iPhone 13 Pro models feature an upgraded Ultra Wide camera that enables macro photography, allowing users to take close-up photos of flowers, insects, and other objects that are as close as 2cm to the camera lens. While Apple's Macro Mode is limited to iPhone 13 Pro models, owners of older iPhones can also take close-up shots, thanks to popular third-party camera app Halide.
Halide's Macro Mode works by checking which one of your iPhone's camera lenses can focus the closest and switches to it. It provides ultra-precise focus control down to the sub-millimeter for a sharp image, while an AI-based feature called Neural Macro further enhances the close-up details of photos, post-shoot.
The feature is available on all iPhones with a Neural Engine, including the iPhone 8 and newer. The feature is available as a free update for all existing users. For new users, the Halide app is priced at $2.99 per month or $11.99 per year, or $49.99 as a one-time purchase. The following instructions outline the steps required to get it working.
- Launch the Halide app.
- Tap the AF button to switch to manual focus.
- Tap the flower icon.
- Line up your close-up subject in the viewfinder, then tap the shutter to take your shot. Note that you can also adjust the focus more precisely using the Macro Focus Dial.
If you already have an iPhone 13 Pro model, Halide's Macro Mode essentially stacks on top of Apple's Macro Mode, which can allow for even more highly magnified close-up shots.
