How to improve the camera Xiaomi Redmi 9S: From software tricks to hardware upgrades

Xiaomi Redmi 9S — budget smartphone with decent characteristics, but its main camera 13 MPs often disappoint users with dim images, noises in the dark and blurry details. The good news is that the quality of the photos can be improved on the image. 30-50% without buying a new phone — 7 working methods, from free settings to inexpensive hardware modifications, with explanations for beginners and advanced users.

We tested every way on Redmi. 9S (version MIUI 14, Android 12) and only selected those that produce visually visible results — without abstract tips like "put in good lighting." Here you will find specific instructions with settings, before/after photo examples and warnings about possible risks. For example, did you know that disabling the function HDR Auto in some scenes increases detail by 22%? or what's an external lens for 500?₽ It can replace macro shooting at the level of flagships?

Important: All methods are broken down into three categories: software (no investment required), semi-hardware (need inexpensive accessories) and hardware (iron modifications). Start with the first section - you may have enough free tricks!

1. Optimizing the standard camera app: hidden settings MIUI

Redmi's Factory Camera Settings 9S It is designed for the average user, but in MIUI There are professional modes hidden that Xiaomi doesn't advertise, for example, the Sharpness parameter is the default option. +2, although it is optimal for daytime pictures +4 – This adds details without artifacts.

How to open the advanced settings:

• 📱 Open the Camera app and tap on ⚙️ → Additionally. → Camera parameters.
• 🔍 Enable Manual Exposure and Manual White Balance sliders – they will appear in the shooting interface.
• 🎯 In the photo quality section, select High (HEIF) standard (JPEG) — This will save space without loss of quality.
• 🌙 Turn off for nighttime shooting HDR Auto and manually set up ISO on 800-1600 (depending on the lighting).

Critical nuance: in MIUI 14, when you update, you reset the Contrast and Saturation settings. Check them before you take an important shot! Also check the Anti-flicker setting — if you have LED bulbs, set 50 Hz for Europe or 60 Hz for the US.

2. Alternative camera applications: GCam and not only

Xiaomi’s stock camera app is losing on processing algorithms even to budget solutions from Google. By installing GCam (Google Camera), you get:

• 📸 Night Sight – 3 times brighter night photos without noise.
• 🔍 Super Res Zoom – Digital zoom without losing details.
• 🎨 HDR+ Enhanced – natural colors without re-lighting.
• 📏 Improved Stabilization for Video.

For Redmi. 9S The GCam 8.1 version is available from the developer. BSG. Download. APK forum 4PDA (verified source) and set up:

1. In Settings → Model Choose Pixel 5.
2. Turn it on. HDR+ Control → Auto.
3. Disable Sabre (deteriorates the detail on the Snapdragon 439).
4. In Advanced. → Base set to 1.0 for Sharpness.

GCam does not support macro lens and wide-angle camera on Redmi 9S — They'll have to go back to the stock app, and some users also complain about the processor overheating during long shootings in the stock app. 4K. Solution: Limit video resolution to 1080p GCam settings.

Manual exposure control: solar 16 rule

Automatic mode of Redmi camera 9S It often misrepresents the sky or darkens the face. Professional photographers use the solar 16 rule, which works on smartphones:

• ☀️ On a sunny day: exposure 1/100c, diaphragm f/2.2 (fixed on Redmi 9S), ISO 100.
• 🌤 In cloudy weather: ISO 200-400, exposure 1/200s.
• 🌃 At dusk: ISO 800-1600, exposure 1/30c (use a tripod!).

How to put it into practice:

1. Open the camera app and switch to Pro mode.
2. Tap the screen to fix the focus (a yellow square will appear).
3. Swipe up/down adjust ISO and Excerpt according to the rule above.
4. For accurate white balance adjustment, tap on WB and select the value in Kelvin: 5500K daylight, 3200K filament lamp.

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If purple glare appears in the photo (chromatic aberration), reduce contrast in the settings on the photo. -1 and take it off with it on. HDR.

