Daniel Mercer
The latest update also features the app’s innovative approach to film stock simulation.
Halide, a top-tier alternative to the iPhone’s native camera app, is receiving a significant upgrade. Developer Lux Optics is launching Halide Mark III, a paid update that introduces a comprehensive photo editor and filters that emulate classic film stock. These new features enhance Halide’s photography capabilities, building on the previous release of Halide Mark II in 2024, which allowed users to bypass Apple’s image processing pipeline.
The new filtering system, named Looks, is part of an expansive “film simulation engine” introduced in Mark III. Users can customize or disable all photo features, enabling Halide to add elements like grain and halation based on the selected look. Halide Mark III offers five distinct new looks in addition to Process Zero, the app’s no-processing option, and the standard Apple image processing. The new looks include:
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Valencia: Tailored for landscapes and cityscapes, featuring “thick contrast, deep saturation, and excellent color separation.”
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Rembrandt: Designed for portraits, showcasing “strong contrast in mid-tones” and “rich colors in the low end” to emphasize bone structure and achieve even skin tones.
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Nova: Ideal for landscapes, characterized by “vibrant colors, tight contrast, and smooth peachy highlights.”
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Zephyr: The most subtle and refined look, featuring “filmic contrast” and “the essence of a traditional print.”
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Chroma Noir: A black and white aesthetic with “moderate contrast” and “a hint of additional grain.”
Each of these new looks supports HDR, allowing for enhanced detail in both highlights and shadows. Users can also modify and adjust these looks using Halide’s new Photo Lab editor. This built-in editor is designed for accessibility, featuring a Quick Edit tab for swiftly switching between film simulations or toggling HDR, along with dedicated sections for detailed adjustments such as color balance and exposure. The iPad version of Halide Mark III is particularly well-suited for editing, thanks to its dual-panel interface.
These enhancements are complemented by updates to Halide’s overall design and the arrangement of its virtual controls. The new interface incorporates principles from Apple’s Liquid Glass design, ensuring that essential controls—such as focus, aspect ratio, and lens selection—are easily accessible without the need to navigate through menus.
As with prior updates, Halide Mark III is available via a subscription model: $10 per month, $20 annually, or a one-time fee of $60. Current subscribers and users who previously purchased Halide Mark II will receive the update at no additional cost.
This marks the first significant update to Halide since co-founder Sebastiaan de With departed to join Apple in January 2026. The situation surrounding his exit has been reportedly complex, with Apple initially attempting to acquire Lux Optics. de With’s departure followed an investigation led by co-founder Ben Sandofsky regarding allegations of financial misconduct.
Ethan Carter
