How to take a picture of the starry sky on a Xiaomi smartphone: a complete guide from preparation to processing

Taking pictures of the starry sky on a smartphone is not only a way to capture the beauty of space, but also a real test for your mobile shooting skills. Xiaomi smartphones, especially the flagship models of the Mi series, Redmi Note and the newest models. POCO, They're equipped with cameras that, when you set them up correctly, can surprise you with the quality of the astrophoto, but it's not enough to just point the lens up into the sky to make a success, you have to take into account the lighting, the phase of the moon, the weather, even the geographic location.

In this article, we will learn how to make the most of your Xiaomi’s capabilities for shooting stars, the Milky Way and other celestial objects. You will learn which models are better suited for astrophotography, how to properly adjust the camera manually, what additional equipment can be useful, and how to process the images to make them look professional. Even if you do not have experience in photography, following our recommendations will help to achieve impressive results.

What Xiaomi models are suitable for shooting the starry sky

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally good at astrophotography, and key factors include the size of the array, the lens' aperture, manual support, and the availability of specialized processing algorithms.

• 📱 Xiaomi 13 Ultra / 14 Ultra - flagships with 1-Sony-inch IMX989, light-power f/1.9-f/4.0 And support for Astro Mode for shooting stars, perfect for serious astrophotography.
• 📱 Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a precursor with a similar matrix, but slightly less advanced processing. However, it is great for shooting the Milky Way.
• 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ / POCO F5 Pro – budget options with a Sony matrix IMX766 (1/1.56") light-powered f/1.9. They require more effort in post-processing, but are capable of decent results.
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is one of the first models with support for Night Mode 2.0, which allows you to shoot stars in automatic mode.

If your model isn't on this list, don't be upset.Even the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pros can shoot stars with the right settings, but it will take more patience and post-processing, the main thing is the presence of manual mode (Pro Mode) and the ability to set shutter speeds up to 30 seconds.

⚠️ Note: On models with a small matrix (for example, Redmi). 9A or POCO M3) Star photography is almost impossible because of the high noise levels, and in such cases it is better to use an external camera or limit yourself to shooting the moon.

Preparation for shooting: time, place and weather

Even the most advanced smartphone will not save you if you choose the wrong time or place. Starry sky is best photographed during the new moon (when the moon does not illuminate the sky) and away from city lights.

• 🌑 Moon phase: Optimal - new moon or narrow sickle. Full moon "clogs" with the light of the star. Check the phase in applications like Moon Phase Calendar.
• 🌌 Light pollution: Use the Light Pollution Map to find dark zones (grey or black areas).In the city, you can only shoot the moon and bright planets.
• ☁️ Weather: Cloudy, haze or fog will make shooting impossible. Check the forecast on Windy.com or AccuWeather.
• ⏰ Time of day: The best time is from 22:00 to 4:00, when the Milky Way is high above the horizon (in the northern hemisphere in summer, in the southern – in winter).

Also consider the geographic latitude, for example, in the middle of Russia, the Milky Way is visible low above the horizon, and in the south (Crimea, Caucasus) - almost vertically. For accurate planning, use the applications PhotoPills or Stellarium, which show the trajectory of the stars.

Equipment required: tripod, remote and accessories

A smartphone is not enough to capture the sky on Xiaomi, and because of the long exposure, any shaking of the hands will lead to a blurred frame.

• 📷 Tripod: Required for fixing a smartphone. even a budget Xiaomi Mi Tripod or universal Ulanzi will do. MT-08 phone-holder.
• 🎛️ Remote control: Allows you to take a picture without touching the screen (vibrations spoil the frame). You can use a Xiaomi Bluetooth Shutter remote or wired.
• 🔋 Power Bank: Shooting in the cold drains the battery quickly.Take an external battery with a capacity of 10,000 mAh.
• 🔭 Telescope or lens (optional): To photograph the moon or planets, you can use a smartphone adapter (for example, Xiaomi Telescope Adapter) and a telescope with a magnification from the moon or planets. 50x.

If you plan to shoot tracks of stars (long exposures with the rotation of the sky), you will need an equatorial mount (for example, the iOptron SkyGuider Pro), which compensates for the rotation of the Earth, allowing you to make exposures up to several minutes without lubrication. For beginners, a regular tripod will also work, but exposure will be limited. 20-30 second-by-second.

⚠️ Attention: Temperatures below 0°Xiaomi C smartphones can automatically shut down or limit exposure time. Warm up your phone in your pocket before shooting or use chemical heating pads.

