iPhone 13 Pro - Audio Changes with Zoom - iPhone 13 Pro - HOW TO FIX
"It sounds like you may have 'Record Stereo Sound' enabled in Settings > Camera.
This feature affects zoom in the Camera app by reducing sounds from the
rear and side of the device as you zoom in, while enhancing the sounds
coming from the direction the camera is pointed in.May 10, 2022
Muffled sound when recording with camera
So you have to DISABLE STEREO RECORDING to kill this "feature", and lose stereo recording as well.
Of course the intuitive thing is to turn on Stereo Recording. Who wouldn't want that enabled?
So you trick us by letting us think the audio quality will be better. Who wouldn't want stereo? I got a phone that'll do stereo OF COURSE I'LL SET ON STEREO.
But in doing that Apple gives NO control over the audio zoom. This needs to be another switch that enables stereo record WITHOUT YOUR STUPID AUDIO ZOOMING "FEATURE" THAT NO ONE ASKED FOR.