What is the width in the Xiaomi smartphone: a full guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are equipped with complex multi-module photo systems, in which the key role is played by the so-called “shirk”. This is a slang term photographers and enthusiasts of mobile photography call ultra-wide-angle camera, which allows you to cover much more space in the frame than a standard lens. Understanding the principles of this module opens up new creative horizons for the user, allowing you to create impressive landscapes, architectural shots and dynamic interior photos without retreating.

Unlike the main sensor, which typically has a focal length equivalent to 24-27 mm, the ultra-wide-angle module in Xiaomi devices often offers a viewing angle of 115 to 123 degrees. This is equivalent to a focal length of about 13-16 mm in film photography. This optics can distort perspective, which, when used correctly, becomes a powerful artistic tool, not a technical disadvantage.

Owners of the Redmi Note series, Xiaomi Mi and Xiaomi’s flagship 13/14 devices often underestimate the potential of secondary cameras, switching to them only in rare cases. However, technical knowledge allows you to squeeze the most out of the hardware. In this article, we will discuss in detail how the wide optics work, why it sometimes shoots worse than the main module, and what hidden features are available in the standard MIUI and HyperOS camera application.

Technical characteristics of the ultra-wide-angle module

To understand what the width of your smartphone is, you need to look at the hardware specifications. Most mid-range and flagship models use a sensor with a smaller physical size than the main module, often 1/3 inch or smaller, which directly affects the amount of light that hits the sensor, especially in the evening.

The optical system of width in Xiaomi smartphones consists of several lenses assembled in a complex unit. The main feature of this design is the need to compensate for the natural distortion that occurs when light passes through the extreme parts of the lens. Engineers of the company implement special aspherical elements that help reduce the level of distortion, although it is not always possible to completely get rid of the barrel effect at the software level. The acuity of such lenses is usually lower than the main one, often being f/2.2 or f/2.4 against f/1.6 at the main module.

The key is the minimum focusing distance: ultra-wide-angle optics allow you to literally hold your smartphone close to the subject, creating a strong perspective and visually increasing the foreground, a property often confused with macro mode, but the pure width provides a wide coverage of the scenes, not detailed work on small textures at close range, unless the smartphone is implemented technology Super Macro.

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse an ultra-wide-angle camera with a separate macro module of 2 MP. Shirik has a high resolution (usually 8, 13 or 50 MP) and allows you to shoot landscapes, whereas a cheap macro module is only designed to shoot objects a few centimeters from the lens.

Sensor resolution is also critical. In top-end models like the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the width can have 50MP resolution and even optical stabilization, putting it on a par with the main module. In budget models, the resolution is often limited to 8MP, which when zooming or framing gives a noticeable loss of detail. Pixel density directly affects the sharpness of images in good light.

Differences between the main and telephoto lens

The main difference between modules is focal length and angle of view. The main module (Main) provides a natural perception of proportions for the human eye, while the width radically expands the boundaries of the frame. The telephoto lens, on the contrary, "approaches" distant objects, narrowing the angle of view. Understanding this triad allows you to choose the right tool for a particular scene, without relying blindly on automatic algorithms.

Depth of field is another parameter that behaves differently. At ultra-wide angles, virtually all objects in the frame, from the close foregrounds to the distant horizon, are in the field zone. This phenomenon is called hyperfocal distance. Unlike portrait mode on a telephoto lens, where the background is blurred optically, the width requires software processing to create a bokeh effect if you shoot in Portrait mode.

The image processing algorithms in the Snapdragon and Dimensity processors that power Xiaomi smartphones use different filter sets for each module. The main sensor often gets the maximum amount of processing power for noise reduction and HDR. The width can be processed in a simplified scenario, which leads to differences in color reproduction. White balance on different cameras can “float”, creating noticeable differences when switching zoom.

Below is a comparative table of characteristics of typical camera modules in Xiaomi smartphones mid-range and high-end:

How to activate and configure ultra-wide-angle shooting

To go wide-angle in a standard MIUI or HyperOS camera app, you just need to open the photo interface and find the zoom panel. It's usually located at the bottom of the screen or on the side, depending on the orientation of the smartphone. You need to click on the icon designated as 0.6x or 0.5x. In some models with high-power optics, the value can be 0.7x.

If the ultra-wide-angle icon is missing, it may be hidden in the option menu. Click on the More button on the right side of the screen and select Wide-angle mode, or simply switch to the tree/mountain icon, which often symbolizes landscape photography. In newer versions of the shell, the interface can be customized, so the arrangement of elements can vary from model to model.