A tripod with a smartphone holder|

Remote Descent Remote (Bluetooth or wired)|

Power Bank for 10,000+ mic|

Warm gloves (for shooting in winter)|

Planning annex (PhotoPills/Stellarium)-->

Xiaomi camera settings for shooting stars

The most important step is to set the camera up correctly, and most Xiaomi models use manual (Pro Mode) or dedicated Astro Mode (available on flagships) for astrophotography.

Manual control (Pro Mode):

• 📸 Resolution: Set the maximum (for example, 12 MP or 48 MP in Full mode).
• ⏱️ Shutter speed: 10 to 30 seconds (darker the sky, longer shutter speed) At exposures of more than 20 seconds, stars will begin to lubricate due to the Earth's rotation.
• 🌓 Diaphragm: Maximum open (e.g., open, f/1.9). In manual mode, this value is fixed.
• 📏 ISO: 1600 to 6400, 12800 will make a lot of noise.
• ⚖️ White balance: 3,500–4000K (Automatic balance will give you yellowness.
• 📐 Focus: Hand-to-hand (point at a bright star or the moon, then block focus).

Astro Mode (on supported models):

Available in Xiaomi 13 Ultra, 14 Ultra and some other flagships. The algorithm automatically combines multiple frames, reducing noise and improving detail.

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Select the mode More → Astro Mode.
3. Point the camera at the sky and wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 5 minutes).

Xiaomi models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (for example, 13 Ultra) in Astro Mode are available with exposure up to 60 seconds, which allows you to capture nebulae and faint stars.

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If the stars are blurry in manual mode, try reducing the shutter speed to 10 seconds and increasing the shutter speed. ISO It'll reduce the lubrication effect of the Earth's rotation.

Shooting Techniques: How to Avoid Mistakes

Even with the right settings, you can get damaged footage from errors.

• 🚫 Don't touch your smartphone while shooting: Vibrations from pressing the screen or buttons will result in grease.Use remote or delay timer (2-3 seconds).
• 🌡️ Control the temperature: During long shooting in the cold (-10°C) the smartphone may overheat (due to the processor load) or, conversely, shut down.
• 📲 Turn off autofocus and stabilization: Manually turn off AF (autofocus EIS (electronic stabilization to avoid accidental changes in settings.
• 🔋 Watch out for charge: Long shutter speed and screen on quickly drains battery.Plug Power Bank in advance.

If you're shooting the Milky Way, put a silhouette (tree, mountain, house) in the frame to give the picture a scale, and you can use the rule of thirds to do that: place the horizon on the bottom line of the grid and the Milky Way diagonally.

To shoot star tracks (long arcs from the rotation of the Earth) make a series of frames with exposure 30 second-and-spacing 1 Then combine them in StarStaX (free for free) PC/Mac).

Photo processing: from RAW before the final image

Raw images of the starry sky with Xiaomi often look dull and noisy. To unlock their potential, you will need processing.

1. Conversion RAW:

If you're shooting in a format RAW (available on flagships, open the file in Adobe Lightroom or Darktable (free:

• 📈 Exposition: Increase by +1.0–2.0 EV.
• 🔘 Contrast: Raise to +30–50.
• 🎨 Brightness of shadows: Raise on +50–80 to show off the stars.
• 🔴 Noise reduction: Apply Luminance Noise Reduction at 20-40 levels.

2. Improvement in Snapseed or Photoshop:

For the final finishing:

• Use the Selective Adjust tool in Snapseed to darken the sky and brighten the stars.
• Add Sharpness at 20–30, but don’t overdo it – artifacts will appear.
• Apply a lightweight Vignette to darken the edges and accentuate the center.

Combination of several personnel (stacking):

If you take a series of images with the same settings, you can combine them to reduce noise.

• Sequator (Windows, free) - for stacking star tracks.
• Starry Landscape Stacker (Mac, paid) - for landscapes with stars.

Example of pre- and post-treatment:

Original RAW: dim stars, high noise levels.




After Lightroom: the Milky Way details are shown, noise is reduced.




After Snapseed: increased contrast, added sharpness.

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Shooting in RAW grant 30-50% More details in processing compared to JPEG, especially in the darker parts of the sky.

Examples of photos and error analysis

Even experienced photographers face typical problems when shooting the sky, and consider common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Example of a successful frame (shot on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Astro Mode, shutter speed 30 seconds, ISO 3200):

Notice the clear stars, the Milky Way, and the lack of noise thanks to stacking.

Example of a failed frame (shot on Redmi Note 11 Pro, shutter speed 20 seconds, ISO 12800):

Here you can see the lubrication of stars (due to too long exposure without tracking) and strong noises (due to high speed. ISO).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions