Why Redmi Note 9 Camera is Disappointing and What to Do About It
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 was released in 2020 with an ambitious bid for βthe flagship camera in the budget segment.β On paper, it looked impressive: the main module at 48 MP (Samsung). GM2), 8MP ultra-wide-angle, 2MP macro lens and 2MP depth sensor, but in practice, many users have encountered blurry details at dusk, sky-lit and soapy video when moving, due to aggressive software processing in stock firmware. MIUI, It smears noise at the cost of losing details.
The good news is that the Redmi Note 9 camera has only 60-70% of its potential. With the right setup, alternative software and a couple of inexpensive accessories, you can achieve results comparable to smartphones 1.5-2 times more expensive. This guide provides 10 proven ways to improve the camera, from basic to advanced, with comparative examples and warnings about possible risks. There is no magic button here, but a systematic approach is guaranteed to improve the quality of your shots.
It's important to understand that hardware constraints -- like the small pixel size of the main sensor, 0.8 ΞΌm -- are not going anywhere, but even those can be worked on efficiently, and we'll start with the simplest one: optimizing existing software.
1. Optimization of the MIUI stock camera settings
Before you look for alternative solutions, you should squeeze out the standard Xiaomi Camera app as much as possible, many options are hidden in the back of the menu or disabled by default.
- πΈ Turn off Improvement. AI" (Camera settings β AI-The algorithm often misbalances white and overly smooths textures. Better manually set "Standard" or "Landscape" mode".
- π Activate Night Mode manually, even indoors during the day. 9 It works like a multi-frame. HDR, You can improve dynamic range. Keep your smartphone still. 2-3 seconds.
- π Increase the bitrate of the video to the maximum: Settings β Video resolution β 1080p 60fps (or 4K 30fps, If you want quality, the default is compressed. 1080p 30fps.
- π― Enable the composition grid (Settings) β Grids and the rule of thirds: it won't improve technical quality, but it will help to avoid "curves" of frames.
Pay special attention to manual ISO settings and shutter speeds in Pro mode. In Redmi Note 9, they are available, but hidden: swipe up in the camera interface. Optimal values for twilight:
- π ISO: 800-1600 (higher - too noisy)
- β±οΈ Excerpt: 1/10β1/30 (use a tripod!)
β οΈ Note: When shooting a video in 4K Electronic stabilization is shut down (EIS). If you need a smooth picture - shoot in 1080p 60fps switched-on EIS customized.
2. Install Google Camera (GCam): pros and cons
Google Camera is a legendary app that performs better on many smartphones than stock cameras. The Redmi Note 9 has working ports that support HDR+, Night Sight and Astrophotography.
| Parameter | MIUI stock camera | Google Camera (GCam) |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic range (HDR) | Medium, often over-lit sky | Tall, natural colors |
| Details at dusk | Strong noise-making, "soapy" textures | More precise, but with grain |
| Color rendering | Saturated, sometimes unrealistic | Natural, close to the Pixel |
| Stabilization of video | It only works at 1080p. | No EIS, video trembles |
| Speed of shooting | Quick, no delays. | Slower due to HDR+ processing |
To install GCam on Redmi Note 9:
- Download a proven port (e.g. BSG GCam or Wichaya>) from the Celso Azevedo forum (Snapdragon 662).
β οΈ Note: Some versions of GCam may not save photos on the Redmi Note 9 due to conflict with the Redmi Note. MIUI. Before installing, back up your photos and check for reviews for a specific port.
How to return the stock camera if the GCam is not working?
3. Update of firmware: official and custom options
The quality of the camera is highly dependent on the firmware version. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for the Redmi Note 9, bug fixes and processing algorithms optimized. Check the current version of MIUI in Settings β About Phone β MIUI Version. The latest stable version at 2026 is MIUI 14 (Android 12).
If your firmware is outdated, update it:
Workflow example for night photos:
- Open up. RAW-File (if filmed in Pro mode) in Lightroom.
