving emotion and nuance across languages and the speaker's individual experience. Experts from various fields joined Timekettle executives to explore the broader impact of the device. Professor Alan Akbik from Humboldt University noted the device's potential to support underrepresented languages, while Dr. Lisa Ernst stressed its role in promoting empathy and cultural understanding. Professor Thomas Kosch emphasized the need for transparency in AI systems, warning against over-reliance, and Timekettle CTO Ryan Shi described the engineering team's design process for condensing professional-grade translation into a compact, consumer-friendly earbud. The discussion looked ahead to future developments. Panelists and executives highlighted the importance of mid-sentence translation and managing overlapping conversations, aligning with Tian's vision of reaching an "L4" or "L5" stage, where communication flows smoothly in chaotic group settings. They explored AI interpreters as tools to accelerate language learning, acting as scaffolds while speakers use their native languages. The introduction of confidence ratings for translations was also discussed, which could help users decide when to rely on AI results and when to verify them, enhancing trust and transparency. The Timekettle booth buzzed with live demonstrations. Guests tried the W4 and other devices as a large multi-language display translated spoken input into German, Spanish, Chinese, English, and French in real-time. The day ended with extended discussions between participants and the team, reflecting strong interest and enthusiasm for the technology.