The Halide camera app now offers full control of the iPhone 18 Pro’s aperture

You can now achieve precise depth-of-field effects on your iPhone that were previously only possible with dedicated cameras.

Lux Optics' Halide camera app has been updated to provide full control over the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture. This update introduces two new photography 'looks': Dawn, which adds warmth, and Quicksilver, which increases contrast and mutes colors. While other third-party apps like BlackMagic Camera and Moment Pro Camera II offer 10 aperture presets, Halide Mark III allows users to select any f-stop from f/1.48 down to f/4.0. This level of granular control surpasses that of the native iOS camera app, which is limited to four presets. The developers are considering adding f-stop presets in future updates based on user feedback.

The expansion of granular aperture control in third-party iPhone camera apps signals a growing trend towards professional-level photography tools on mobile devices. Halide's implementation, offering a continuous range of f-stops, pushes the boundaries beyond preset increments, catering to photographers who require highly specific creative control. This advancement challenges the capabilities of native camera apps and may accelerate feature development in competing applications.

This increased control over aperture directly impacts mobile content creators and photography enthusiasts by enabling more sophisticated artistic expression and technical execution. As third-party apps gain parity with or surpass dedicated camera hardware in certain controls, the iPhone becomes an even more viable primary tool for professional shoots, potentially reducing reliance on bulkier equipment for specific creative outcomes.