In recent years, smartphone manufacturers have been actively introducing artificial intelligence into mobile photography. Xiaomi was no exception: in most modern models (from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra), the so-called “Smart” has appeared. AI-But what's behind this acronym? How exactly does AI improve images, and should we trust automatic settings:
— how it works AI-camera-level;
What specific functions it performs in Xiaomi smartphones;
How to turn on, disable or configure AI to your needs;
Real-life examples of “before and after” with explanations.
Spoiler: AI-Xiaomi's camera is not just a marketing ploy, it's a set of algorithms that analyze the scene in real time and optimize the parameters of the shooting faster than a professional photographer would.
What is it? AI-camera in Xiaomi smartphones: just about the complex
term AI-The camera (from English Artificial Intelligence Camera) refers to an image processing system, where the key parameters of shooting are selected not by the user, but by machine learning algorithms. In Xiaomi smartphones, this technology debuted in 2018 with the Mi 8 model, and today it is even present in budget devices like the Redmi Note 13.
How does it work?
- Scene analysis: Before shooting, the camera scans the object through several sensors (main module, depth, spectral) and determines the: 🌄 Type of lighting (sunny day, overcast, artificial light, night shooting); 👤 Objects in the photo (faces, animals, food, documents, landscapes); 🎨 Color palette and contrast; 🔄 Motion (a static scene or a dynamic object).
Optimization of parameters.
- 📸 Exposure and white balance;
- 🔍 Sharpness and noise reduction;
- 🎭 Contrast and saturation;
- 👁️ Depth of field (ground blur).
- After you click on the descent, the AI refines the image: removes digital noise, improves details, and sometimes even “finishes” lost pixels (for example, in mode). AI Super Resolution).
In some firmware (for example, on Xiaomi) 12S Ultra has a hidden menu for advanced users to open:
Enter the code in the Camera app: ##4636##
Select "Camera Testing" → "AI Settings"1. Take a picture of the same object with the AI on and off
2. Compare details on dark/light areas
3. Check if the settings are saved after the reboot
4.Assess the processing speed (delay after descent)-->
⚠️ Note: On smartphones with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) AI-The camera may not work properly or even be absent – its functions are tied to proprietary libraries Xiaomi.
AI-Camera vs Manual Settings: Which is Best for High-Quality Photos
The big question that's really exciting for photographers is, can we trust AI or is it better to shoot in manual mode? The answer depends on the situation. Let's do a comparative analysis.
When AI-camera outperforms manual settings:
- 🌃 Night photography. Algorithms. AI Ultra Night Mode combines up to 10 frames with different exposures, which is impossible to do manually;
- 👨👩👧👦 Group portraits.AI automatically focuses on all faces and balances lighting;
- 📄 Documents and texts. AI Document Mode fixes perspective better than any manual editor;
- 🎢 Dynamic scenes: When shooting moving objects, AI adjusts focus and exposure faster.
When is the best time to turn off? AI:
- 🎨 Creative photography. If you want a specific style (like low-contrast shots), the AI will get in the way";
- 🔍 Macro imaging. Macro mode. AI Often overdoses with noise reduction, smoothing out important details;
- 📸 RAW-When shooting in format.DNG post-processing AI is not applied;
- 💡 Non-standard lighting, like when you're shooting under ultraviolet light or with color filters.
Let’s do an experiment: take a smartphone Xiaomi 13 Pro and take a picture of the same landscape in three modes:
- S AI: The sky was saturated, the grass was green, but details were lost in the shadows;
- No AI: paler, but visible texture of clouds and leaves;
- Manual settings: managed to keep the balance, but it took 3 attempts.
💡
If you don’t like how AI handles photos, but want to keep it comfortable – try the mode. AI + Pro. It allows you to manually adjust exposure and white balance while maintaining scene recognition.