- Set the Temperature: 4500β5000K (removes the yellow hue of street lights).
- Raise the Exposure: +0.7 and Shadows: +50.
- Add Sharpness: 30β40 with mask on the edges (Cloaking β 50).
- Export to JPEG with 90% quality.
π‘
Shoot in RAW format (available in Pro-Stock Camera mode) if you plan to post-process. RAW saves 2-3 times more data for correction than JPEG.
6. Hidden chips: engineering menu and ADB-team
For advanced users, there are ways to fine-tune the camera through hidden menus and ADB-These techniques require caution, but they can yield a marked improvement in quality.
Engineering menu (#4636###):
- Enter the code in the Phone app.
- Go to Testing β Camera.
- Here you can manually test the camera modules and change the settings, for example: AE Target FPS - set 30 for smooth video. Camera AWB - try the values of 4000-5000K for natural colors.
ADB-commands to unlock hidden functions:
Connect your phone to your PC, turn on USB Debugging (Settings β About Phone β MIUI Version β 7 times Press β Developers β Debugging over USB) and execute in the terminal:
adb shell settings put global camera_hal3_enabled 1
adb shell settings put global camera_double_tap_power_gesture 1The first command includes HAL3 (an improved camera interface for third-party applications), the second is a double-pressing gesture on the power button to quickly start the camera.
β οΈ Attention: Incorrect settings in the engineering menu can lead to loss of camera functionality. OTP (Calibration modules will return them to the factory only after the complete reset of the phone.
How to roll back changes to the engineering menu?
7 Comparison with competitors: what to achieve
To see how much better the Redmi Note 9 can be, compare it to the closest competitors in the same price segment (2020-2021):
| Model | Main camera. | Night photography | Video | Color rendering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 9 (stock) | 6/10 (Soap at dusk) | 5/10 (noise, little detail) | 7/10 (1080p60 stable) | 8/10 (saturated) |
| Redmi Note 9 + GCam | 8/10 (clear textures) | 8/10 (good HDR) | 6/10 (no EIS) | 9/10 (natural) |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 | 7/10 (better detail) | 7/10 (less noisy) | 8/10 (stabilization in 4K) | 7/10 (cold tones) |
| Realme 6 | 7/10 (good HDR) | 6/10 (average Night Mode) | 9/10 (90fps at 1080p) | 8/10 (natural) |
As you can see, with the Google Camera Redmi Note 9 is ahead of competitors in daytime shooting and night photos, but loses in video due to the lack of EIS in 4K. The maximum potential is revealed when you combine:
- π₯ Stock camera for video (in) 1080p60 s EIS).
8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Many Redmi Note 9 users have been shooting in suboptimal conditions for years without even knowing it. TOP-5 Mistakes that spoil quality:
- π« Shooting through a dirty lens. Even fingerprints on the lens reduce clarity by 20 to 30 percent.
- π« Using digital zoom. The Redmi Note 9 doesn't have optical zoom, and the digital just cuts and zooms in on the pixels.
- π« Shooting in HEIF instead JPEG. Format HEIF saves space, but many editors do not support it, and when converting, quality is lost.
- π« Ignoring focus. In automatic mode, the camera often focuses on the background rather than the object. Touch the screen to set the focal point.
- π« Storing photos in the cloud in compressed form. Google Photos by default compresses uploaded images. In the settings, select "Original quality".
Another common problem is the rolling shutter effect of fast-moving video. CMOS-Sensors, and you can't eliminate them completely, but you can minimize them:
- Shoot at a higher frame rate (60fps instead of 30fps).
- Keep your phone horizontal (in landscape orientation, the rolling shutter is less noticeable).
- Use external stabilization (e.g. DJI Osmo Mobile).
π‘
If the camera starts to lag or give out green artifacts, clear its cache (Settings β Apps β Camera β Memory β Clear cache) and restart the phone, which solves the problem 80% of the time.