Apple Planned iPhone 18 Pro Camera Upgrade, Halide Acquisition & Lawsuit Details

Apple reportedly considered acquiring Lux Optics, the company behind the popular iOS camera app Halide, last summer, with the intention of bolstering the capabilities of its built-in Camera app. While the acquisition didn’t materialize, the move underscores Apple’s ongoing focus on improving the photographic experience on its iPhones, potentially aiming to rival professional-grade cameras with the iPhone 18 Pro.

Halide’s Approach to Mobile Photography

Released in 2017, Halide distinguished itself from the standard iPhone camera app by offering users a significantly greater degree of manual control over image capture. Unlike the iPhone’s largely automated processing, Halide allows photographers to adjust settings like ISO, shutter speed, and white balance directly. A key feature is its “Process Zero” setting, which bypasses much of Apple’s automatic image processing, resulting in more natural-looking images with greater dynamic range and detail. This appeals to photographers who prefer to handle post-processing themselves, offering a level of creative control not typically found on smartphones. The latest version, Halide Mark II, is available through a subscription model, costing $19.99 annually or $2.99 monthly, or as a one-time purchase via in-app purchase.

The Acquisition Attempt and Subsequent Events

According to court documents, Apple’s interest in Lux Optics stemmed from a desire to enhance the iPhone’s camera capabilities, with the iPhone 18 Pro specifically targeted for improvements that would “match professional-grade cameras in terms of certain advanced features.” However, the acquisition talks ultimately fell through. Shortly after, Apple did recruit Sebastiaan de With, co-founder and designer of Halide, to join its design team in January 2026.

The situation has since turn into entangled in a legal dispute. Ben Sandofsky, Lux co-founder, has filed a lawsuit alleging that de With took confidential information, including source code, with him to Apple, and misused $150,000 in company funds for personal expenses since 2022. De With has denied these allegations. The lawsuit names de With as the defendant, not Apple itself.

Implications for iPhone Camera Technology

Apple’s interest in Halide highlights the growing demand for more sophisticated camera features on smartphones. While iPhone cameras are consistently ranked among the best in the industry, there’s a segment of users – particularly professional and enthusiast photographers – who desire greater control and flexibility. Halide’s approach, offering manual controls and minimal processing, caters directly to this audience. Integrating such features into the native Camera app could broaden the iPhone’s appeal and potentially attract users who currently rely on third-party apps for advanced photography.

The potential for improvements extends beyond simply adding manual controls. Halide’s “Process Zero” mode demonstrates the value of offering users the option to bypass automatic image processing. Apple’s own ProRAW format already provides a degree of this flexibility, allowing photographers to capture images with more data for editing, but Halide’s approach takes it a step further. Halide’s website details its commitment to providing users with tools for deliberate and thoughtful photography.

Beyond the Camera App: iPhone 18 Pro Rumors

The potential camera improvements for the iPhone 18 Pro aren’t limited to software. Rumors suggest significant hardware changes are also in the works. YouTuber Jon Prosser has predicted that the iPhone 18 Pro will feature a punch-hole camera and an under-display Face ID sensor, replacing the current Dynamic Island. This redesign could allow for a more immersive display experience and potentially free up space for larger camera sensors or improved optics. Prosser also suggests a shift in the Dynamic Island’s position, moving it from the center of the screen to the top-left corner.

The Trade-offs of Increased Control

While offering more manual control can be empowering for experienced photographers, it also introduces a degree of complexity. The iPhone’s strength has always been its ease of use – its ability to deliver excellent results with minimal effort. Adding too many manual controls could alienate casual users who prefer a simpler experience. Apple will demand to strike a balance between providing advanced features for enthusiasts and maintaining the accessibility that has made the iPhone camera so popular. Increased control often comes with increased responsibility; users need to understand the implications of different settings to achieve the desired results.

What Comes Next: Legal Proceedings and Future Development

The immediate future involves the ongoing legal proceedings between Sandofsky and de With. The outcome of this case could shed light on the extent of any alleged misappropriation of confidential information and its potential impact on Apple’s camera development. Regardless of the legal outcome, Apple is likely to continue investing in its camera technology, both through software updates and hardware improvements. The iPhone 18 Pro, slated for release in the coming years, will be a key indicator of Apple’s vision for the future of mobile photography. Further development of features like ProRAW and computational photography techniques will likely play a significant role in enhancing the iPhone’s camera capabilities, potentially building on concepts pioneered by apps like Halide.