Apple is exploring professional-grade camera features for the iPhone 18 Pro, potentially integrating advanced controls into the native app to match hardware upgrades.
© A. Krivonosov
Apple is reportedly considering a significant shift in its approach to mobile photography for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. According to sources, the company is exploring the integration of professional-grade features directly into its native camera app. This move would better align the software with the increasingly powerful hardware capabilities of its devices.
The company's interest in this area is underscored by its negotiations last year to acquire Lux Optics, the developer behind the popular Halide camera app. Halide is renowned for offering advanced manual controls, giving users more precise command over their photography than the standard iOS camera tools typically allow.
While that acquisition ultimately did not proceed, Apple was reportedly focused on securing the company's intellectual property to accelerate the development of its own camera technology. Notably, one of Lux Optics' co-founders, designer Sebastiaan de With, later joined Apple. His move could further influence the integration of professional solutions into future versions of iOS.
The camera on the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to offer capabilities approaching those of professional devices. Consequently, the core camera app will likely need to provide more advanced controls to match. Currently, the standard iPhone camera app focuses on simplicity, but this could change. The first signs of these new functionalities might appear with the release of iOS 27.