How to take a picture of the starry sky on Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

The sky is fascinating, but capturing it on a smartphone is not an easy task. Even Xiaomi’s flagship models require the right setup, preparation and patience to get clear pictures of the Milky Way or individual constellations. In this article, we’ll explore how to get around the limitations of a mobile camera and take photos that are not ashamed to show on social networks or type.

The main problem with Xiaomi's night sky is noise, blur and little detail, with the small sensor, the lack of optical stabilization in most models, and the automatic processing that smears the stars. POCO The key is to understand the physical limitations and use workarounds.

We won’t promise that your smartphone will replace a professional DSLR with a telephoto lens, but after reading this article, you will be able to:

• 🌌 Set up Xiaomi camera to shoot stars manually
• 📱 Choose the best smartphone models for astrophotography
• ⏱️ Choose the right time and place to shoot
• 🔧 Use additional accessories to improve quality
• 🖥️ Processing photos in mobile editors

Which Xiaomi models are better for shooting stars

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally good for astrophotography, but the key options to look out for are:

• 📸 Sensor size: the larger (in inches), the better the light absorption. 1/1.5" higher.
• 🔍 Lens light: look for models with aperture f/1.7 or more generally, for example, f/1.4).
• 📐 Manual mode: the ability to exhibit ISO, hand-exposure.
• 🔄 Stabilization: optical (OIS) preferably electronic (EIS).

Among the current models of Xiaomi (2022-2026) for astrophotography are best suited:

Important: even flagship models Xiaomi lose in astrophotography smartphones with a primary sensor 1/1.1" or larger (such as the Samsung Galaxy) S23 If you're making star photography a priority, consider alternatives.

⚠️ Note: on models without manual mode (for example, Redmi) A2 or POCO M6) It's almost impossible to take high-quality images of the sky. Automatic nighttime blurs the stars into bright spots.

Preparation for shooting: time, place and weather

Even the most advanced camera can't save you if you're shooting in the wrong conditions.

• 🌑 On moonless nights (new moon or young month).
• 🏔️ Far from the city light (30-50 km from megacities).
• 🌡️ In clear weather without clouds and smoke.
• ⏰ After 23:00, when the sky is darkest.

Check the cloud forecast and the phase of the moon in advance.

• 🌍 Time and Date - Moon phases.
• 🌌 Light Pollution Map – a map of light pollution.
• ☁️ Yr.no – Accurate cloud forecast.

The perfect place to shoot:

• 🏕️ Mountain peaks or clearings (minimum illumination).
• 🌊 Coast of lakes or seas (reflection of stars in water adds effect).
• 🚗 Parking on the outskirts of cities (if you can not go far).

The temperature also affects the result: in the cold below -10°C smartphone battery discharges faster, and the sensor can overheat at long shutter speeds. +5°C to -5°C.

⚠️ Warning: If you're shooting in cold weather, put your smartphone in the inner pocket of your jacket between the frames.

Xiaomi camera settings for shooting stars

Automated mode in Xiaomi is not suitable for astrophotography.

1. Activate Manual Mode (Pro) in the camera app.
2. Set the parameters manually (see table below).
3. Use a timer or remote to release the shutter (to avoid shaking).

The recommended settings for most Xiaomi models are:

How to set the focus to infinity:

1. Switch to Manual Mode (Pro).
2. Touch the screen and move the focus slider to the right (icon) ∞).
3. Set your focus (on some models, hold your finger on the screen).

On models without manual mode (for example, Redmi) 10A) You can try to cheat autofocus:

• 🔦 Illuminate a remote object (wood, pole) for 5-10 meters with a flashlight.
• 📱 Focus on it, then turn off the flashlight and take a picture of the sky.

Battery charge > 50%|Cleaned lenses from dust and prints|Activated air mode (so that notifications do not interfere)|Installed application for manual settings (if not in the stock camera)|External battery connected (for long sessions)-->

⚠️ Warning: When you shutter for more than 30 seconds, most Xiaomi models are software-limited and the picture turns dark. In this case, use Star Trail mode (if any) or take a series of frames and glue them together in the editor.

Accessories to improve the quality of pictures

Even with the right settings, without the extra equipment, it's hard to get clear stars.

