Google rolls out two major updates for the Translate app to end the week, beginning with multitasking capabilities for Android. Android users can now continue translating speech in the background, giving them the freedom of opening other apps or locking their device. For iPhone users, Google says they now have support for real-time translations via earbuds or by holding their phone to their ears.

Google wants to end the week with an update for its Translate app across its supported devices. The company says Android users will find capabilities flexible enough for their day-to-day. This morning (Sept 4), Google says its latest features rolling out for Android and iOS will assist users with translating over 70 languages in "near real-time." Users on Android reportedly hold live translation sessions that last "longer than five minutes." Google states the Translate app can now continue translating even while in the background.

This lets users hop into other apps and multitask or lock their phone. Google Translate will continue working, ready to reveal its translated content for you when you're ready. This is rolling out for Android users today. Google says it's preparing an update for Apple iOS users, but that is "coming soon." If you have an iOS device, this late-week update brings translation capabilities through a connected earpiece. Android users received it in a previous update.

Google Translate isn't among the apps that always get major updates, but the company has been improving it little by little. In a similar vein to Duolingo, the Translate app added "streaks" for users practicing new languages. What's more, this earlier patch expanded the beta for Android's real-time translation support while wearing headphones. Gemini's been brought into the fold heavily for the translation app. It's the AI's speech-to-speech capabilities that get the job done.