With iOS 26, Apple quietly added a super-useful trick: you can tell the iPhone Camera app to use your AirPods Pro 3 as the recording mic—basically turning them into a stealthy, wireless lapel mic. It’s fast, it’s simple, and for everyday clips, it sounds way better than you’d expect.
Quick start
- Wear your AirPods and make sure they’re connected.
- Open Camera → Video.
- Swipe down from top right→ Control Center → Camera Controls → Input → pick your AirPods.
- Optional: set Mic Mode to Voice Isolation for clearer speech if you’re in a noisy environment.
- Optional: Squeeze the AirPods stem to start/stop recording.
How good is the sound?
Creators who’ve A/B-tested AirPods Pro 3 against budget wireless lavs (like DJI Mic/Mic Mini) say that indoors at close range the APP3 can get surprisingly close—perfect “in a pinch” when setup time is tight, or you forgot to pack your lav kit or don’t want to invest in one. The AirPods 4 have been shown to deliver solid results as a mic as well. Outdoors or at distance, dedicated wireless kits still deliver more stable results.
Pro-ish tips
- Stay close to the mic/AirPod. Closer proximity ensures a more professional/full sound.
- Voice Isolation Mode in the Control Center options helps cut background noise.
- Avoid wind and echoey rooms when you can.
- Always record a 10-second test to spot any sync quirks before the real take.
When you’ll still want a real mic
If you need range, wind protection, backup/32-bit float, the best sound you can get in a small package, or multi-person setups, a dedicated wireless system (e.g., DJI Mic 3) is the better choice.
