Why Xiaomi installs cameras in their devices: a full analysis of functions and hidden features

The cameras in Xiaomi devices are no longer just selfie or video modules, and today they perform dozens of tasks, from biometric authentication to smart home management, but why does the manufacturer integrate cameras even into gadgets where they seem redundant, such as Mi TVs or Mi Robot Vacuum vacuum cleaners.

In this article, we will take a closer look at 5 key reasons Xiaomi is equipping its devices with cameras, including little-known features that are not mentioned in the official instructions: how cameras work in the background, what data they collect (and whether they transmit it somewhere), and how to disable unnecessary functions without losing basic functionality.

Spoiler: 80% of the time, Xiaomi cameras are used for convenience, not for spying, but there are nuances to be aware of.

1. Biometric authentication: unlocking face and gestures

The main reason why cameras appeared in Xiaomi smartphones is facial recognition to unlock the screen. Face Unlock technology works on most models, starting with the Redmi Note 5 (2018), Unlike the fingerprint scanner, the camera allows you to unlock the phone even with gloves or dirty hands.

How this works in practice:

• 🔍 Infrared lighting (in flagships like Xiaomi 13 Ultra) scans the face even in the dark.
• 🔐 3D-Face card (in models with ToF sensor) protects against unlocking the photo.
• ⚡ Algorithm MIUI Analyze up to 128 face points in 0.3 seconds (according to Xiaomi).

However, there is a hidden disadvantage to this feature: budget models (like Redmi 10A) use two-dimensional photo recognition, which is less secure. An attacker can unlock the phone by showing the owner asleep. To check what technology is used in your smartphone, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Face Recognition.

⚠️ Warning: If you use Face Unlock in Xiaomi’s budget models, turn off the “Unlock with your eyes closed” option in the security settings.This will prevent your phone from unlocking while you sleep.

2.Smart Home and Gesture Control: How Cameras Replace Remotes

The cameras in Xiaomi devices are used to control the smart home through gestures, for example, in the Mi TV Q2, the front camera recognizes hand movements:

• 👋 Raised palm - pause/replay.
• 👉 Index finger left/right - rewind.
• 🤏 Fingers reduced - changing the volume.

A similar technology works in Xiaomi Smart Projector 2, where the camera tracks the position of the head for autocorrection of the image (Auto Keystone function), which is convenient if the projector is at an angle to the screen.

But there's a caveat: for gesture control to work, the camera must always be on, which raises privacy questions, and in the settings of Mi TVs, you can turn off gestures, but then you lose the autofocus on the user (Face Tracking, which turns the camera behind you during video calls).

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If you're worried about the camera running on a Xiaomi TV, seal it with opaque tape. The gesture controls will shut down, but the basic features (like Netflix) will remain functional.

3.Security and CCTV: How Xiaomi uses cameras for protection

Many Xiaomi devices with cameras perform video surveillance functions, such as:

• 🏠 Mi Home Security cameras – round-the-clock surveillance with motion detection.

The AI Human Detection technology in Xiaomi cameras is particularly interesting, because it distinguishes people from pets and doesn't send false notifications, like if your cat runs past the Mi Home Security Camera 360°, it won't start recording, but if a human appears in the frame, the owner will receive a push notification with a photo.

But here's the question: where does this data go? By default, the video from Xiaomi cameras is stored.

• 📱 Locally on microSD (if installed).
• ☁️ In the Mi Cloud (only if you have given permission).
• 🔌 Nana NAS-server (if Synology integration is configured or QNAP).

⚠️ Attention: B 2022 In the year, researchers from Kaspersky discovered a vulnerability in the data transfer protocol of Xiaomi cameras (CVE-2022-30136). Security updates have closed this gap, but if your camera is released before 2021 Check the relevance of the firmware in the Settings → About the device → Update of the PO.

4. Improved Call and Conference Quality: MIUI Technologies

The front-facing cameras in Xiaomi smartphones and tablets are optimized for video calls, such as the Xiaomi Pad 6 using AI Portrait Mode technology, which:

• 🎨 Blurring the background in real time (the effect of "bokeh").
• 💡 Automatically adjusts the lighting of the face.
• 🔇 Suppresses microphone noise if the camera "sees" what you're saying.

And the Xiaomi 13 series has added Eye Contact, which simulates eye contact even when you're looking at a screen, not at a camera, with AI that analyzes eye position and corrects the image.

But there is a pitfall: to work these features, Xiaomi collects biometric data (such as a face card for correction), this data is stored locally, but the terms of the agreement on the use of MIUI indicate that anonymized metadata can be transmitted to Xiaomi servers to improve the algorithms.

Open Settings → Privacy

Select App Permissions → Camera

Disable camera access for Google Meet, Zoom and Mi Video Call

Reset the device

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5.Augmented Reality (AR) and Games: The Hidden Capabilities of Cameras

The cameras in Xiaomi devices are used to work with augmented reality technologies, such as:

• 🎮 Games with AR: Xiaomi 12 Pro is supported by Google ARCore, which allows you to run games like Pokémon GO Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is a highly accurate tracking device.
• 🛒 AR-purchases: in the application Mi Shopping you can "try on" furniture in the interior through the camera.
• 📏 Measurements: function MIUI Measure (available on flagships) allows you to measure distances to within 1 cm by simply pointing the camera at the object.

For work. AR You need a deep sensor (ToF or LiDAR), which is not available in all models, for example, in the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+ It's not there, so AR-Features are worse than in Xiaomi 13 Ultra. the full list of supported devices can be found on the Google ARCore website.

Interesting fact: in 2023, Xiaomi patented AR Glasses technology with built-in cameras that will project information directly onto the retina of the eye. While this is a concept, in the future, Xiaomi glasses cameras can replace smartphones.

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AR-The features in Xiaomi smartphones require not only a good camera, but also a powerful processor. AR-games, try to lower the camera resolution in the application settings.

6. Hidden functions of cameras that are not written in the instructions

In addition to the obvious tasks, the cameras in Xiaomi devices perform a number of undocumented functions:

1. Sleep Analysis: Smartphones with an IR camera (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra) have a hidden Sleep Monitoring feature, so if you put your phone next to your bed with a camera, it tracks your sleep movements and reports to Mi Health. It's enabled through Settings → Special Opportunities → Sleep Mode.
2. Pulse detection: The smartphone camera can measure the pulse by changing skin color (PPG technology), you need to put your finger on the camera and start the Mi Heart Rate application.
3. Document Scanner: MIUI 14 features Doc Scanner, which converts photos of documents into PDFs through the camera with automatic cropping and text enhancement.

Another little-known feature is Black Box mode in some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12S Ultra), which, if enabled in the camera settings, will continuously record video in the background (like a DVR), saving the last 5 minutes in the buffer, which is useful for capturing sudden events, but it puts the battery down a lot.

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To turn on Black Box mode, go to Camera → Settings → Additional → Continuous Recording. Note that the function only works when the charger is connected.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cameras in Xiaomi devices