IFA 2025, taking place in Berlin from September 5–9, is Europe’s largest annual consumer technology event, where global brands unveil their latest innovations, including the Timekettle W4 AI Translator Earbuds.
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.
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.
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.
Timekettle
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.
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.
Prof. Dr. Alan Akbik highlighted the importance of preserving linguistic diversity, pointing out that tools like W4 can empower underrepresented languages if developed responsibly.
Timekettle Launch Event
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.
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.
