Boke on Xiaomi: secrets of blurred background and professional photos

Introduction: why bokeh became a business card photo on Xiaomi

The bokeh effect is not just fashion, it's a revolution in mobile photography. When you see a portrait with a softly blurred background and a sharp object in the foreground, know that this is bokeh. Xiaomi smartphones have long ceased to be outsiders in this race - today even budget models can create an effect that was previously only available to SLR cameras.

But how does it work in practice? Why does a Redmi or POCO bokeh look natural on some models and a Photoshop-like one on others? In this article, we'll go through all the nuances, from hardware features (number of cameras, aperture, AI algorithms) to step-by-step tuning instructions, and you'll learn how to make a bokeh on Xiaomi as realistic as possible -- even if you don't have a flagship model.

Spoiler: The secret is not just the magic button in the camera app, but sometimes you just change the angle of the shot, or you just put the lights right, and your photos will play out in a new way.

What is bokeh and how it works on Xiaomi smartphones

The term bokeh (from Japanese bokashi, blurring) refers to the aesthetic blurring of the background that visually separates the subject from the surrounding space. In classical photography, this effect is achieved by optics: the wider the aperture of the lens (for example, f/1.8), the more blurring. But in smartphones, the physical limitations do not allow the use of the same lenses - this is where software processing comes into play.

Xiaomi smartphones (like other brands) use three main methods to create bokeh:

• 📱 Double/triple camera: One of the lenses (usually a telephoto or depth meter) analyzes the distance to objects, and AI algorithms build a depth map of the scene.
• 🤖 Artificial intelligence: Xiaomi neural networks (for example, in Mi 11 or Redmi Note 12 Pro models)+) recognize the boundaries of objects and simulate blur close to the optical.
• 🎨 Post-processing: after shooting, the smartphone applies filters, adjusting the intensity of the effect depending on the scene (portrait, macro, night shooting).

Interestingly, Xiaomi’s flagships (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra) use a hybrid approach, combining hardware blur (thanks to Sony’s large IMX989) sensor with software refinements. Budget models like the Redmi 10A bokeh are created exclusively by algorithms, so it often looks less natural.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi bokeh only works in Portrait mode, that’s fine – that’s how most mid-range smartphones work. Attempts to turn it on manually without dual camera support will lead to artificial blurring on the mask, which is easy to recognize by the torn edges of objects.

What Xiaomi models support bokeh: a comparative table

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally good at bokeh, and we've analyzed more than 30 models and put together a table of key features that affect blur quality. Look at the "Bokeh Type" column, which shows how natural the result will be.

As you can see from the table, even budget models like the Redmi 10C support bokeh, but the quality will be inferior to flagships. The main criterion is the presence of an additional camera for measuring depth (usually 2 MP), without it, the smartphone is forced to “guess” the boundaries of objects, which leads to artifacts.

How to turn on and configure bokeh on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

There are several ways to enable bokeh on Xiaomi, depending on the model and version of MIUI. We will look at a universal method that works on 90% of devices, and also reveal the secrets of fine-tuning for advanced users.

Method 1: Portrait Mode (the simplest)

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Scroll through the left/right shooting modes and select Portrait (sometimes called Boque or People).
3. Point the camera at the object. When you see the screen saying, "Ready to shoot" or the outline of the object is lit in yellow, you can take the picture.
4. After shooting, click on the thumbnail in the lower right corner, then tap on the icon. 🌟 (editing) → Bokeh to adjust the intensity of the blur.

Method 2: Manual control in Pro-mode (for experienced)

If your model supports Pro mode (available in Xiaomi 11T Pro, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and later), you can control the depth of field:

1. Enable Pro mode in the camera app.
2. Touch the badge. 📐 (depth of field) or find the Aperture slider.
3. Set the aperture value from f/1.4 (maximum blur) to f/8 (minimum).
4. Focus on the object and take a picture.

Make sure the object is 1-2 meters away from the background |

Use natural light (avoid contrasting shadows)|

Turn off digital zoom - it worsens the blur quality |

Check that there are no small details (hair, branches) in the frame that the AI can handle incorrectly.-->

An important nuance: in Pro mode, bokeh will look more natural, but it will require manual focusing. If your hands are shaking, you'd better use Portrait with autofocus.

