IFA 2023

IFA 2025 News

Timekettle has expanded its translator range with the launch of the W4 AI Translator Earbuds at IFA Berlin 2025. The brand is best known for pushing multilingual communication technology, with recent products including the W4 Pro AI Interpreter Earbuds and the Fluentalk T1 handheld translator.

The new W4 aims to offer a lighter, more versatile option while keeping advanced features found in its professional-grade hardware.

Timekettle has steadily built a reputation for practical translation gadgets that serve travellers, professionals, and international teams. From handheld devices like the Fluentalk T1 to the over-ear W4 Pro, the company has worked to cover different use cases. The W4 AI Translator Earbuds sit between these two extremes, combining the portability of everyday earphones with translation tools designed for real-world conversations.

The W4 also continues Timekettle’s focus on shared translation. By allowing two people to use a single pair, the device can facilitate quick conversations on the move without requiring additional equipment. It is a simple addition, but one that reflects how these devices are likely to be used in practice.

two black rectangular objects with a green light. Timekettle W4 AI Translator Earbuds. {Tech} for Travel. https://techfortravel.co.uk
Credit Timekettle

Timekettle W4 AI Translator Earbuds IFA 2025

A key difference between the W4 AI and other models is its bone-conduction voiceprint sensor system. Instead of relying only on microphones that capture external sound, the earbuds pick up speech vibrations directly from the user’s bones.

This improves performance in noisy environments such as stations, airports, or exhibition halls, where background noise often makes conventional earbuds unreliable. It also makes them easier to share. Because they do not need to sit deep inside the ear canal, the earbuds are cleaner and more comfortable to hand over during a back-and-forth conversation.

The W4 runs on Babel OS 2.0, Timekettle’s updated software platform. This uses large language models to provide more accurate and context-aware translations. According to the company, it is particularly effective at handling homophones and words that are often mistranslated in conversation.

The result, it says, is a more natural flow when speaking across languages.

Performance claims include 98% translation accuracy and a response time of 0.2 seconds, reducing the pauses that often disrupt real-time translation.

a pair of wireless headphones. Timekettle W4 AI Translator Earbuds. {Tech} for Travel. https://techfortravel.co.uk
Credit Timekettle

IFA 2025, running from 5–9 September at Messe Berlin, is Europe’s biggest annual consumer technology show. It’s a key date for travel-tech enthusiasts, where brands unveil new gadgets, smart luggage, and connected gear designed to make life on the move easier.

The event welcomes both industry and the public, offering hands-on time with products that could transform your next trip.

The earbuds support 42 languages and 95 accents, covering a significant portion of the global user base. Modes include one-on-one translation and shared use, with instant pairing triggered by opening the case.


Designed for seamless, real-time multilingual communication, the W4 revolutionizes language interpretation with its innovative dual-voice pickup, unparalleled noise-filtering capabilities, and context-aware translation that corrects confusing homophones, delivering 98% accuracy and a near-zero (0.2 second) lag time.

Timekettle

Design-wise, the W4 is lighter and slimmer than the W4 Pro. It features an ergonomic ear hook for stability, a directional microphone, and is available in Navy Blue and Sandy Gold.

Where the W4 Pro is aimed at professional and business environments, the new Timekettle W4 AI Translator Earbuds are positioned for travellers who want something less obtrusive but still capable of handling multi-language conversations. Battery life is listed at four hours of translation per charge, with the case extending this to 10 hours.

In music mode, playback stretches to 18 hours. This makes the W4 AI more versatile than a single-use translation device, since it can also replace standard Bluetooth earbuds for music and calls.

The earbuds are powered by HybridComm AI, a system that combines on-device processing with cloud-based translation when connectivity is available. The approach is designed to provide consistent performance whether online or offline, although the company notes that some features remain cloud-dependent.

a man with his eyes closed holding his earbuds to his ear. Timekettle W4 AI Translator Earbuds. {Tech} for Travel. https://techfortravel.co.uk
Credit Timekettle

Timekettle W4 AI Specifications IFA 2025

Features Timekettle W4 AI
Dimensions TBC
Weight TBC
Colour Options Navy Blue
Sandy Gold
Translation Languages 42 Languages
95 Accents
Translation Accuracy Up to 98%
0.2s response time
Battery Life 4 hrs translation
10 hrs with case
18 hrs music mode
Software Babel OS 2.0
HybridComm AI
Connectivity Bluetooth (version TBC)
Cloud + On-device AI
Microphones Bone-conduction voiceprint sensor
Directional microphone
Special Features Real-time AI translation
Shared use mode
Music playback
In the Box Earbuds
Charging case
USB-C cable
Website timekettle.co

Timekettle W4 AI Translator Earbuds Pricing IFA 2025

The Timekettle W4 AI Translator Earbuds will be available from September 5, 2025, at a launch price of $349/€349, with UK pricing yet to be confirmed.

Sales will begin through Timekettle’s official website and Amazon, with wider retail distribution expected later.

VIATom Payne
SOURCETimekettle
Tom Payne
Tom, Editor. An online publication providing news & reviews on apps, gadgets and luggage for the connected traveller.

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