For best results, we recommend you turn on the framing grid. Go to the camera settings (three bars in the corner), select Settings and activate the Grid item. This will help align the horizon, which is critical when shooting wide, because even the slightest tilt of a smartphone creates a strong implosion of perspective. Composition in wide-angle shooting requires special attention to lines.

It’s worth noting that in some scenarios, such as when Macro or Portrait mode is turned on, the smartphone can automatically switch to using the ultra-wide-angle module, even if you didn’t choose 0.6x zoom. Keep an eye on the on-screen indicator to see what exactly optics are working at the moment. This is especially true for Super Macro mode, which is often based on width autofocus.

Use cases and creative techniques

Ultra-wide-angle optics are indispensable for limited spaces. Interiors, cramped rooms, car interiors are exactly the situations where the width allows you to show the whole situation without moving away from the object. But it is important to remember the perspective: objects closer to the edges of the frame will be visually stretched. Use this to create dynamic compositions, placing the main object in the center, and secondary elements around the edges.

Landscape photography is the second most popular genre for this module. Shire captures not only mountains or buildings, but also the vast sky, adding a snapshot of epicity. When shooting architecture, vertical lines of buildings can converge or curve. To minimize this effect, try to hold your smartphone strictly vertically, without putting it up or down. Vertical lines must remain parallel to the edges of the frame.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid placing people or important objects at the very edges of the frame when shooting wide. Optical distortions can disproportionately stretch faces and figures, making them comical or unnatural.

So the coolest creative thing to do is to shoot from the bottom, and you can put your smartphone down to the ground level and point the camera up, and you can really zoom in on the scale of tall objects like skyscrapers, trees, monuments, and in this mode, the sky takes up most of the shot, and the subject is monumental, and this is often used in street photography to create dramatic effects.

Quality problems and program correction

Despite the advantages, the ultra-wide-angle modules in Xiaomi smartphones have a number of inherent problems, the most notable of which is vignetting, or dimming of the angles of the frame. This is an optical defect, however, which is often corrected by the software itself by the camera app. If you use third-party applications (for example, Open Camera or ProCam), vignetting can be more pronounced, since the lens profile is not applied automatically.

Another common problem is chromatic aberrations: these are colored halos (purple or green) at contrasting object boundaries, especially noticeable when shooting against the sun. Xiaomi algorithms usually do a good job of this, but in difficult lighting conditions artifacts can be seen. It is also worth mentioning the lower dynamic range: the width is worse than the "pull" details from shadows and lights compared to the main sensor.

In low light conditions, the quality of the images drops sharply. The lack of optical stabilization and less aperture lead to digital noise and grease. In such situations, it is better to switch to the main module and use digital zoom if quality is more important than the viewing angle. The night mode is wide, but it requires very steady hands or tripod, since the shutter speed can be long.

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To reduce noise in night shots from the wide, use manual mode (Pro). Set ISO at a minimum (50-100) and shutter speed for 2-4 seconds, be sure to attach the smartphone to a tripod.

Software-based distortion correction (recording the shape of the barrel) can also lead to loss of detail at the edges of the frame. The algorithm stretches the edges to straighten the lines, which blurs the pixels. If you want maximum detail throughout the field of the frame, sometimes it makes sense to shoot the main module and take a panorama, although this takes longer.

Hidden functions and PRO mode on wide coal

Many users are unaware that the PRO manual settings mode in Xiaomi’s camera fully supports the ultra-wide-angle module. By switching to PRO, you can select an active camera (lens icon), set up a RAW save format and get a file with minimal software processing, which provides a huge post-processing opportunity in Lightroom or Snapseed.

In PRO mode, you can have MF (Manual Focus) focus settings. This is particularly interesting at ultra-wide angles, because you can experiment with infinity focus or close objects, which is not available in automatic mode. You can create images with unique sharpness by controlling the focus area manually.

You also need to look at the Long Shutter speed feature in creative modes, and with a wide screen, you can shoot beautiful tracks from car headlights or starry sky, and the wide angle allows you to capture more sky or road, making the composition more saturated, but remember to heat the sensor when you take long-term high-resolution video or series of photos, which can cause the camera to temporarily shut down.

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RAW mode in conjunction with the ultra-wide-angle module gives professionals maximum flexibility in color correction and correction of distortion on the computer.

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