Apple Just Announced Two New AirPods Features No One Expected
While AirPods were just a sideshow at the WWDC 2025 keynote , Apple announced a few features that make the earbuds much more useful. The company announced that you can now use your AirPods as a camera remote, and that AirPods will soon have the ability to record “studio-quality” audio. These features will come to AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.
Using AirPods as a Camera Remote
The Remote Camera feature is exactly what it sounds like — a way to control your phone’s camera from a distance. Apple plans to let you use your AirPods as a shutter button for your iPhone or iPad. Once the feature launches with iOS 26 this fall, you’ll be able to use the button on your AirPods to take photos or start and stop recording videos. Apple says you can press and hold the AirPods to take photos or toggle video recording (depending on what mode the camera app is in). This could be useful for group photos, creating TikTok videos, or for shots that require you to position your iPhone or iPad at an awkward angle. Apple says the feature will also come to third-party camera apps.
Studio-quality recording for AirPods
During the keynote, Apple also revealed that studio-quality recording will be coming to the same three AirPods models. The company said an upcoming firmware update will allow creators to record “studio-quality vocals” with their AirPods, and Voice Isolation is also being improved to further enhance voice quality. Apple is positioning the AirPods as a quality microphone for podcasters, singers, and content creators, though I’ll remain skeptical of its capabilities until I see the feature in action.
The improved microphone quality of the AirPods will work with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and will support both Apple’s own and third-party apps. Apple promises more natural voice texture and quality during iPhone calls, FaceTime, and CallKit-enabled apps. The company attributes this to the AirPods’ H2 chip, beamforming microphones, and computational audio.