Apple is looking to buy a new "camera app" for the new iPhone - targets Halide's creators

It turns out Apple was recently caught "window shopping" for a massive camera upgrade. Reports have surfaced that the tech giant was in deep acquisition talks with Lux Optics - the geniuses behind the legendary Halide app, as well as Kino, Spectre, and Orion - all through last year.

The goal? Apple wanted to inject some "Pro" DNA directly into the native iPhone Camera app. However, the deal reportedly fell through in September. Why? The Lux Optics founders bet on themselves, believing that upcoming Halide updates would skyrocket their company's value even further. Talk about knowing your worth!

Apple is playing dirty

This failed deal is part of a much bigger trend. Apple seems tired of slow, incremental growth and is now using its massive mountain of cash to take "shortcuts." Instead of just building everything from scratch, they are playing a bit dirty by trying to buy the competition and their tech to leapfrog rivals.

Apple's 2026 shopping list so far:

• MotionVFX: Apple recently snapped up this plugin powerhouse to beef up its new "Creator Studio" bundle and Final Cut Pro.
• Q.ai: Earlier this year, they dropped a cool $2 billion on this Israeli AI startup to sharpen the brains inside the Vision Pro and AirPods.

With rumors swirling about a variable aperture lens coming to the iPhone 18 Pro this fall, Apple is desperate for software that can actually handle that kind of hardware. Buying Lux Optics would have been the ultimate "easy button" for a pro-level camera interface.

Even though Halide stayed independent, the message is clear: Apple is on a mission to dominate the "Creator" space, whether through innovation or its checkbook.

The big question

We’re only three months into the year, and Apple is already moving fast. With their current "buy first, ask questions later" energy, could we see Apple’s acquisition list hit double digits by the end of 2026?