Product availability and the Relay Q timeline on this page were checked against Relay’s current product information on September 1, 2026. Sources: Relay for macOS, Relay Q.
Relay for macOS works on its own.
Relay is available as standalone software for M-series Macs. You do not need Relay Q to use voice input in the Mac apps where you type.
Keeping the software useful by itself matters: the Mac app is an interface you can adopt without adding hardware to your desk, bag, or workflow.
Sources: Relay for macOS.
What is available today?
The macOS app is the current way to use Relay. It works through original spoken audio and optional contextual information to produce text and actions in your existing apps.
Relay Q is separate hardware that ships in January 2027. Windows, iOS, and Android are future platforms, not current versions of the app.
Sources: Relay for macOS, Relay Q.
Why keep the products separate?
The software and the hardware solve related but different needs. A Mac is already where much written work happens, while an optional device can provide another way to start an interaction when it is useful.
Treating Relay Q as optional keeps that choice clear. The core question for the macOS app is simpler: can you speak naturally and keep working where the work already lives?
Sources: Relay for macOS, Relay Q.