Apple’s Pursuit of Halide and Allegations of Misconduct

Apple explored acquiring Lux Optics, the developer behind the popular iPhone camera app Halide, in the summer of 2025, but talks ultimately fell through. The situation took a turn when Apple subsequently recruited Sebastiaan de With, a co-founder and designer at Lux Optics, leading to a lawsuit alleging financial misconduct and the sharing of confidential information.

Apple’s Interest in Halide

Apple’s interest in acquiring Lux Optics stemmed from a desire to enhance its built-in iPhone camera app. Halide provides users with more precise manual control over the iPhone camera’s hardware, and acquiring this technology could have accelerated Apple’s efforts to improve its native camera capabilities The Information. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to feature camera hardware with more professional-grade features, prompting Apple to seek software upgrades to complement these advancements 9to5Mac.

Acquisition Talks Breakdown and Recruitment of de With

Negotiations between Apple and Lux Optics ended in September 2025, with the co-founders believing that future updates to Halide could increase the company’s value Engadget. Shortly after, in late January 2026, Apple recruited Sebastiaan de With to join its design team The Information.

Lawsuit and Allegations of Misconduct

Ben Sandofsky, the other co-founder of Lux Optics, filed a lawsuit against de With, alleging financial misconduct and the improper sharing of company information with Apple National Today. The suit claims de With improperly used over $150,000 in corporate funds for personal expenses since 2022 and provided confidential material and source code to Apple National Today. An attorney for de With has denied these claims, suggesting the lawsuit is an attempt to create leverage and attract attention The Information.

Impact and Future Outlook

This legal dispute highlights the competitive landscape of smartphone camera technology and the lengths companies will go to acquire talent and intellectual property. Whereas the outcome of the lawsuit remains uncertain, Apple is reportedly prioritizing software improvements for the built-in camera app on the iPhone 18 Pro, regardless of the situation with Lux Optics 9to5Mac.