When Xiaomi first introduced the 48MP smartphone, it was a sensation: users expected a revolutionary leap in photo quality. But a few years later, and now such matrixes are found even in budget models — from Redmi Note 12 to POCO X5 Pro. So what really lurks behind the number “48 MP”? Why are some photos amazing and others blurry, despite the high resolution?
In this article, we will understand:
- 🔍 How the 48MP sensor works and why real photos are often 12MP
- 📊 Xiaomi’s 12, 50 and 200MP cameras: where is the truth and where is the marketing?
- ⚙️ How to Enable Full Resolution and When to Really Need It
- 📸 Top.-5 Xiaomi smartphones 2023–2026 best 48-MP cameras (based on the results of DxOMark tests)
Spoiler: 48 megapixels isn't always about detail, it's about the flexibility of image processing and working in different lighting conditions, and if you think that the more MP, the better the photo, you're going to have some unexpected discoveries.
What is 48 megapixels in the camera Xiaomi: technical details
So, to start with, 48 MP is the number of pixels on a camera array that capture light, and the more of them, the more detail the image is theoretically more detailed, but the reality is that it's more complicated because of the physical limitations.
- 📏 Pixel size: In 48MP sensors (e.g. Sony) IMX586 Samsung GM1) The size of one pixel is usually 0.8 microns. For comparison: in 12-MP cameras (like the iPhone 13), the pixels are larger – 1.4-1.7 microns, which is better for shooting in the dark.
- 🔄 Pixel binning: To compensate for the small pixels, Xiaomi uses a 4-pixel-to-1 technology (called Tetracell or Quad Bayer) to combine the photo, resulting in a 12-megapixel photo, but with better light sensitivity.
- 📈 Dynamic range: 48MP sensors often support HDR10+, But it requires software processing that can eat up parts.
Interesting fact: in 48 MP mode, photos take 30-50 MB each, whereas in 12 MP mode - only 3-5 MB. This is important to consider if you have limited space on your smartphone.
⚠️ Note: Most Xiaomi smartphones have 12MP (binning) on default. To shoot at a full 48MP, you need to manually switch in the camera settings - more about this in the next section.
48 MP vs 12 MP vs 200 MP: Which is better in Xiaomi cameras?
Xiaomi offers smartphones with different camera resolutions: from 12 MP (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra – the main camera) to 200 MP (as in Xiaomi 13T Pro). Why then 48 MP is still relevant? Let's compare:
| Parameter | 12 MPs | 48 MP | 200 MP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixel size | 1.4-2.4 μm | 0.8–1.0 μm | 0.64 μm |
| Details in good lighting | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Quality in the dark | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ (binning-free) |
| File size (one photo) | 3-5 MB | 10–20 MB (12 MP) / 30-50 MB (48 MP) | 40-80 MB |
| The price of a smartphone | From 20,000. ₽ | From 15,000. ₽ | From 50,000. ₽ |
The bottom line is that 48 MPs is the middle ground between price, quality and versatility. They're worse than 12MP cameras in night photography, but better than 200MP in price/quality. AI-processing, the difference becomes even less noticeable.
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To check the actual resolution of the image, open its properties on the PC: if the width / height is more than 6000 pixels, this is a real 48 MP, if about 4000 is 12 MP with binning.
How to Enable 48 Megapixel Shooting on Xiaomi
By default, most Xiaomi smartphones take photos in 12 MP (pixel binning).To activate the full 48 MP, follow the following steps:
Open the Camera app|Click on the icon. ⚙️ Settings|Select Photo Resolution|Set the value of 48 MP (or Max. permission)|Restart the camera to apply changes-->
Important: In some models (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+), the 48 MP option may be hidden behind an additional menu.
- Press any area of the camera screen with your finger to make the Professional Mode menu appear.
- In the upper right corner, press three dots. ⋮ and select Additional.
- Activate the option of High Resolution or 48M.