⚠️ Note: On models without dual cameras (e.g. Redmi) 9A) Portrait mode may not be available. In this case, try third-party apps like Focos or AfterFocus, but be prepared for blurring to be less accurate.

Top.-5 Mistakes When Shooting on Xiaomi (and How to Avoid Them)

Even on Xiaomi’s flagship smartphones, bokeh can look ridiculous, unless you consider the key rules of composition, and we’ve collected the most common mistakes and give you specific tips on how to fix them.

Mistake 1: Too close to the object

If you bring a camera closer than 30 cm to a person's face, the AI algorithms lose their starting point for building a depth map, the result is blurred hair, ears, or even a nose. Solution: hold your smartphone at arm's length (50 to 70 cm) and use 2x zoom if you want to zoom in.

Mistake 2: A complex background with small details

Xiaomi's AI is bad at blurring backgrounds, where there are lots of small elements: tree foliage, grids, crowds of people. The algorithm can eat through parts of the background or leave them sharp. Solution: choose monochromatic walls, sky or blurred city lights as the background.

Mistake 3: Insufficient lighting

In the dark, Xiaomi’s camera automatically raises its ISO, which leads to noise. And noise prevents AI from pinpointing the boundaries of objects. Solution: Use an external light source (like a ring lamp) or turn on night mode if your model supports it (see table above).

Mistake 4: Incorrect focusing

If you tap the nose or ear instead of the eye, the camera will focus incorrectly and the bokeh will look unnatural. Solution: always focus on the most important details (the eyes for the portrait, the center of the flower for the macro).

Mistake 5: Excessive blurring in post-processing

Many users, after shooting, increase the intensity of the bokeh in the gallery to a maximum, which leads to a plastic effect, where the background looks like a homogeneous spot. Solution: when editing, keep the blur intensity at 50-70%.

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If you're shooting a group portrait, try Group Bokeh mode (available in Xiaomi 12 Pro and later) which automatically adjusts the depth of field so that all faces remain clear and the background blurs evenly.

Third-party apps to improve bokeh on Xiaomi

If you don't like Xiaomi's built-in algorithms, you can use third-party tools, and we tested 10 popular apps and selected those that actually improve blurring, rather than spoiling photos.

1. Focos (iOS/Android)

The app uses light field technology to mimic an optical bokeh, supports manual aperture, focal length and even bokeh balls, plus works on any smartphone, including the old Redmi.

2. AfterFocus (Android)

Perfect for manual editing of already taken photos, allowing you to manually circle the object, and then apply blur at adjustable intensity. Plus: no resolution restrictions. Minus: requires accuracy in the allocation of boundaries.

3. Fabby (Android)

He specializes in real-time bokeh portraiture, uses neural networks to segment objects, plus: there are Movie Portrait and Studio Light modes, minus: sometimes slows down on weak processors.

Important: Before installing third-party apps, check if your Xiaomi Camera2 model supports the API (you can find out through the Manual Camera Compatibility app).

Bokeh in a Xiaomi video: Is it possible?

So blurry video is the next level of skill, and unfortunately, not all Xiaomi smartphones support this out of the box, and we'll see what models do that, and how to turn it on.

Models with support for video bokeh

To date, only Xiaomi flagship devices are able to shoot videos with a blurred background in real time:

• 🎥 Xiaomi 13 Ultra - support 4K@30fps sideways;
• 🎥 Xiaomi 12S Ultra — 1080p@60fps;
• 🎥 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ — 1080p@30fps (Only in the mode "Portrait video").

How to turn it on

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Switch to Video mode.
3. Slap the icon. 🎭 (effects) and select Boque or Portrait Video.
4. Start shooting. Please note that you can't use zoom in this mode.

For models without built-in support (such as the POCO X4 Pro), you can use the Filmic Pro app with the DoubleTake plugin, which allows you to shoot video on the main and front cameras simultaneously, and then apply blur in post-processing.

⚠️ Attention: Bokeh video is a very heavy processor load. 7xx or below, overheating and forced shutdown of the effect may occur after 5-10 minutes of continuous recording.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Bokeh on Xiaomi

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The Xiaomi bokeh is a combination of hardware capabilities (number of cameras, aperture) and software processing (AI, depth algorithms). Even budget models can take quality pictures if you choose the right lighting and composition.