Halide’s iPhone Duo update adds waist-level shooting modes

Halide has released its first batch of iPhone Duo updates, adding pose-based shooting modes and moving camera controls. The change shows third-party camera apps adapting quickly to Apple’s foldable hardware.

What happened

Camera app Halide released a new update for the iPhone Duo that adds three different shooting modes based on what position the foldable is in. The update was built by Lux Optics, Halide's developer, and it is available today for Halide Mark III users.

The release lands against a specific uncertainty. In Engadget's review of the iPhone Duo, one of the big question marks for Apple's foldable was around app support. Apple's own software might be ready to handle the dual screens and new aspect ratios right away, but it was not clear how long third-party apps would take to embrace the hardware.

In Halide's case, the answer was "not long at all." Lux Optics suggested that further Duo-focused features are in the works. Halide was reportedly once an acquisition target for Apple, which makes its early Duo design approach a useful example of how developers are finding creative ways to adapt to the hardware.

Key facts

• Halide released a new update for the iPhone Duo with three different shooting modes based on the foldable's position.
• The update comes from Lux Optics, Halide's developer, and is available today for Halide Mark III users.
• Halide users on the Duo can move camera controls when the app is fully open or partially open.
• The partly-open pose lets the Duo essentially act like a waist-level viewfinder camera.
• Lux Optics suggested further Duo-focused features are in the works.

Our analysis

The central shift here is speed. The iPhone Duo review framed app support as an open risk, because third-party tools may not embrace the new dual screens and aspect ratios immediately. Halide shipping a Duo-specific update this early suggests that developers can adapt faster than the initial uncertainty implied.

For creators, the waist-level viewfinder mode is likely the most practical change. Shooting with the Duo in a partly-open position can make low-angle or top-down framing easier because the screen sits at a usable viewing angle without extra accessories. The option to move camera controls in fully open or partially open positions also matters: it suggests the interface can be placed where the photographer's hands are, rather than forcing the controls to stay in a fixed location.

Because Lux Optics has indicated further Duo-focused features are in the works, this update likely represents the first step in a longer adaptation. For operators who produce short-form video or product content, that ongoing development is worth monitoring rather than treating as a one-time patch.

What it means for operators

• If you have access to Halide Mark III on an iPhone Duo, test the partly-open pose for waist-level framing before your next product or behind-the-scenes shoot.
• Compare the new control placement options in fully open and partially open positions to find a setup that keeps both hands free and the subject visible.
• Keep the app updated, since Lux Optics suggested further Duo-focused features are in the works and may affect your shooting workflow.
• Use this update as a signal to reassess third-party app readiness before committing to foldable-based content production.