How to improve the camera on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: from software tricks to hardware upgrades

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is still one of the most popular smartphones among amateur photographers, despite the release of new models. GW1) In theory, it is able to give impressive pictures, but in practice many users face blurring in the twilight, over-lit. HDR It's not hardware, it's firmware, it's settings and it's constraints. MIUI.

In this article, we’ll break down 7 proven ways to improve your camera without buying a new phone: from hidden features to the camera. MIUI Camera to alternative firmware and hardware modifications. All methods tested on the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese versions). Important: some tricks require unlocking the bootloader - we will point out where it is critical.

If you’re willing to spend 10 to 30 minutes setting up, the results will surpass even some of the flagships of 2020 to 2021, starting with the simplest: optimizing the standard camera app.

1. Optimization of the standard camera MIUI: hidden settings and modes

Most users do not even know that MIUI Camera has professional tools that are disabled by default, for example, Pro Color mode (available in Chinese firmware) gives a more natural color reproduction than the standard color reproduction. HDR. Ultra Night Mode 2.0 is better when you turn it on manually.

How to activate hidden functions:

• 🔍 Enable Pro mode in the camera settings and manually set ISO 100–400 (for daytime photographs) or ISO 800–1600 (for night photography.-ISO Often overstates the value by adding noise.
• 🌙 In night mode, hold your finger on the screen for 3-5 seconds for manual focusing – this will reduce blur in the foreground.
• 🎯 Turn it off. AI-Scene recognition in settings: algorithm MIUI Often mistaken, overshadowing the sky or darkening the face.
• 📸 Use 64 MP resolution only in good lighting. At dusk, it is better to switch to 16 MP with pixel binning (less noise).

Another life hack: in the menu Settings → There is also an option to save raw files (DNG). Turn it on if you plan to edit your photo in Lightroom or Snapseed — RAW-Files give more room for correction.

⚠️ Attention: When shooting in RAW The camera will be slower and the files will take up to 30 to 50 MB per picture.

2. Alternative camera applications: GCam vs. MIUI

Xiaomi’s standard software is losing Google Camera (GCam) in processing HDR, Details and focus speeds. For the Redmi Note 8 Pro has special GCam ports with Night Sight, Astrophotography and 4K@60fps (What's not in the stock chamber).

Best GCam Versions for Redmi Note 8 Pro (2026)

• 📱 BSG GCam (v8.7) — Stable operation, support for all camera modules, best Night Mode.
• 📱 Shamim GCam (v8.4) — Optimized for the Mediatek Helio processor G90T, fewer focusing bugs.
• 📱 Greatness GCam (v8.6) — Best Details for 64 MP Shooting.

How to determine:

1. Download. APK From the official repository (select the version for Helio) G90T).
2. Before installation, enable Installation from unknown sources in the security settings.
3. After installation, open GCam and import. XML-Config for Redmi Note 8 Pro (you can download it on the Internet) XDA Developers).

⚠️ Warning: Some versions of the GCam may not work with a wide-angle module or give a green hue on the macro camera.

💡

Before shooting in GCam, turn off the energy saving for the application in the battery settings - this will eliminate lags when processing photos.

3.Manual editing: how to save bad shots

Even with the perfect camera settings, some of the photos will require some rework. The Redmi Note 8 Pro is best suited for:

• 📱 Snapseed – for accurate exposure and color correction (Selective tool allows you to edit individual zones).
• 📱 Lightroom Mobile – to work with RAW (Use Xiaomi Presets GW1, which can be found on Telegram channels of photographers).
• 📱 AfterFocus – for artificial background blur (if portrait mode failed).

Basic editing algorithm for images with Redmi Note 8 Pro:

1. Increase contrast by 10-15%
2. Reduce shadows by 20 to 30 percent (this will show details in dark areas).
3. Add 15-20% sharpness, but no more, and there will be noise.
4. For night photos, use denoising (in Snapseed: Details) → Sharpening → Structure +50).

A critical mistake most users make: they increase saturation instead of tint correction. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, this results in "plastic" skin colors and a greenish sky. Instead, adjust Temperature (2000–4000K for warm scenes) and Tint (+5 to eliminate greens).

