How to take photos of the panorama on Xiaomi: all the ways and secrets

Taking panoramic photos on Xiaomi smartphones is an easy way to capture wide landscapes, architecture or group photos without distortion. However, many users face problems: the pictures are obtained with curves, with tears or uneven exposure. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods for creating panoramas on Xiaomi devices – from budget Redmi to flagship Mi and POCO – and also reveal professional tricks for perfect results.

Regardless of your smartphone model (whether it’s the Xiaomi 13 Ultra with Leica proprietary optics or the Redmi Note 12 with the base module), the panorama algorithm remains similar. But there’s a nuance: some devices support automatic mode with artificial intelligence, while others require manual tuning. We tested all current versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS) and identified key differences. If you want to learn how to make panoramas without artifacts, read on.

Which Xiaomi models support panorama shooting?

Almost all Xiaomi smartphones released after 2018 feature panoramic photography in the standard Camera app, but the features vary depending on the hardware and firmware version.

• 📱 Flagships (Xiaomi 12/13/14, Mi 11 Ultra, Mix Fold): Support panoramas 360°, Super Panorama modes (with AI correction) and RAW shooting for post-processing.
• 📱 Midsize segment (POCO F5, Redmi K60, Xiaomi 11T): Standard panorama up to 180°, without advanced crosslinking algorithms, but with manual exposure settings.
• 📱 Budget models (Redmi 10/12, POCO M5): simplified panorama (up to 120°), often without stabilization. On some devices, the feature is hidden in the Additional menu.

To check for mode on your smartphone, open the Camera app, swipe left across the screen (or tap three dots in the top right corner) and find the Panorama or Panorama tab. If it's not, update the firmware through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Separately, Xiaomi Mix Fold 2/3 foldable smartphones allow you to shoot panoramas using both screens (internal and external), which expands the creative possibilities. However, this requires you to activate the mode in the camera settings → Additional features.

Step-by-step: how to take a panorama on Xiaomi

The panorama algorithm is the same on most Xiaomi devices, but there are subtleties that affect quality. Follow this guide to avoid common mistakes:

1. Preparation: Make sure that there are no moving objects (cars, people, animals) in the frame, which will cause gaps at the joints of the images. Optimal conditions: uniform lighting (without sharp shadows) and wind (if you shoot in nature).
2. Start mode: Open the Camera app, select Panorama mode (or Panorama in global firmware). On some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9) the mode is hidden - swipe left to the end.
3. Setting: 🔄 Press the gear (⚙️) in the upper right corner to open the panorama settings. 📏 Select the direction of shooting: Horizontal (for landscapes) or Vertical (for tall buildings). 🎯 Turn on the grid (if any) - it will help keep the phone flat.

The shooting process:

slowly

Completion:

Remove moving objects from the frame

Check the lighting (avoid contrasting shadows)

Enable the grid in the camera settings

Charge your phone at least 30%

Clear the lens of fingerprints-->

On devices with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14), the AI Panorama Enhancement feature has appeared, which automatically corrects distortion and improves detail. To activate it, go to Camera Settings → AI functions and turn on the corresponding switch.

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If the panorama turns out to be a curve, try taking it in RAW format (if supported by your model), and then correct the distortion in Lightroom or Snapseed.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes get spoiled panoramas. We have collected top-5 errors and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi smartphones with wide-angle modules (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+), panoramas can be obtained with distorted edges. This is because the crosslinking algorithm is optimized for the main camera. To avoid a problem, select the option to use the main camera (if any) in the panorama settings.

Another common problem is panorama processing failures, and if the phone takes a long time to think or makes a mistake, try:

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🗑️ Clear the Camera app cache (Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear the cache).
• 📱 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI/HyperOS.

Advanced settings: how to improve the quality of panoramas

If you want to get professional-grade panoramas, Xiaomi's standard camera settings may not be enough. Here are some expert tips:

Manual exposure setting: By default, the camera automatically adjusts the brightness, resulting in uneven exposure.

1. Go to Panorama mode.
2. Tap the screen in the brightest area of the frame and hold your finger until the AE/AF Lock (Blocking Exposure and Focus) appears.
3. Start shooting without letting go of the block.

2.Using third-party apps. Xiaomi's standard camera doesn't always handle complex scenes.

• 📸 Google Camera (GCam): Supports panoramas with improved detail (requires manual installation).
• 🌄 Panorama 360: allows you to shoot spherical panoramas (suitable for Xiaomi with a gyroscope).
• 🎨 Open Camera: Open source, flexible settings for power users.

3. Post-processing. Even a perfect panorama can require further development.

• 🖼️ Adobe Lightroom: Perspective correction, color correction.
• 🌍 PTGui: professional crosslinking panoramas (for PC).
• 📱 Snapseed: A free mobile application for correcting distortions.

⚠️ Warning: When shooting panoramas in RAW format on Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Mi 11 Pro files take up to 150-200 MB each. Make sure that the phone has enough free space (at least 2-3 GB is recommended).

Photographing panoramas in difficult conditions

Sometimes you have to shoot panoramas in imperfect conditions, in low light, in motion, or with close-up objects, and here's how to deal with these challenges:

1. Night photography. In the dark, the stitching algorithms work worse, but there are workarounds:

• 🌙 Use Night Shooting Mode (if available in panorama).
• 📱 Install a third-party app (like NightCam) and take a panorama manually by gluing the footage into PTGui.
• 🔦 Illuminate the scene with an external light source (but avoid sharp shadows).

2. Moving objects. If there are people or vehicles in the frame, try:

• 🚶 Take a few panoramas in a row and then hand-glue the best snippets in Photoshop.
• ⏸️ Use Long Shutter Mode (if supported) to "blur" motion.

3. Close-range photography, when photographing interiors or small objects:

• 📏 Move back to the maximum distance (at least 1.5-2 meters from the object).
• 🔄 Turn on Macro mode (if any) and take the panorama piece by piece, then glue.

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To capture panoramas indoors, turn off automatic white balance (AWB) in the camera settings, which will help avoid color jumps between frames.

Comparison of panoramas on different Xiaomi models

We tested the panoramas on several popular Xiaomi smartphones under the same conditions (cityscape, daylight).

As the tests show, the flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, 12T) not only support shooting in RAW, but also handle panoramas with minimal artifacts. Budget smartphones (Redmi 10) are limited in viewing angle and often "cut" the edges of the frame.

Fun fact: on the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, panoramas shot using the internal and external screens are automatically combined into a single file labeled front and back, which allows you to create unique "double" panoramas.

How to save and share a panorama

Panoramas shot on Xiaomi are saved in the DCIM → Camera → Panorama folder in JPEG format (or DNG if RAW was used). However, when you try to send such a file through messengers (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram), it can shrink or lose interactivity.

Retention in its original capacity:

• 📁 Move the file to your PC via cable or cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive).
• 🔗 Use the panorama services: Kuula, 360Cities or Google Photos (supports 360° viewing).

Viewing on other devices:

• 🖥️ On PC, open the file via Windows Photos or FastStone Viewer.
• 📺 Use Google Photos or Samsung Gallery (if the TV is on Tizen) to watch on your TV.

Printing panoramas:

• 🖨️ Cut the image into pieces in Photoshop (Slice Tool).
• 📏 Use panorama printing services like Printique or WhiteWall.

⚠️ Warning: When you upload panoramas to social networks (Instagram, VKontakte), they are automatically cropped to 4:5 or 16:9. To show the panorama in full, upload it as a "carousel" (multiple parts) or use the PanoramaStitcher service to create an interactive link.

FAQ: Frequent questions about shooting panoramas on Xiaomi