• 📷 Tripod: mandatory for long shutter speeds. even budget Xiaomi Mi Tripod will do.
• 🔋 External battery: shooting in the cold quickly puts the battery down.
• 🔦 Red flashlight: to set up the camera in the dark (does not blind the eyes).
• 📱 Smartphone remote: avoids shaking when pressing the screen.

For advanced users:

• 🔭 Telescopic nozzle (e.g. Xiaomi Lens): increases the scale of the moon or planets.
• 🔄 Equatorial mounting: compensates for the Earth's rotation for ultra-long exposures.
• 📡 Bluetooth-remote with timer: for serial shooting.

If you have a budget, focus on the tripod and the external battery, which are the most quality gains for the lowest amount of money.

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Use the strap from the case as an improvised cable to pull the shutter: gently pull it to avoid shaking when pressed on the screen.

For supported models RAW (for example, Xiaomi 13T) It makes sense to purchase a memory card. UHS-II — It will speed up the recording of serial images and reduce the risk of loss of personnel.

Shooting and post-processing: from the frame to the finished photo

When you are ready, follow this algorithm:

1. Set your smartphone on a tripod and point to the area of the sky with the maximum concentration of stars.
2. Make 10-20 frames with the same settings (for subsequent addition).
3. Check the first picture for noise and sharpness. ISO ortress.
4. Take a few "darks" (closed-lens frames) to reduce noise during processing.

For processing on a smartphone are suitable:

• 📱 Lightroom Mobile: correction of exposure, contrast, noise removal.
• 🌌 StarStaX (Android): adding multiple frames to increase detail.
• 🎨 Snapseed: Local correction (e.g., dimming of illuminated corners).

Example of processing in Lightroom:

1. Increase the exposure to +1.0–+1.5 EV.
2. Increase the contrast to +20–+30.
3. Lower the shadows by -20 to study the Milky Way.
4. Use noise reduction (but not more than 30%, otherwise stars will turn into spots).

If you filmed in RAW, Export the final image to the JPEG 90-100% quality for social media.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced photographers sometimes make mistakes when shooting the sky.

• 🌆 Shooting with a bright moon: stars are clogged with moonlight. Use apps like PhotoPills to plan.
• 📱 Holding your phone: even a slight shaking lubricates the picture. Always use a tripod.
• ⚡ Too high. ISO: You get colored noise, you better increase the shutter speed or take a few frames to add up.
• 🌫️ Focus on the cloud: Autofocus can be lost on near objects. Always use manual focus.
• 🔋 Battery discharge: in the cold, the smartphone can turn off at any moment.Take powerbank.

Another common problem is the hot pixels, which are bright spots in the image that are not associated with stars, and they come from overheating of the sensor, to reduce the number of pixels.

• Let the camera rest between the series of images.
• Do not shoot in direct sunlight before the night shooting.
• Use "darks" (closed-lens frames) to remove hot pixels in StarStaX.

If you see strange stripes or gradients in the pictures, try:

• Change the location of the shooting (possibly near the source of infrared radiation).
• Turn off night mode and AI improvements in camera settings.
• Take a few shots with different exposures and put them in HDR-editor.

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The most common mistake is to shoot stars automatically. Even the night mode in Xiaomi is optimized for cityscapes, not astrophotography. Always use manual settings!

Alternative ways: if the camera Xiaomi failed

If your Xiaomi model doesn’t support manual settings or the results don’t suit you, there are workarounds:

• 📱 Apps for astrophotograph: NightCap Camera (iOS/Android) — It automatically adjusts the settings for stars. AstroCamera is specialized for shooting the Milky Way. ProCam X is advanced manual mode for older models.
• 🔭 Telescope connection: with an adapter, you can use your smartphone as a camera for astronomical observations.
• 🖥️ Stacking on PC: Move over RAW-file on your computer and process it in DeepSkyStacker or Sequator.

For owners of Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ function AI Sky Enhancement in the gallery. It artificially enhances the contrast of stars, but it often over-exposes saturation. Use it carefully:

1. Open the picture in the gallery.
2. Press Edit. → AI → Improving the sky.
3. Adjust the intensity of the effect (optimally - 30-50%).

If you are serious about astrophotography, consider buying a used SLR camera (like Canon). EOS 600D) It's cheaper than Xiaomi's flagship, but it'll give you much better results.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions