Apple’s AirPods have grown into much more than wireless earbuds. With sensors powering features like Adaptive Audio, Spatial Audio, and head tracking, they already blur the line between audio gear and wearable technology. Now a new iOS game called RidePods, created by developer Ali Tanis, shows how those same sensors can be used for something entirely different: interactive gaming.
Instead of tilting your iPhone or tapping on on-screen controls, RidePods lets you steer a motorcycle by moving your head. The app reads gyroscope and accelerometer data from AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and 3rd and 4th generation AirPods. These are the same motion sensors normally used to anchor sound in space when listening with Spatial Audio, but here they are repurposed to register head tilts as steering input. It may sound experimental, yet the controls respond quickly enough to feel surprisingly natural once you adjust.
How RidePods uses AirPods sensors for gameplay
RidePods is designed with simplicity in mind. Players race along a straight road and avoid obstacles, a layout that puts focus on the motion controls rather than complex track design. The minimal setup makes it easy for new players to try the mechanic without distraction. Early testers note that occasional glitches can appear, but the accuracy of the AirPods sensors makes the experience smoother than expected.
The app also adds a social layer by including gameplay recording. You can capture your run while overlaying a selfie video, making RidePods perfect for sharing on TikTok or Instagram. Interestingly, it does not require both AirPods to function. You can play with a single AirPod or even disable auto-detection to hold them in your hands as makeshift controllers. This flexibility reinforces the idea that AirPods can act as more than earbuds.
What makes RidePods stand out is not the game itself, but what it represents. AirPods already have some of the most sophisticated sensors in Apple’s lineup of personal accessories, and yet they remain underutilized outside of audio contexts. RidePods shows that developers can build new categories of apps that treat AirPods as wearable motion controllers. Potential applications extend far beyond gaming, including accessibility tools, exercise trackers, or even new creative interfaces for drawing and music production.
For now, RidePods remains a niche experiment, but it is free to download and easy to try for anyone with a compatible pair of AirPods. Whether it grows into a trend or remains a curiosity, it highlights the hidden potential of Apple’s most popular accessory. With over a billion AirPods sold to date, even small innovations like this could open up new avenues for developers who want to push the boundaries of what wearable sensors can do.
Download RidePods from App Store
