How to improve the quality of photos Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: the complete guide

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 remains one of the most popular mid-range devices, offering an impressive set of four cameras on the back. However, many users are faced with the fact that the pictures, especially in under-light, may not seem sharp enough or oversaturated colors by default. Often the problem lies not in the hardware limitations of the matrix, but in the wrong settings of the software processing or misunderstanding of the principles of artificial intelligence algorithms.

In this article, we will discuss how to make the most of your device using MIUI tools and third-party applications. You will learn what settings to change first to get rid of noise and blur, and how to use Pro mode for creative shooting. Understanding these nuances will make your phone a full-fledged tool for creating quality content.

Before we get to the complex exposure and white balance settings, we need to make sure that the basic configuration of the device is optimized for graphics. Picture resolution and file retention options directly affect the detail of the final picture. Let's start with the fundamental steps that every owner of this gadget needs to take.

Basic configuration of permission and format of saving

The first thing to look out for is the standard resolution settings in the camera app. By default, the Redmi Note 9 can use interpolation or save photos in a format that doesn't use the full potential of the 48MP main camera sensor.

Go to the camera settings menu by clicking on the three horizontal bars in the top right corner, and select Settings. Find the section that sizes the image and make sure the maximum value available is selected. It is also important to pay attention to the save format: turning on the HEIF option saves space, but can cause compatibility problems when editing on a PC, so for archival frames it is better to use the classic JPEG.

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Use 48MP mode only in good daylight. In low light conditions, the standard 12MP mode (with pixels combined) will give a less noisy and lighter result.

Keep in mind that high resolution requires more processing power to process the frame. If you notice a delay between pressing the down button and saving the file, try lowering the resolution in dynamic scenes. This will help you not miss an important point by sacrificing a minimum amount of detail that will still be invisible when viewed on the smartphone screen.

• 📸 Turn on 48MP mode in the “More” menu for landscapes and static objects.
• 💾 Turn off the format. HEIF in settings if you plan to seriously post-process on your computer.
• 🧹 Clean the camera lens regularly with a soft cloth, as greasy spots create a soap effect».
• 🌐 Make sure that geolocation is activated in the camera settings if the location-based photo is important to you.

Working with the AI scene and processing filters

One of the key features of the MIUI shell is the aggressive operation of artificial intelligence algorithms that automatically detect the scene and apply appropriate filters. AI Scene Detection often makes colors too saturated and contrast too high, which in some cases looks unnatural.

To get a more realistic color rendering, it is recommended to turn off automatic scene enhancement or use it selectively. You may notice an "AI" icon at the top of the viewfinder: pressing it will deactivate intrusive processing, which is especially true when shooting documents, textures or portraits, where accuracy in the representation of skin tones and paper is important.

And you also have to experiment with built-in filters that are used in real time, and unlike post-processing, using a filter before shooting allows you to see the final result on the screen and adjust the composition, but for maximum flexibility, it is better to shoot in standard mode, maintaining the original dynamic range.

⚠️ Attention: In the on mode AI A smartphone may misrecognize textures by adding noise or artifacts to homogeneous surfaces.

It's important to understand the difference between digital zoom and optical. The Redmi Note 9 doesn't have optical zoom, so any finger zoom (apart from the fixed multiples of 0.6x and 2x, which are the crop of the matrix) is digital interpolation. Using zoom above 2x drastically reduces image quality, making it grainy and blurry.

Using Pro Mode for Manual Control

For those who want to have complete control over the process of taking a picture, Pro mode gives you access to manual exposure settings, where you can control shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focus yourself, and is an indispensable tool for shooting in difficult light conditions, where smartphone automation often goes wrong.

The main thing you need to learn to work with is ISO (matrix sensitivity). In low light, automation raises ISO, which leads to digital noise. In manual mode, you can lock a low ISO value (for example, 100 or 200) and compensate for the lack of light by increasing shutter speed.

The shutter speed (denoted as S or T) determines the time the matrix collects light. To capture static objects such as architecture or (nightscapes), you can use long shutter speeds of a few seconds. In this case, you must use a tripod or stop, as the slightest shaking of the hands will blur the frame.

Pro also has a manual focus, which is indicated by the icon of a mountain or a flower, and by switching to MF mode, you can shift the slider to focus on infinity (when shooting landscapes) or at a minimum distance (macrographing), which avoids the situation where the camera focuses on the background, leaving the main object blurred.

Low-light shooting

Night shooting on mid-range smartphones, such as the Redmi Note 9, is often difficult. Night Mode is a series shooting and then addition of frames. This is effective, but requires the phone to remain completely still for 2-4 seconds.

To improve the quality of night photos, find any point of support. Lay your phone against the wall, put it on the table or use a mini-station. The more stable the device is during exposure, the less grease will be, and the longer shutter speed the algorithm can apply, capturing more light. Don't neglect the timer for 3 or 5 seconds to eliminate the jitter from pressing your finger on the screen.

Avoid using flash for general plans. Xiaomi's built-in LED flash gives a hard, flat light that knocks out the foreground and makes the background black. It's much more efficient to use another smartphone's screen or external portable light to illuminate objects in the dark.

• 🌙 Use the regular mode Night only with a tripod or a stop.
• 🚫 Avoid digital zoom at night – quality drops catastrophically.
• 💡 For portraits in the dark, use external lighting instead of flash.
• 📉 Reduce exposure manually to keep details in lights.

Post-processing and editing of images

Even a perfectly shot often requires minimal correction. The MIUI Gallery's built-in editor offers powerful tools that help you correct white balance, add contrast, and remove unnecessary detail. Don't ignore these tools, as they are optimized for your screen's color reproduction.

Start with framing: removing extra objects around the edges of a frame often improves composition. Then go with the "Light" and "Shadow" settings. Raising shadows allows you to show details in dark areas, and lowering lights prevents overlights. The "Clarity" (or Structure) setting helps to emphasize textures, but it's important not to overdo it so that artifacts don't appear.

⚠️ Attention: Excessive use of sharpness and contrast filters in the editor can lead to the appearance of "halos" (light halos) around contrasting objects.

For more advanced processing, you can use third-party applications like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile, which allow you to work with curves and selective color correction, but even standard tools can achieve great results if you understand the basics of color correction.

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The main secret of post-processing on Redmi Note 9 is moderation. A slight increase in saturation and contrast makes the photo live, and maximum values turn it into a cartoon.

Hidden functions and additional capabilities

Xiaomi’s camera has many features that not everyone knows about, such as Long Exposure, which allows you to take spectacular pictures of current water or light traces from cars without having to understand complex shutter speed settings.

Also worth mentioning is the Documents mode, which automatically aligns perspective when shooting papers and improves text readability. For selfie lovers, Portrait mode is available, which blurs the background in a software way. The blur quality is directly dependent on the lighting and contrast between the object and the background.

Regular updates to the Camera app through the GetApps store or Google Play can bring new algorithms for processing and fixing errors. Xiaomi periodically improves the camera performance through software updates, so keep an eye on the relevance of the software version.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)