Apple's iOS 27 Camera app is getting a full overhaul — and Halide should be worried

Apple is overhauling the iPhone's Camera app in iOS 27, adding a fully customizable widget interface and a new Siri-powered Visual Intelligence mode. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman broke the story on May 12, citing planned changes that go further than any previous Camera update. If the features ship as described, Apple will be competing directly with third-party pro camera apps for the first time.

The new interface

The core change is an "Add Widgets" tray that lets users build a custom control panel inside the Camera app. Controls for flash, exposure, timer, depth of field, photo styles, and resolution can each be added or removed. Apple is also said to be offering three layout modes — default, advanced, and fully custom — so casual shooters and manual-control fans can both get what they need. New grids and level tools round out the shooting aids, and the button that opens all settings is moving closer to the shutter.

The Halide problem

Apple's timing is pointed. The company recently hired Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of Halide Mark II — one of the most respected manual camera apps on the App Store, per AppleInsider. That hire is the clearest signal yet that Apple intends to absorb features — manual controls, fine-grained exposure, professional shooting workflows — that photographers have historically paid third-party developers to provide. Apps like ProCamera and Obscura face the same pressure.

The Siri integration adds another dimension. A new Visual Intelligence mode inside Camera will handle image search, real-time text translation through the viewfinder, and object identification — all summoned through Siri rather than running continuously in the background, unlike Google's competing AI approach.

What's next

iOS 27 is expected to be unveiled at WWDC on June 8, 2026, with a general release in fall 2026 following the usual Apple schedule. Beyond Camera, Apple is also said to be updating Siri's overall interface, Safari, Weather, and Image Playground in the same release. No details have emerged yet on which iPhone models will get the full feature set — Pro-tier hardware is the likely starting point, but Apple hasn't confirmed anything.