Hidden chips AI-Xiaomi cameras: which are not written in the instructions
Besides the obvious features, Xiaomi smartphones have several hidden features. AI-And these are the cameras that only advanced users know about:
1. AI Magic Clone (Cloning of Objects)
In Xiaomi models 13T And now there's a function of duplication of objects in the photo:
- Take a picture in mode. AI Clone (on the menu "More");
- Select an object (such as a person);
- Move a copy of it to another location in the frame;
- The AI will automatically adjust lighting and shadows.
2. AI Erase 2.0 (Removal of Excess Objects)
The algorithm can remove from the photo foreign elements (garbage, people, cars) with minimal artifacts. It works even on complex textures (for example, removing a person in the background of a forest). → Tools → Remove the object.
3. AI Cinematic Mode (Cinematic Video)
In video mode, the AI mimics the effect of cinematic depth of field (as in movies), automatically refocusing from one object to another. 12S Ultra and newer.
4. AI Voice Shutter (Voice Control)
You can take a selfie or a group photo with a voice command. Activated in the camera settings: Voice commands → Turn it on. Supports phrases in Russian: "Cheese!", "Smile!", "Take it off!".
Another little-known thing — AI In some regional firmware, the AI automatically adds a watermark with the date, location, and even weather (if geolocation is enabled) to the photo. → Watermark.
How to activate the hidden mode AI Pro
Problems AI-Xiaomi cameras and how to solve them
Despite the obvious advantages, AI-And there are some common problems that people have with cameras, and we'll look at some of the most common problems that we have and how we can fix them.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| AI doesn't recognize scenes | Outdated firmware or damaged camera data | Update. MIUI Or reset the camera settings in Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data |
| Too aggressive treatment (face smoothing, unnatural colors) | Too high level of "beauty" in the settings AI | Turn it off. AI Beauty or reduce intensity in camera settings → Beauty. |
| Slow-motion footage from AI | AI analyzes the scene before each frame | Use the regimen. AI Fast Shot (in the menu "More") or turn off scene recognition |
| Artifacts during night shooting (blurredness, noise) | Lack of light for correct algorithms | Use a tripod and activate AI Tripod Mode in Night Mode |
| AI does not save settings after rebooting | The failure of the service com.android.camera | Clear the camera cache and restart the smartphone |
One of the most unpleasant problems is the overheating of the camera during long shooting with a camera. AI. The fact is that machine learning algorithms are actively loading the processor (especially in night mode).°C, AI automatically shuts down. Solutions:
- 📱 Use the Battery Mode in the settings;
- ❄️ Take off your case during the shooting;
- ⏸️ Take breaks between series of pictures.
⚠️ Note: On smartphones with Snapdragon processors 4xx (Like Redmi. 10A) AI-The camera may be unstable due to limited computing power, and in such cases, it is better to use third-party applications like GCam with AI functions disabled.
The future AI-Xiaomi cameras: what to expect in 2026-2026
Xiaomi is actively investing in the development of mobile photography with AI. According to patents and announcements, in the coming years we will be waiting for the following innovations:
1. AI Real-Time Translation in the Camera
Already in Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the feature of instant text translation with photos is being tested. Just point the camera at a sign or menu, and the AI will show the translation in real time (50 support is provided).+ language).
2. AI 3D Portrait
New algorithms will be able to create three-dimensional models of one photo (now it takes 10 photos).+ This will open up opportunities for AR-masks and virtual fittings of clothes.
3. AI Emotion Recognition
The camera will analyze facial expressions and suggest the best time to shoot (for example, when a person is genuinely smiling).
4. AI Low-Light Video
Video shooting in the dark has reached a new level: Xiaomi 15 is expected mode, where the AI will pick up details from neighboring frames in real time (as in films shot on the camera). ARRI Alexa).
Interestingly, Xiaomi labs are already testing cameras with neuromorphic chips that process images according to the principle of human vision, which will reduce the delay of shooting from 0.5 to 0.05 seconds.
💡
By 2026, Xiaomi plans to completely abandon manual settings in mass smartphones, transferring control of the shooting to artificial intelligence, but in the flagship models (Ultra series), the manual mode will remain for professionals.