If you’ve ever held a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone and carefully looked at its camera, you might have noticed a mysterious marking «AL» This acronym often raises questions about what it means, how it affects quality, and how it differs from standard cameras. In this article, we'll go into detail about what's behind the label. AL-The camera, how it works in Redmi devices (including models from 2023-2026), and whether to overpay for a smartphone with such technology.
We'll mark it right away: AL-Xiaomi Redmi cameras are not a marketing ploy, but a real technology feature that changes the way we shoot in low light, but their benefits are not always apparent, and in some scenarios they may even be inferior to classic solutions. Next, we’ll explain why this happens and help you determine if you need this feature in your everyday use.
What does it mean? AL Xiaomi Redmi camera: decoding the abbreviation
abbreviation «AL» It stands for Aspherical Lens, which is an aspherical lens, a type of optics in which the surface is not part of a sphere (unlike traditional spherical lenses:
- 🔍 Correction of optical distortion (for example, barrel effect at the edges of the frame).
- 📸 Improved field field field of image, especially in angular areas.
- 🌓 Raising light strength – the ability to collect more light at the same aperture.
- 📏 Reducing the dimensions of the module without loss of quality (important for thin smartphones).
In smartphones Xiaomi Redmi (for example, in the Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, Redmi K60 or POCO F5 Pro) AL-The lenses are most often installed in the main wide-angle module or telephoto, which is because these lenses are the most susceptible to distortion due to the complex optical circuitry.
It’s important to understand that aspherical lenses don’t guarantee “super quality” by themselves, they only correct the shortcomings inherent in compact cameras.+ AL-The lens helps reduce chromatic aberration (color halos around contrasting objects), but does not replace a good sensor or image processing processor.
How AL-The camera is different from the usual: a technical comparison
To understand the real benefits AL-Let’s compare them with classical spherical lenses in terms of key parameters:
| Parameter | AL-camera) | Ordinary camera (spherical lens) |
|---|---|---|
| Distortions along the edges | Minimum (up to 5-10%) | Notable (up to 20-30%) |
| Alight (F-number) | May be lower (for example, f/1.7 instead f/1.9) | Usually higher, for example, f/2.2) |
| Size of the module | Compact with the same optical strength | More cumbersome to achieve similar quality |
| Price of production | 15-25% more expensive due to manufacturing complexity | Cheaper and easier in mass production |
| Effectiveness in the dark | Better with less light loss | Worse because of aberrations |
In practice, this means that AL-Xiaomi Redmi cameras give clearer images in low light conditions (such as dusk or artificial light), but the difference may not be noticeable during the day. K50 Pro AL-The lens showed 10-15% better detail in dark corners of the frame compared to the Redmi Note 11 Pro without aspherics.
⚠️ Attention: Not all AL-The cameras are the same! in budget Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) 10A) Aspherical lens can be simplified and have minimal effect. 13T Pro) uses premium multi-layer optics.
What models Xiaomi Redmi has AL-cameras: full list
Aspherical lens technology has been used in Xiaomi smartphones since 2020, below is the current list of Redmi models (including the sub-brand). POCO), where AL-The cameras are officially confirmed or tested:
- 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G (main camera 200 MP s AL-lens).
- 📱 Redmi K60 / K60 Pro (wide-angle and telephoto modules).
- 📱 POCO F5 Pro (main camera 64 MP).
- 📱 Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G (main camera 108 MP).
- 📱 Redmi K50 Gaming (wide-angle module).
- 📱 Xiaomi 12T / 12T Pro (although it's not Redmi, but the technology is the same).
Note: In budget models (e.g. Redmi) 12C or POCO M5) AL-Lenses are not usually used – simple plastic lenses are installed there to reduce the cost of production.
To find out if your smartphone has an aspherical lens, check:
- Official specifications on the Xiaomi website (Camera section).
- Marking on the module itself (inscription «AL» near-lens).
- Tests in apps like Camera MX Or Manual Camera – look at the level of distortion around the edges.
☑️ How to check AL-camera on his Redmi
Pros and cons AL-In practice, cameras: an honest review
Aspherical lenses don’t always meet expectations, and consider the real pros and cons of the popular Redmi models:
Advantages AL-camera
- 🌙 Best Night Shooting: 20 to 30% less noise in dark areas (Redmi tests) K60 Pro vs Redmi Note 12 Pro).
- 🎯 Clearness on the edges: there is no “soapiness” on the boundaries of the photo (relevant for architectural photography).
- 🔄 Less glare: Aspheric better suppresses parasitic lights from lanterns or the sun.
Deficiencies and limitations
- 💰 The rise in the cost of the smartphone: models with AL-cameras are usually 10-15% more expensive than analogues without it.
- 📉 Not always noticeable effect: during the day the difference with a good spherical lens is minimal.
