AL-Xiaomi camera: what is it and how to use it correctly

Introduction: why AL-The camera raises so many questions.

If you are the owner of a Xiaomi smartphone and notice a mysterious acronym in the characteristics or settings of the camera AL, Now, don't be surprised, this is one of the brand's signature technologies that often stays behind the scenes in reviews, unlike the usual 48 MPs, OIS or Night Mode, a term AL-The camera is rarely disclosed in detail, although it directly affects the quality of shooting in difficult conditions.

In this article, we will look at what is hidden behind the abbreviation. AL, What Xiaomi models are equipped with it, and why the manufacturer does not advertise this technology as actively as, for example, Leica optics. AL-The cameras on your device, how to turn it on (if required), and in what scenarios it is really useful, and why some users mistakenly confuse it. AL s AI-The cameras and how they differ fundamentally.

What is it? AL-camera: decoding and principle of operation

abbreviation AL Xiaomi stands for Ambient Light, not a separate physical module, but a set of hardware and software solutions for real-time exposure correction. ISO and excerpts, AL-The technology analyzes not only the brightness of the scene, but also the spectral composition of light, its temperature and even the direction of the source.

How does it work in practice? Suppose you're photographing a sunset: a conventional camera can illuminate the sky or drown in the shadows objects in the foreground. AL-The camera uses additional sensors (often integrated into the main module) for separate analysis. RGB-Based on this data, Qualcomm's Snapdragon or MediaTek processor adjusts the white balance and curves before you hit the descent, not after, as in the case of post-processing.

• 🔍 Ambient light sensors: Built into the top of the body next to the main camera (e.g., Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi Note 11 Pro)+).
• 📊 Machine learning algorithms: Trained from millions of images with different lighting (from fluorescent lamps to streetlights).
• ⚡ Hardware acceleration: Processing is performed by specialized units in the processor (e.g. Hexagon). DSP Snapdragon 8 Gen 1).

It is important to understand that AL-Technology does not replace HDR Or Night Mode, which is a complement to them, like when you're shooting in a room with a warm light. AL-The camera will prevent the yellowish color on the faces, which often spoils photos, and on the street in cloudy weather, it will help to avoid the gray, "washed" sky.

AL vs AI-The camera: what is the difference and why they are confused

Many users mistakenly believe that the AL and AI in Xiaomi cameras are the same thing, but in fact, they are different.

The key difference: AL It is used in the image capture phase, and AI — For example, if you're photographing a food in the light of an incandescent lamp, AL-The camera will prevent the orange tint from even before the picture is taken. AI-The camera can then paint the texture of the dish or enhance the saturation, ideally these technologies complement each other, but in budget models (for example, Redmi 10) often use only the same thing. AI.

⚠️ Note: In some cases (especially in the MIUI for the global market) option AL-The camera can be hidden in the engineering menu, if you don't find any mention in the camera settings. AL, That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist – it can work in the background.

What Xiaomi models are equipped with AL-camera: full list

Technology AL It has been in Xiaomi’s flagship models since 2020, but not all devices are equipped with it. AL-Cameras (according to official specifications and tests):

• 📱 Flagships: Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi 12S Ultra, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 14 Pro.
• 📱 Subflagships: Xiaomi 11T Pro, Xiaomi 12T Pro, Redmi K50 Pro, POCO F4 GT.
• 📱 Budget models (limited support): Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro+.

Note: In the budget series (Redmi Note, POCO M) AL-The camera often works in a reduced mode – for example, only when shooting in a format RAW or off HDR. To check the support on your device:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Go to Settings. → Additionally.
3. Look for Ambient Light Correction or AL Optimization (in Russian, it can be called Ambient Light Correction).

If you don’t have a model, but your model is in the list above, then AL-The camera is automatically operated without manual control, and the effect of this can only be measured by comparing the images to other smartphones under the same conditions.

How to turn on and set up AL-camera: step-by-step instruction

Most of the Xiaomi models AL-The camera is activated by default, but in some firmware (especially custom ones), you have to manually turn it on:

1. Open the Camera app and tap on the icon ⚙️ (Settings).
2. Go to the Additional Settings section (or Lab in newer versions of MIUI).
3. Find the Ambient Light Optimization option (could be called Ambient Light Correction) or «AL-If you don't have one, try the path: Settings → System system → Additionally. → Camera.
4. Activate the slider or select the mode: 🌞 Automatic correction (recommended). 🌑 Low Light Priority – Enhancing Details in the Dark. 🎨 Natural Colors – Priority of Natural Colors (Helpful for Portraits).

If there is no explicit mention in your firmware AL, But the model supports the technology, try resetting the camera settings to the factory: go to Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data after the reboot. AL-regimen.

⚠️ Note: On devices with MediaTek Helio (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) AL-camera may conflict with AI-If, after activation, AL photos become too dark, turn off the option of Scene Recognition in the camera settings.

For advanced users: In the engineering menu (#4636##) you can manually calibrate the sensors AL, But it requires knowing the parameters. RGBW-Incorrect settings can result in a permanent greenish or blue hue in all photos.

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If AL-The camera does not work after the update MIUI, Try to roll back to the previous firmware version or install the Magisk module "AL Enabler" (available on the forum XDA).

Practical application: when AL-I really need a camera.

AL technology is not a universal solution for all shooting scenarios, but it is most effective in the following cases:

• 🌅 Complex lighting: Sunsets, sunrises, shooting against the sun. AL Prevents the loss of detail in lights and shadows.
• 💡 Artificial light: Fluorescent lamps, LED-The camera neutralizes unnatural color temperatures (e.g., the green tint from energy-saving lamps).
• 👗 Portrait: Natural skin tones without the masks of automatic retouching, especially on dark or tanned models.
• 🏙️ Cityscapes at night: Keeps the colors of neon signs and lanterns without overlight.

Here's what situations AL-The camera will not help or even worsen the result:

• 🌳 Forest or natural scenes: May overcool green hues, making them unnatural.
• 🎂 Food macro: Sometimes overdoses with correction of warm tones (for example, makes chocolate gray).
• 🏊 Underwater photography: AL-sensors are not designed to work through the protective glass cover or aquabox.

To test AL performance, take a test shot in Pro mode with the option turned off and then on. Compare the histograms in any graphics editor (e.g., Lightroom Mobile): if AL works correctly, you will see smoother transitions between shadows, mid tones, and lights.

Common problems with AL-camera and their decisions

Despite the benefits, AL technology sometimes behaves in an unpredictable way, and here are the typical user complaints and ways to address them:

After the update MIUI AL-The camera stopped working, check the version of the camera module in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. In some assemblies (e.g, MIUI 14.0.3 for Xiaomi 12 Pro was an error that caused the AL I turned off when I switched between lenses. MIUI 14.0.2 or wait for the patch.

⚠️ Note: On devices with unlocked bootloader and custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) AL-The camera may not work due to the lack of proprietary Xiaomi drivers, in which case the only way out is to return to the official firmware.

For owners. POCO F4 GT redmi K50 Pro: if after activation AL in games or benchmarks (for example, 3DMark) There are artifacts on the screen, and it's because of the conflict between the camera drivers and the GPU, and the solution is to add the camera app to the Game Turbo exception list. → Special facilities → Game Turbo).

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AL-The camera is most efficient in automatic mode, and manual control of its parameters requires a deep knowledge of color correction and often leads to poor image quality.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about AL-camera