The new Halide camera app launches with film looks and an upgraded photo editor | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.The new Halide camera app launches with film looks and an upgraded photo editorNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsThe new Halide camera app launches with film looks and an upgraded photo editorHalide Mark III includes five unique looks and an upgraded photo editor that can process RAW files from other cameras.Halide Mark III includes five unique looks and an upgraded photo editor that can process RAW files from other cameras.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiMay 27, 2026, 8:06 PM UTCLinkShareGiftHalide Mark III isn’t free, but you can try it out for a week before buying. Image: Lux OpticsAndrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.After first being announced in December 2024, Lux Optics has finally released the latest version of its Halide camera app for the iPhone and iPad. The Halide Mark III app’s most compelling feature is a new film simulation engine and a collection of five new Looks that can be applied to photos as they’re taken. Co-developed with Cullen Kelly, a “renowned Hollywood colorist,” the different looks are tailored for landscape photography, portraits, and cityscapes, plus a black-and-white option with extra film grain.Halide Mark III is available now through the App Store for a one-time purchase price of $59.99, or as part of a $19.99/year subscription, but it’s a free upgrade for those who purchased Halide Mark II. It’s compatible with iPhones running iOS 18 or later, and iPads running iPadOS 18 or later.The optional Looks introduced with Halide Mark III include Valencia, Rembrandt, Nova, Zephyr, and Chroma Noir. Image: Lux OpticsApple’s tablets may not seem like a great fit for the app given their limited camera capabilities, but a surprise new feature of Halide Mark III could benefit from their larger screens. The company describes the app’s new Photo Lab as a “streamlined and approachable” photo editor that first presents you with a Quick Edit section where you can apply the various Looks, toggle HDR, and make exposure adjustments.RelatedHalide co-founder is suing former partner Sebastiaan de With for taking source code to AppleThe Halide app’s anti-algorithm camera mode looks better with a little processingMore advanced controls are also available, including adjustments for cropping, aspect ratio, white balance, and a Tone Fusion tool for recovering details in shadows and highlights. For the first time, Halide Mark III can also process RAW images imported from Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, and Leica cameras, although the company currently considers that a beta feature, according to DPReview.Other Mark III upgrades include improvements to Halide’s interface that has been redesigned to keep critical controls within easy reach, while making more advanced options accessible through an iOS three-dot menu. If you’re an existing user not thrilled with the changes, you can switch back to the Halide Mark II interface at any point.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleAppsCloseAppsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppsCamerasCloseCamerasPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All CamerasGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsiPhoneCloseiPhonePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All iPhoneNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularValve raises Steam Deck prices by more than $200Jony Ive’s Ferrari looks nothing like a FerrariGoogle Health is here, but a lot of people want their Fitbit app back insteadUber president says AI spending is getting ‘harder to justify’You’re about to feel the AI money squeezeThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The Halide Mark III camera application has been released, featuring a new film simulation engine and an enhanced photo editor capable of processing RAW files from various external cameras. This update includes five distinct visual looks developed in collaboration with Cullen Kelly, a renowned Hollywood colorist, which are specifically tailored for landscape photography, portraits, cityscapes, and an additional black-and-white option enhanced with increased film grain. The application is accessible via the App Store with an initial purchase price of fifty-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents, or through a yearly subscription of nineteen dollars and ninety-nine cents, offering a free upgrade to those who previously purchased the Halide Mark II. The app is compatible with iPhones running iOS 18 or later and iPads running iPadOS 18 or later.

The new Photo Lab within the application is described as a streamlined and approachable photo editor. It begins by presenting a Quick Edit section that allows users to apply the various new Looks, toggle HDR effects, and make general exposure adjustments. Furthermore, the Mark III introduces more advanced controls, enabling adjustments for cropping, aspect ratio, white balance, and a Tone Fusion tool designed to recover details located within shadows and highlights. A significant technical upgrade is the capability for the Halide Mark III to process RAW images imported from cameras manufactured by brands including Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, and Leica, although the company currently regards this RAW processing feature as a beta function. The interface has also undergone a redesign to ensure critical controls are easily accessible, with more advanced options made available through an iOS three-dot menu. Existing users who are not fully satisfied with these changes retain the option to switch back to the Halide Mark II interface.