- 🛠️ Difficulty of repair: replace broken AL-More expensive and longer (requires an original module).
For example, in POCO F5 Pro AL-The camera has a distinct advantage in night city photography, but in daytime landscapes it is difficult to distinguish it from the Redmi Note 12 Pro without an aspheric camera. AL-No lens) quality difference with Redmi Note 11 Pro+ It is only shown when the photo is increased by 200-300%.
⚠️ Note: If you shoot mostly in automatic mode and do not increase the photo, overpay for the photo. AL-The camera doesn't make sense. It only shows its benefits when you're manually set up or professionally processed.
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To maximize the potential AL-cameras, turn off the automatic. HDR in camera settings and shoot in format RAW (This will allow you to manually correct distortions in Lightroom or Photoshop.
How to turn on and set up AL-camera on Xiaomi Redmi
Unlike software functions (e.g. Night mode or AI-The aspherical lens is a hardware solution that doesn't require a separate activation, but there are a few things that will help unlock its potential:
1. Verification of support AL-regimes
Some Redmi models, for example, K60 Pros have special profiles for aspherical lenses to find:
- Open the Camera app.
- Go to the Supplementary → Camera settings → Lens modes.
- If you have an Aspherical Lens Optimization option, turn it on.
2. Optimal settings for AL-camera
Recommended parameters for the best result:
- 📷 Resolution: Maximum (e.g., 200 MP in Note 12 Pro)+).
- 🌓 Exposition: -0.3 EV (avoid the light).
- 🔍 Focus: Manual (autofocus can be wrong with aspherics).
- 🎞️ Format: RAW (if you plan to post-process).
3. Testing applications
To evaluate the real quality AL-cameras, use:
- 📊 Camera FV-5: Shows the level of distortion in real time.
- 🔬 Manual Camera: allows you to manually adjust the lens settings.
- 📈 DXOMARK Camera Test: Compare your model with your peers.
For example, at Redmi. K50 Pro when shooting in Manual Camera with disabled AI You can see how the aspherical lens is better at conveying details in shadows compared to the Redmi Note. 11S (without AL).
How to Check Camera Distortions Without Apps
AL-Cameras vs Classic: Which is Best for Different Scripts
Choice between a smartphone with AL-It depends on your tasks, and it depends on your camera:
| Screenplay for the shooting | AL-camera) | Classic camera (plus) |
|---|---|---|
| Night photography | Less noise, better detail | Can lose in dynamic range |
| Portrait photography | More natural bokeh (less distortion) | Cheaper, often enough with stock. |
| 4K video footage | Less "jamming" (compression artifacts) | Easy to process (less data) |
| Macrograph | Clearness on edges (important for small objects) | Maybe it's brighter due to simple optics. |
| Serial shooting | Faster focusing (less corrections) | The processor is less heated |
Example: if you often shoot architecture (for example, facades of buildings), AL-camera K60 It's preferable, it minimizes the distortion of straight lines, and for a selfie or Instagram story, the difference is not noticeable, and you can save money by choosing a Redmi Note 12 without aspherics.
It is also worth considering that in video shooting the advantages AL-In the dark, even Xiaomi flagship models (for example, in the dark) appear only in good lighting, 13T Pro) include aggressive software processing that eliminates hardware advantages.
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AL-The cameras only pay off in three cases: (1) professional post-processing; (2) frequent night photography; (3) wide-angle or telephoto modules; and in all other scenarios, the difference is minimal.
Frequent problems with AL-cameras and how to solve them
Despite the benefits, aspherical lenses can be uncomfortable, and consider the typical problems and ways to fix them:
1. Blurring at the edges after software update
Sometimes, after the firmware update, the camera starts to "wash" the edges of the frames, which is due to incorrect data processing with the camera. AL-The solution:
- 🔄 Reset the camera settings: Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data.
- 📱 Install alternative shooting software (e.g. GCam with aspherical support).
- 🔧 Reverse to the previous firmware version (if the problem occurred after the update).
Color halos (chromatic aberration)
If you see rainbow stripes in a photo around contrasting objects, it's a sign of a poor-quality aspherical lens or contamination.
- 🧹 Gently wipe the lens with a waxless napkin (do not use alcohol!).
- 📸 Manually reduce exposure by 1-2 steps.
- 🖥️ Process your photo in Lightroom with the Defringe tool.
3. Overheating during long shooting
AL-Cameras require more computing resources to process the image, which can lead to heating:
- ❄️ Turn it off. AI-Improvement in camera settings.
- 🔋 Close the background applications before shooting.
- 📴 Use an external battery if you shoot video for more than 20 minutes.
⚠️ Note: If after the fall of the smartphone AL-The camera has started to give a lot of distortion (for example, fisheye), do not try to repair it yourself! Aspherical lenses require accurate alignment, which can only be performed in the service center Xiaomi.