Halide 3.2 adds continuous manual aperture control to the iPhone 18 Pro, letting owners choose any setting between ƒ/1.48 and ƒ/4.0 instead of relying on the four presets in Apple’s Camera app. The update also brings Aperture Priority, which holds the chosen f-number while Halide adjusts shutter speed and ISO. Lux Optics announced the update on 30 September, with MacRumors and 9to5Mac detailing how the controls work.
The difference is in the gaps between Apple’s settings. The stock Camera app offers ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8 and ƒ/4.0; Halide lets photographers pick intermediate values across that same range. Its Manual mode also exposes direct ISO control, alongside aperture and shutter speed. Apple’s app offers manual aperture selection but not manual ISO, according to MacRumors.
Halide 3.2 gives the iPhone 18 Pro finer aperture control
Aperture Priority is for photographers who want to choose how much of a scene stays in focus without managing every exposure setting. Set the f-number and Halide selects the shutter speed and ISO for the shot. Manual mode leaves all three settings to the photographer, which is useful when a scene or a series of images needs consistent exposure.
The aperture range itself has not changed. ƒ/1.48 is still the widest setting, while ƒ/4.0 is the narrowest; Halide makes more values between them selectable. A wider opening lets in more light and creates a shallower depth of field, while a narrower one lets in less light and can keep more of a scene in focus. Our iPhone 18 Pro variable-aperture guide explains what the hardware changes in photos and video.
This is a software update for a camera system that already has a mechanically variable aperture. It does not add a new lens or extend the range, and choosing a particular f-number does not guarantee a better image. Focus, exposure and the scene still determine whether a setting helps; the added control gives photographers another way to shape the result before capture.
Two new Halide Looks and a 16:9 mode
Halide 3.2 also adds Dawn and Quicksilver, two film-inspired Looks available across supported devices. The custom aperture controls are designed for the iPhone 18 Pro’s variable-aperture camera. Dawn warms mid-tones and highlights while keeping shadows gentle. Quicksilver uses muted colour and higher contrast, drawing on the silver-retention process used in film photography. Lux’s official sample shows Quicksilver applied to a cathedral interior.
The update also adds a 16:9 shooting option for photographers who prefer a wider frame at capture. That saves a crop when the intended composition is widescreen, although the ratio alone does not change what the lens can capture. The two Looks are more broadly useful: Halide says they are available on all supported iPhones, while the custom aperture controls require the newer hardware.
The iPhone 18 Pro introduced a variable-aperture main camera, and Halide’s update gives owners a more granular way to use it. Our UAE launch coverage has the local device details, while our iPhone 18 Pro review covers the wider camera experience.
Halide 3.2 price and UAE availability
Halide Mark III is listed on the UAE App Store as a free download with in-app purchases. The UAE listing does not show the purchase amounts in its page text, so there is no verified AED figure to quote here. MacRumors reports US App Store pricing of $69.99 for a one-time purchase or $19.99 for an annual subscription; those are US prices, not UAE prices.
The app is a separate camera option rather than a replacement for Apple’s Camera app. Owners can keep the built-in app for quick automatic shots and open Halide when they want to set an exact aperture, lock exposure choices or use one of the new Looks. Photographers who already work with manual exposure settings are the clearest audience for the update; anyone happy with the four built-in aperture stops may not need another camera app.
The more useful distinction is between control and results. A user can now select ƒ/2.1 or ƒ/3.89 instead of jumping between Apple’s four values, but a finer dial is not a promise of visibly different photos at every increment. Halide’s update gives the iPhone 18 Pro’s aperture range more room to work with, while leaving the choice of when to use that room to the photographer.
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Can older iPhones use Halide’s new variable-aperture controls?
No. The controls need a camera with a physically adjustable aperture, so an app update cannot add them to older fixed-aperture iPhone cameras. Dawn and Quicksilver are separate software Looks and work across supported devices.
Can you change the aperture after taking a photo?
No. Aperture is a physical lens setting applied during capture, so it affects the light and depth of field recorded in the original image. Editing can imitate some blur, but it cannot change the aperture used for the exposure.
When is Aperture Priority useful?
Use it when you want to choose the depth-of-field effect or aperture value but would rather let Halide meter the scene and set shutter speed and ISO. Manual mode is the option when those exposure settings also need to stay fixed.
Does Halide replace Apple’s Camera app?
No. Halide is an optional camera app. The built-in Camera app remains available for automatic shooting, while Halide is for photographers who want finer aperture choices, direct ISO control or its additional Looks.