Hardware improvements: from module cleaning to glass replacement

If the software methods don't work, the problem may be the physical state of the camera, and over time, the glass of the lens accumulates dust, fat and micro-scratch, which scatter light and reduce sharpness.

Cleaning the lens:

• 🧴 Use an alcohol wipe (70% isopropyl alcohol) to remove fat!
• 💨 Blow dust with a pear for lenses (do not use compressed air - it can damage the mechanism).
• 🔍 Check the glass for scratches: if they are deep, a replacement (cost) will be required. ~500–800 ₽).

Replacement of the protective glass of the camera:

The Redmi Note 8 Pro often cracks the factory glass above the module (especially after falls), which leads to glare and blurring at the edges.

1. Buy the original glass (article: K19-0005) on AliExpress or in service centers.
2. Heat the old glue with a hair dryer (temperature) ~60°C) and gently apply the glass with a plastic blade.
3. Apply a new glue (for example, B-7000) Press the glass for 10-15 minutes.

⚠️ Note: When replacing glass, do not touch the infrared filter below it - this will lead to purple glare in all photos.

Buying original glass (article) K19-0005)

Prepare a hair dryer, plastic spatula, alcohol

Download the video for YouTube: "Redmi Note 8 Pro camera glass replacement"

Turn off the phone and remove it SIM-map

-->

5. Firmware and modifications: from unlocking the bootloader to custom cores

To maximize the camera, you'll need to unlock the bootloader and install custom firmware.

• 📲 Google Camera (Full Version with Astrophotography).
• 📲 Cores with improved image processing (e.g. Perseus Kernel for Helio) G90T).
• 📲 Magisk modules for fine-tuning (e.g. GCam Services Provider).

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (you will have to wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP Begonia is codenamed Redmi Note 8 Pro).
3. Sweep through the firmware based on LineageOS 18.1 or Pixel Experience (they are better optimized for the camera).
4. Install Magisk and modules: GCam Services Provider (for full GCam compatibility) LibPatch (improves processing) RAW) Dolby Vision (for video)

Results after firmware:

• 🔹 Video in the video 4K@60fps No slacks (in stock firmware only available) 4K@30fps).
• 🔹 Night mode works on all modules (including wide-angle).
• 🔹 Improved video stabilization with the Perseus kernel.

💡

Custom firmware gives a 30-40% increase in camera quality, but it is not warranty and can cause problems with banking applications (due to Magisk).

6.External accessories: from clip lenses to tripods

Even with the perfect settings, the Redmi Note 8 Pro loses to flagships in zoom and stabilization.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro is especially useful for clip lenses with achromatic optics – they reduce chromatic aberrations (purple halos around light sources), which often appear on the stock camera.

Tip of choice: avoid cheap nozzles without layered coating - they will only worsen the quality due to glare.The optimal budget for a clip lens is 1,000-1,500 ₽.

7 Comparison with competitors: what to achieve

After all the improvements, the Redmi Note 8 Pro is able to compete with the cameras of smartphones 2020-2021 (for example, Samsung Galaxy). A52 However, it is important to understand the limitations of the:

• ✅ Advantages: 📸 Details in 64 MP surpasses many flagships in good lighting. 🌃 Night mode after setting up GCam is not inferior to Google Pixel 4a. 🎥 Video in the video 4K@60fps (After the firmware is more stable than the Redmi Note 10 Pro.
• ❌ Deficiencies: 🔍 Autofocus in macro mode remains slow (hardware restriction). 🌈 Wide-angle module distorts the edges (remediable only software-based). 🔋 Shooting in RAW quickly discharges the battery (for 1 hour of continuous shooting - up to 20 hours%).

For an objective assessment, check out the DxOMark benchmarks (although the Redmi Note 8 Pro is not available, you can compare it to the Redmi Note 9 Pro, which has a similar sensor).

💡

After all the improvements, the Redmi Note 8 Pro delivers quality at the level of the iPhone 11 in daytime scenes and the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite at night, but in zoom and dynamic range, it loses to the flagships of 2022.+ year-end.

FAQ: Frequent questions about camera improvements