What it does
Halide is a powerful camera application designed for photographers who want more manual control than the default phone camera offers. It provides professional-grade tools like RAW and ProRAW capture, precise manual focus with focus peaking, and granular control over settings like ISO and shutter speed. The app aims to replicate the experience of using a high-end DSLR in a mobile-friendly interface.
Where it shines
Halide excels at making complex controls feel intuitive. The manual focus dial (01:59), combined with real-time focus peaking that highlights sharp areas in yellow, makes it easy to nail focus without guesswork. The app’s photo reviewer is another strong point, providing a wealth of technical metadata at a glance (01:33), which is invaluable for serious photographers. Finally, the ability to completely customize the main toolbar (02:45) allows users to create a personalized workflow, placing their most-used tools within easy reach.
UX highlights
- Layered Controls: The UI remains uncluttered by hiding advanced options. A tap on an icon like 'HEIC' (02:26) reveals primary options, while a longer press or second tap reveals deeper settings. This progressive disclosure serves both novice and expert users.
- Gesture-Based Exposure: Adjusting exposure is as simple as swiping up or down on the screen (04:33). This fluid, tactile interaction is much faster than digging through menus.
- Visual Feedback: The app provides constant, useful visual feedback. The luminance histogram (03:39) helps judge exposure, while focus peaking provides confidence in manual focus.
- Deep Customization: Users aren't locked into a default layout. The ability to long-press and rearrange the main toolbar (02:45) is a powerful feature that respects individual workflows.
- Clean Aesthetic: The interface uses minimal chrome, ensuring the viewfinder remains the center of attention. Icons are clear and controls are responsive, contributing to a professional feel.
Monetization & growth
Monetization is handled upfront during onboarding. The app presents a paywall (00:28) that offers both a yearly subscription with a 7-day free trial and a one-time lifetime purchase option. The paywall is cleverly embedded within a carousel that highlights the app's key value propositions, effectively justifying the cost just before asking for it. This strategy connects the subscription directly to the professional features the user was just introduced to.
Who it’s for
Halide is for serious amateur and professional photographers who use their phone as a primary or secondary camera. It's ideal for anyone who feels limited by the automatic settings of the native camera app and wants direct control over focus, exposure, and file formats. It appeals to users who understand concepts like RAW files and want to maximize the quality of their mobile photos for later editing.
Notes & opportunities
While the gesture-based controls are powerful, the sheer number of icons and settings can be intimidating for a true beginner. The initial onboarding tutorial (00:07) covers the basics, but there could be an opportunity for more contextual tips or a guided tour once the user is in the main camera interface for the first time. For example, a small tooltip could appear the first time the user taps the histogram icon to explain what it represents.