Orion by Halide: Transform Your iPad into a Versatile HDMI External Display

Lux, the creators of popular iPhone photography apps like Halide, Spectre, and Skylight, have launched their latest innovation: Orion. This app transforms your iPad into an external HDMI display for cameras, gaming consoles, and even VHS players.

While Lux is renowned for its mobile photography applications, the company developed Orion to fulfill a personal need. In professional photography, connecting an external monitor for a wider view is essential. Orion facilitates this connection and allows users to share screenshots with their team effortlessly, providing a more collaborative photography experience.

One notable feature is the enhanced gaming experience it offers. Lux highlights that playing Nintendo Switch games on a larger iPad screen is a significant advantage, particularly while traveling. Unlike most adapters that limited the Switch to a 60 frames per second output at 1080p resolution, Orion incorporates an AI-powered upscaling feature that sharpens low-resolution inputs for a clearer display.

Moreover, Orion provides advanced control over your iPad’s screen brightness, exceeding the device’s standard settings. This is particularly useful for viewing videos in bright daylight, as users can adjust the brightness to HDR levels, or dim it for a more comfortable experience during late-night flights.

The inspiration for Orion arose from the new features introduced with iOS 17, particularly the external webcam support on iPads. This concept sparked the idea to repurpose the iPad as a portable display. Development began on August 6 and the app officially launched just 45 days later, on September 20.

Orion boasts a retro design aesthetic inspired by 1980s electronics brochures and VCR interfaces, complete with nostalgic menus and a custom-made pixel font named Radiant.

The app is available for free, with an upgraded version, Orion Pro, offered for $5. The Pro version includes AI upscaling, CRT emulation for retro games, image adjustments, and future features released by Lux. Importantly, there are no subscription fees.

To assist users in selecting the right adapters for use with Orion, Lux has compiled a buying guide, highlighting their top recommendations alongside useful accessories, such as iPad stands and mounts.