iOS 26 to Enable iPhone 16's Audio Mix Feature Beyond the Photos App

[MacRumors]

All five iPhone 16 models offer an Audio Mix feature in the Photos app that lets you edit the sound of a video after it is recorded. For example, you can reduce the background noise in a video, so that the person speaking on camera sounds more clear.

Starting with iOS 26, Apple is allowing third-party apps to offer the same Audio Mix controls as the Photos app does on the iPhone 16 and newer.

Audio Mix, powered by machine learning, offers four primary options:

• Standard: Play the original audio you recorded.
• In-Frame: Reduce sounds and voices from sources not visible in the video frame.
• Studio: Reduce background sounds and reverb, to make it sound more like you are recording in a professional studio.
• Cinematic: Put all the voices onto a front-facing track and leave environmental noises in surround, like the audio in movies.

iOS 26 introduces some additional Audio Mix options for background noise.

In order to use Audio Mix, the video must have been recorded with Spatial Audio. On all iPhone 16 models, Spatial Audio is automatically turned on when you record video. To adjust this setting, open the Settings app and tap on Camera → Record Sound.

Apple is also allowing third-party Mac apps to offer Audio Mix controls starting with macOS Tahoe.

On a related note to Spatial Audio, Apple says that audio-only apps like Voice Memos now have the option to save audio in the QuickTime audio format QTA.

"Similar to QuickTime movies or MPEG files, the QTA format supports multiple audio tracks with alternate track groups, just like how Spatial Audio files are composed," said Apple, in a WWDC 2025 session explaining these Audio Mix and Spatial Audio changes.

Article Link: iOS 26 to Enable iPhone 16's Audio Mix Feature Beyond the Photos App

 

[thiscatisfat]

Why only 16?

 

[EugW]

All four iPhone 16 models offer an Audio Mix feature in the Photos app that lets you edit the sound of a video after it is recorded.

There are 5 iPhone 16 models.

 

[I7guy]

There are 5 iPhone 16 models.

Excluding the iPhone 16E?

 

[EugW]

Excluding the iPhone 16E?

AFAIK, iPhone 16e is not excluded.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

There are 5 iPhone 16 models.

Excluding the iPhone 16E?

Thanks @EugW, I forgot about the iPhone 16e, which does support Spatial Audio with Audio Mix. Article updated.

 

[EugW]

Why only 16?

Needs to be shot on an iPhone 16 series phone. Not sure why. It could be architecture or it could be marketecture.

However, my understanding is that if you shoot on an iPhone 16 and then transfer it to an iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 will have access to those audio mix options. Don’t quote me on that though.

 

[AdrianoPlotzki]

Finally! I never understood why this option was not on Final Cut Pro, like the Cinematic mode.

 

[EugW]

It seems the 16e is getting a lot of love that the 15 isn’t getting. It's not just this feature, but other features too.

 

[Octavius8]

Basically the same CPU power in iPhone 15pro. So why not available in “older” devices that are capable?.
That is plain planned obsolescence by Apple. Should be class action against Apple!.

 

[dzankizakon]

I’m puzzled why these options aren’t available in the Voice Memos app. The other day I recorded my son talking and the resulting audio could have benefited greatly from reverb and background noise elimination.

 

[Nozgog]

It seems the 16e is getting a lot of love that the 15 isn’t getting. It's not just this feature, but other features too.

Because that’s one of the only reasons I need to upgrade from 15 pro to 16 pro

 

[svish]

Surprised to see Apple allowing 3rd party apps. Nice to see these changes in the new software.

 

[thiscatisfat]

Basically the same CPU power in iPhone 15pro. So why not available in “older” devices that are capable?.
That is plain planned obsolescence by Apple. Should be class action against Apple!.

I said the same thing and some bloke decided to argue with me that “Apple’s planned obsolescence” isn’t real 😄 It definitely is. Want the new ring tone? Well, okay, it you must - there you go. Want a useful feature? Buy the new iPhone, your two year old model is OLD.

 

[AdrianoPlotzki]

Basically the same CPU power in iPhone 15pro. So why not available in “older” devices that are capable?.
That is plain planned obsolescence by Apple. Should be class action against Apple!.

Does it have the same microphones? In the same number? I believe it doesn't. Because it is not just about processing power.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Basically the same CPU power in iPhone 15pro. So why not available in “older” devices that are capable?.
That is plain planned obsolescence by Apple. Should be class action against Apple!.

That is not what “planned obsolescence” means.
planned obsolescence does not mean that a new phone gets a feature year old one doesn’t, so bad. That’s not what it means at all.

I said the same thing and some bloke decided to argue with me that “Apple’s planned obsolescence” isn’t real 😄 It definitely is. Want the new ring tone? Well, okay, it you must - there you go. Want a useful feature? Buy the new iPhone, your two year old model is OLD.

Lacking a ringtone does not make your phone obsolete, I’m sorry to say. It might be annoying, but that is not planned obsolescence. Your phone is not “obsolete” because it doesn’t have a new ringtone on it. You’re just mad you don’t get the new shiny when everyone else gets the new shiny.

 

[EugW]

I was testing Audio Mix on my kid's iPhone 16e. It's really great and this has now become a must-have feature for me.

 

[thiscatisfat]

Lacking a ringtone does not make your phone obsolete, I’m sorry to say.

It was a joke. I use my phone for 3 things, but I can’t not say anything when I see Apple pushing people to buy the new shiny shiny.

 

[TVreporter]

Why only 16?

Tim: We got great trade-in deals right now! We think you’re gonna love it!

 

[upthetoffees]

Voice memos (music memos ffs!) would be a good application that is not 3rd party