How to improve the camera on Xiaomi Poco M3: from hidden settings to GCam

Budget smartphones are often seen as a compromise, especially when it comes to photo capabilities. Xiaomi Poco M3 was no exception to the rule, offering a main camera 48 MP, which under standard conditions is able to produce quite acceptable frames. However, many owners do not even suspect the potential hidden in the software of this device. Standard camera application often limits the user, applying aggressive noise cancellation and incorrectly processing dynamic range.

To get the most out of the hardware, you need to delve into the settings and consider third-party solutions. Image processing algorithms play a crucial role here, often more important than the physical size of the matrix. In this article, we will explore the non-obvious methods that will turn your Poco M3 into a more confident photographer.

We'll look at both regular tools available immediately after purchase and advanced methods like installing modified software. It's important to understand that improving the quality of photos is a complex process that includes proper scene preparation and competent post-processing.

Basic configuration of the MIUI Camera application

Before you get to the tricky side of the game, you need to set up the firmware as efficiently as possible. The standard MIUI Camera app has a number of hidden features that users often ignore. The first step is to disable automatic enhancements that can distort colors and add unnecessary artifacts.

Go to the camera settings menu and look for the “Improvement of Image” (or “AI Camera”) option. To get the most realistic colors and texture detailing, it is recommended to turn off artificial intelligence when shooting statically. AI algorithms are often overdone with saturation, making the grass unnaturally green and the sky acidic.

• 📸 Enable the "Profi" mode for manual shutter speed control and ISO.
• 🎨 Set white balance manually for accurate color reproduction.
• 🔍 Activate the framing grid to build a composition according to the rule of thirds.
• 🚫 Turn off geo-tags if they are not needed to speed up photo retention.

It's also worth experimenting with resolution. Although the sensor is billed as 48MP, it's default to 12MP, combining pixels (Pixel Binning technology). This is right for daytime photography, because it makes light sensitivity. Switching to 48MP only makes sense in perfect lighting, when you need to capture fine details.

⚠️ Note: Shooting in 48 MP mode significantly increases the file size and processing time by the processor, which can lead to delays in the camera interface.

Remember to wipe your lens in front of every important shot, and the fatty finger marks create a soapy image and glare from light sources that you can't programmatically remove, which is a trivial but critical piece of advice for budget optics.

Installation and configuration of Google Camera (GCam)

The most effective way to dramatically improve the quality of photos on the Poco M3 is to install a ported version of Google Camera. Google's HDR+ processing algorithms work wonders with budget sensors, greatly expanding dynamic range and improving detail in shadows.

The installation process requires finding the right version APK-It's a file, because there's no universal build. M3, The best builds from BigKaka developers (Arnova8G2) It is important to download a file marked as stable for your version of Android.

After installing the application through the Unknown Source Settings menu, you need to download a configuration file (.xml) This file contains specific settings for the sensors of your device, ensuring proper zoom, macro shooting and night mode.

• 📥 Download. APK-GCam file compatible with architecture ARM64.
• ⚙️ Import. XML-configures by double pressing the black area around the button.
• 🌙 Turn on Night Sight mode for low light shooting.
• 🧹 Clear the app cache if departures are observed after installation.

The GCam itself recommends that you turn on HDR+ Enhanced mode, and it takes multiple frames with different exposures and combines them to produce a picture of detail in both lights and deep shadows, especially in contrasting scenes where the regular camera often knocks the sky white.

Secrets of shooting in low light

Shooting in low light is a weak spot for most budget smartphones. The Poco M3 matrix can't physically capture much light, so the main battle is with digital noise. The regular night mode works well, but requires the phone to be completely stationary.

Use any surfaces available as a tripod. Press your phone against the wall, put it on a table, or use a special mount. The longer the exposure that the camera can afford without lubrication, the cleaner the final image will be. In manual mode (Pro Mode), you can try setting the ISO at a minimum of 100 or 200 and increase the shutter speed to 1-2 seconds.

If you don't have a tripod, use the "serial" technique, take 5-10 frames of one scene, often one frame is sharper than the others, or you can combine them in an editor to reduce noise, and avoid digital zoom at night, which simply cuts the center of the frame, worsening the already poor quality.

Don't be afraid to use external light sources. Even light from another smartphone's screen or a friend's flashlight reflected off a white wall can dramatically improve a portrait in the dark. The main thing is to avoid a direct flash hitting the lens.

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The key to a quality night photo on the Poco M3 is the stability of the phone during exposure and the use of Google Night Sight algorithms.

Macrographing and work with portrait mode

The Poco M3’s macro shooting module is only 2 MP, which is a marketing trade-off; the quality of these images is often poor due to lack of autofocus and low resolution; however, using the 48 MP core module can deliver better results.

Try to shoot macro on the main camera, getting as close as possible, but not close. Then in the gallery just crop the image, leaving the desired object. 48 MP quality will allow you to get a much more detailed picture than a regular 2-megapixel macro module.

Portrait mode (Bokeh) also requires careful handling, and background blurring algorithms can be wrong at the boundaries of objects, especially if the model has complex hair or clothing.

• ☀️ Provide good, uniform lighting of the face.
• 👤 Take the subject of the shooting from the background at least 1.5-2 square.
• 📏 Use zoom 2x (digitally) for better compression of space.
• 🎚️ Adjust the power of blurring with a slider after shooting in the editor.

In GCam, portrait mode is often better, thanks to more advanced neural networks segmentation. If the regular camera "cuts" the ears or blurs part of the face, try to switch to a third-party application.

⚠️ Note: When taking portraits, avoid colorful backgrounds, as the blur algorithm has a harder time separating the object from the complex background, leading to artifacts.

Video shooting: stabilization and bitrate

The video capabilities of the Xiaomi Poco M3 are limited to Full HD at 30 or 60 frames per second. The stabilization in this smartphone is electronic (EIS), which means software cropping the edges of the frame to compensate for shaking. This should be considered when framing.

To get the smoothest possible video, try to hold the phone with both hands, pressing your elbows against the body. Movements should be smooth, you need to work with the whole body, not just your hands. Electronic stabilization can not compensate for sharp jerks, there will be a “jelly” effect.

If you plan to edit a video, shoot 60 FPS if possible, which will give a smoothness that can be slowed down during editing to create a Slow Motion effect without loss of quality. However, remember that at 60 FPS in poor light conditions, the picture quality can fall due to short exposure.

The sound in the video is recorded through a microphone located on the bottom end, it is a common mistake to close it with your hand, and the wind can also spoil the audio track very badly, so in windy weather you should use windscreen or hide the phone behind the collar / lapel of clothes.

Post-working: the final touch

Even the perfect shot often requires minimal refinement.The built-in MIUI editor is quite functional, but for more subtle work, it's better to use third-party apps like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile.

The first thing you need to do is adjust exposure and contrast, and often the camera will slightly underexpose the frame to keep the detail in the lights, and lightly lighten the shadows and add structure or clarity to the detail.

The main parameters for correction:


- Exposure: +0.3




- Contrast: +10




- Lights: -20 (to bring back the sky)




- Shadows: +15 (to brighten the dark areas)




- Warmth: to taste

Don't overdo it with saturation. You'd better add a little bit of Vibrance, which only enhances the dull colors without touching the already saturated skin tones, and it makes the photo livelier, but not more acidic.