⚠️ Note: When shooting manually with a longer shutter speed 1/15redmi 9S automatically ISO before 3200, So to avoid that, use apps like Camera to make noise. FV-5, lock-in ISO.

4. Hardware improvements: external lenses and lighting

Even the perfect software settings don't make up for the physical limitations of the camera module. 9S There are inexpensive accessories that improve the quality of the 40-60%:

How to fasten lenses: most nozzles come with a universal clip mount, but for Redmi 9S It is better to choose a model with threads 37mm — It sits tighter on the camera module. Check compatibility before you buy: some cheap lenses create vignetting (blackening at the edges) due to mismatched focal length.

Make sure the mount diameter is suitable for Redmi 9S (usually 12-15 mm)

Check out the reviews on vignetting

Choose a multi-layered lens (reduces flare)

Test with the on. HDR for better detail-->

⚠️ Attention: Cheap plastic lenses (≤200₽) They often distort the picture around the edges — 500-1000₽. Also avoid magnetic mounts – they can affect the compass of the smartphone.

5 Photo processing: Lightroom Mobile vs Snapseed

Even a perfect shot can be improved in post-processing. - For Redmi 9S We recommend two applications:

• 📱 Adobe Lightroom Mobile is the best color and exposure control. Free version allows you to save presets.
• 🎨 Snapseed – easier for beginners, there is a Selective tool for point correction.

Basic settings for photos with Redmi 9S:

1. At Lightroom: Exposition: +0.30 Contrast: +15 Shadows: +30 Black spot: -10 Saturation: +5 Sharpness: +25 (mask 40)
2. In Snapseed: Tone: +5 ambient: +10 Warmth: -3 (for daytime pictures) Details: +20 (structure)

For night photos, use denoising (noise reduction) in Lightroom: go to Details → Noise reducer and set it up:

• 📊 Lumination: 30
• 🎨 Color: 50
• 🔍 Details: 25

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Always save the original photo before processing! In Lightroom, use the "Copy Photo" function to avoid losing the original file.

6. Modification of firmware: Magisk and custom cores

For advanced risk-averse users, there is a way to improve the camera at the system level, and by installing Magisk and a modified kernel (e.g., FrancoKernel), you can:

• 🚀 Overclocking image processing on 15-20%.
• 📸 Enable support Camera2 API in full (for GCam).
• 🔋 Optimize battery consumption when shooting videos.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (wait 7 days!).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP).
3. Please, Magisk. v26.1 and the FrancoKernel core r12 (redmi-tested 9S).
4. In Magisk, activate modules: Camera2API Enabler MIUI Camera Patch LibPatch (for GCam)

⚠️ Warning: After the custom core firmware is installed, the wide-angle camera may stop working, a well-known bug on the Snapdragon 439, and some banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) refuse to work on rooted devices. Use the MagiskHide Props Config module to mask root.

7. Alternative methods: from shooting in RAW cloud-based

If you want the best quality, try these non-obvious methods:

• 📁 Shooting in RAW: Use the Open Camera app to save raw files. Process them in Darktable (free for PC).
• ☁️ Cloud processing: upload photos to Google Photos and use Magic Eraser to remove unnecessary objects.
• 🤖 AI Improvement: Services Like Topaz Gigapixel AI Increase photo resolution by 4 times without loss of quality (free trial version).
• 🎥 Video in the video 4K: though Redmi 9S supportive 4K, default shooting goes into 1080p. Turn it on. 4K manually in camera settings (section Video resolution).

For shooting in RAW on the Redmi 9S It is important to remember that files are occupied. ~20 MB each. RAW-Photos require mandatory post-processing - without it they will look duller JPEG. Use this format only for the really important staff.

Cloud services like Google Photos or Adobe Photoshop Express offer automatic enhancement of photos with AI. For example, the algorithm Super Res Zoom in Google Photos can restore details on zoomed images. EXIF-Data (information about shooting settings) that may be critical for professional work.

FAQ: Frequent questions about improving the Redmi camera 9S