⚠️ Note: Shooting in 48 MP turns off some features: 🚫 Night mode (automatically switches to 12 MP) 🚫 AI-Scene recognition (only works in binning mode) 🚫 Video 4K (When recording video, the resolution of the frame is always lower)
Why Xiaomi is hiding 48MP mode by default
Top.-5 Xiaomi smartphones with the best 48-MP cameras (2023–2026)
Not all 48MP cameras are the same, and we analyzed the results of DxOMark, GSMArena and user reviews to rank the best models with this matrix.
- 📸 Details (how clear the small elements are)
- 🌃 Night shooting (work without binning and with night mode)
- 🎞️ Video (stabilization, autofocus, color rendering)
- 💰 Price/quality ratio
The best options for 2026 are:
- Xiaomi 13 Pro (main camera: Sony) IMX890, 50 MP, but with support for 48-MP mode in additional settings) Pros: better color reproduction, optical stabilization, professional mode with RAW. Cons: high price (from 70 000) ₽).
- POCO F5 Pro (Sony IMX890, 64 MP, but with 48 MP shooting capability) Pros: fast autofocus, great detail in daylight. Cons: mediocre night mode.
- Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G (Sony IMX766, 200 MP, but with 48 MP option for optimal balance) Pros: versatility, good price (from 30 000 ₽). Cons: overheating during long shooting.
- Xiaomi 12T Pro (Sony IMX706, 200 MP, but with 48 MP mode for better processing) Pros: excellent video stabilization, bright screen. Cons: outdated processor (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1).
- Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G (Samsung HP6, 200 MP, but with 48 MP option) Pros: budget price (from 20 000 ₽), A good battery. Cons: a weak processor to process. RAW-file.
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If you want a camera for social media and everyday shots, 12MP is enough, but if you plan on typing or cropping, 48MP will give you a noticeable advantage.
When you really need a 48MP mode (and when it is useless)
Many users turn on 48 MP, thinking it will automatically improve the photo, and in practice it only works in a few scenarios:
- 🖼️ Printing photos: If you plan to print a larger photo A4 (21×29 centimeter), 48 MPs will give more details.
- ✂️ Crop: If you need to cut out a part of the frame (for example, increase the face in a group photo), high resolution will save you from loss of quality.
- 🌅 Bright lighting: In good light, 48 MPs perform best - detail higher than 12 MPs.
When 48 MP is not needed (and even harmful):
- 🌙 Night shooting: Small pixels do not catch light well, so the night mode automatically switches to 12 MP.
- 📱 On the smartphone screen, the difference between 12 and 48 MP is invisible.
- 📤 Sending to messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram and VK compress photos up to 2-5 MP, negating the benefits of high resolution.
- 🎥 Videotape: Even in 8K frame-holder ~33 MP, so 48 MP for video is not used.
Experiment: We shot the same shot on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ in 12MP and 48MP modes, and then we cut it by 300%.
- 🔍 12 MP: strong artifacts, blurred edges.
- 🔍 48 MP: small details (e.g., texture of cloth or leaves on trees) preserved).
Frequent issues with Xiaomi’s 48MP cameras and how to fix them
Despite the advantages, Xiaomi’s 48MP cameras have other problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The photos are blurry. | Trembling hands or slow autofocus | Use Night Mode (even during the day) or a tripod |
| Colors are not natural (shifted to green/blue) | Wrong White Balance or Cheap Matrix | Turn it off. AI-Color in the camera settings or shoot in RAW |
| When shooting at 48 MP, the camera freezes. | Lack of RAM or weak processor | Close the background apps or restart the phone before shooting |
| Photos too dark/light | Incorrect exposure | Manually adjust the Exposure (slider next to the down button) |
If problems persist, try resetting the camera settings to factory:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Camera and select the Warehouse.
- Click Clear Data (this will remove all user settings).
⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI If you're not shooting as well (e.g., noise or detail gets worse), check the firmware version. In some cases, a rollback to the previous version via Fastboot helps.