Spectre Long-Exposure iPhone Camera App Now Free, Ushering in Spectre Pro

Spectre, the long-exposure AI-powered iPhone camera app made by the developers of the popular Halide photography app, is now free.

spectre pro
For those unfamiliar with Spectre, the app uses a computational shutter to take hundreds of photos over the course of a few seconds to create an up to 3-second long exposure.

Because it's taking hundreds of images instead of one continuous shot, users can hold their phone while taking long exposure images with Spectre, no tripod necessary.

Previously $1.99, the app's switch to freeware marks the introduction of a new paid-for Pro version, which includes additional 15- and 30-second exposure modes, plus a new Pro icon.


Spectre Pro is a free upgrade to existing users, while new users can unlock the Pro version for a $4.99 one-time purchase. The app works on the iPhone 6S and newer and requires iOS 15 and later, and is available to download from the App Store.

Tag: Halide

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3

Thursday December 11, 2025 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3 and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B30, up from 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 8B28, up from 8B21. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are getting expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS...
macOS Tahoe 26 Thumb

Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.2 With Edge Light

Friday December 12, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.2, the second major update to the macOS Tahoe operating system that came out in September. macOS Tahoe 26.2 comes five weeks after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.1. Mac users can download the macOS Tahoe update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Tahoe 26.2 includes Edge Light, a feature that illuminates your face with soft...
AirTag 2 Mock Feature

Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code

Thursday December 11, 2025 10:31 am PST by
The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products. Here's what's supposedly coming: An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. AirTag pairing is already...
ipados 26 1 slide over

Apple Releases iPadOS 26.2 With Multitasking Improvements

Friday December 12, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iPadOS 26.2, the second major update to the iPadOS 26 operating system released in September. iPadOS 26.2 comes a month after iPadOS 26.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iPadOS 26.2 continues with the multitasking improvements that were added with iPadOS 26.1. You can now drag and...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Update Now: iOS 26.2 Fixes 20+ Security Vulnerabilities

Friday December 12, 2025 11:11 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS 26.2, all of which introduce new features, bug fixes, and security improvements. Apple says that the updates address over 20 vulnerabilities, including two bugs that are known to have been actively exploited. There are a pair of WebKit vulnerabilities that could allow maliciously crafted web content to execute code or cause memory...

Top Rated Comments

Lee_Bo Avatar
32 months ago
It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.


Taken with iPhone 11 Pro Max (with tripod and bluetooth shutter), made the cover of a local trade magazine.

But please, let’s see some of your “serious person” projects.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gank41 Avatar
32 months ago

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.
Only a real artist removes the shackles of limitation you seem to have put on yourself, only allowing one device for a medium..

I remember a very long time ago, someone in a teaching position told me to never listen to people that put barriers on the creation of art. It's all based on opinion, anyway.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gears Avatar
32 months ago

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.
The camera is only as good as the one you have on you! A lot of people wont carry a main camera around with them all the time. Myself when out and about have a 4 year old and dog to contend with so the last thing i want to be carrying is a camera on top of everything else.
End of the day a picture from a phone camera is better than no photo at all
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unggoy Murderer Avatar
32 months ago

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.
I'm a self-proclaimed "pretty serious" photographer, I have a Canon 7D MK II and a great lens for it.

The best tool to create art is whatever you have, and whatever you make of it. I have taken some pictures on my iPhone that look as good as or potentially better than what I could capture on my Canon. My Canon, lens and battery grip also collectively weigh 20x as much as my iPhone, doesn't fit in my pocket, and doesn't go everywhere with me.

Equipment / brand snobbery in photography is boring and vapid; don't be one of those people.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
32 months ago
No subscription?!? Love them already
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VampyricGentleman Avatar
32 months ago

I'm a self-proclaimed "pretty serious" photographer, I have a Canon 7D MK II and a great lens for it.

The best tool to create art is whatever you have, and whatever you make of it. I have taken some pictures on my iPhone that look as good as or potentially better than what I could capture on my Canon. My Canon, lens and battery grip also collectively weigh 20x as much as my iPhone, doesn't fit in my pocket, and doesn't go everywhere with me.

Equipment / brand snobbery in photography is boring and vapid; don't be one of those people.
This is so true. A long time ago when I was not in as good a financial situation as I am now I owned a Sony Ericsson Xperia X8. I had an old Sony R1 as my main camera. Anyway a friend invited me to a Facebook online camera club which was full of people bragging about how they “only” spent £3000 on a lens. Anyway, they hosted a competition for a winter shot. So I entered something from the X8 (which if memory served cost £85) and won the competition (which was judged on the number of likes) by a country mile. You can imagine the equipment snobs horror when I told them what I used when they were using equipment that could have easily been 30x more expensive and their results were no where near as good.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)