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

Introduction: Why the Redmi Note Camera 9S It's disappointing and what to do about it.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S It launched in 2020 with an ambitious 48MP camera, but many users still face blurry twilight, red-lit skies and slow focusing. The problem isn't the bad hardware -- 90 percent of the flaws are solved with software or minimal hardware improvements.

Manufacturer saves on image processing: standard software MIUI It aggressively compresses photos, ignores manual settings, and uses outdated noise-canceling algorithms. 3a (2019) on a similar iron gives more detailed frames thanks to advanced HDR+ But the good news is, you can make the Redmi Note. 9S shoot at the level of flagships 2021 without spending money on a new phone.

In this article, only working methods tested for MIUI 12.5–14 (including global and Chinese firmware) No Play Market “magic apps” that promise to “improve the camera 10x” — just system tweaks, modified firmware and hardware improvements with proof base.

1. Optimizing the standard camera app: hidden settings MIUI

You don't know how many features are hidden in Xiaomi's native Camera app. Most users are limited to the down button, but there are 12 hidden options that dramatically change the result.

To activate them:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the gears. ⚙️ top-right.
3. Scroll down to Additional (or Advanced Settings in new versions) MIUI).

Now, turn on:

• 🔍 Focus retention – prevents focus from “breathing” when shooting video (especially relevant for macros).
• 🌙 Night mode manually - allows you to forcibly activate night shooting even during the day (useful for shooting against the sun).
• 📏 Grid. 3×3 with diagonals - helps to align the horizon and observe the rule of thirds.
• 🎯 Autofocus tracker – keeps focus on a moving object (works only in Photo mode).

⚠️ Warning: Manually turning on Night Mode during the day may overheat the Snapdragon processor 720G. Watch the temperature in the settings → Battery → Battery status.

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If you're in your version MIUI No option Additional, update the Camera app via Play Market or install APK from APKMirror (the version must match your firmware!).

2. GCam installation: how to get the flagship processing on the budget

Google Camera (GCam) is a modified camera app from Pixel that uses unique processing algorithms. HDR+ And Night Sight. On the Redmi Note. 9S gives:

• 📸 More natural colors (without "yellowness" Xiaomi).
• 🌃 Noise at night (even when shooting at night) ISO 3200).
• 🔍 Clarity of small details (for example, text on signs).
• 🎥 Stabilizing video without shaking.

How to determine:

1. Download the latest version of GCam for Snapdragon 720G (writer: Urnyx05 or BSG).
2. Install. APK-File (Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings) → Annexes → Special access).
3. Open GCam and import config for Redmi Note 9S (file).

⚠️ Note: Some versions of GCam may conflict with MIUI 14. If the camera is out, try turning it off. MIUI Optimization through ADB: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.ab

3. Manual control of the exposure: how to avoid overlights and low lights

Redmi Note Automation 9S And he's often incorrect with exposure, and the sky in the pictures burns out to white, and the shadows turn into black spots:

• 📱 Pro Mode app (built into a standard camera).
• 📸 Open Camera (Freely available in Play Market).
• 🎛️ Manual Camera (paid but with support) RAW).

Key parameters for adjustment:

• ISO: keep within 100–800 day 800–3200 Above, there's more noise than details.
• Extract: Use static objects 1/100–1/200 For night photography, until 1/4 (Traffic need!).
• White balance: Choose 3200 indoors–4000K, on the street: 5,500–6500K.
• Focus: Manually use infinity (∞) landscape or macro (flower) 🌼) near-object.

Install ISO 100|Excerpt. 1/200 sack.|White balance 5000K|Focus on infinity|Shut down. HDR-->

Example: To remove the sunset without relighting, do this:

1. Open Pro Mode in a standard camera.
2. Install. ISO 100 and endurance 1/200.
3. Touch the screen in the sky and block the exposure (icon) 🔒).
4. Do it. 3–5 different-exposure (-1.0, 0.0, +1.0).
5. Combine them in Photoshop or Snapseed (tool) HDR Merge).

4 Hardware Improvements: What Can Be Done Physically

If the software is exhausted, it's time to think about hardware improvements, which require investment, but the result justifies the cost.

Top.-3 Upgrade for the Redmi Note camera 9S:

• 🔭 External lenses (e.g. Xenvo Pro Lens or Apexel) 12x Macro, real increase without loss of quality, cost: 1,500 to 3,000 ₽.
• 💡 Outbreak.-softbox (Like Neewer. 18 LED). Eliminates hard shadows and red eyes: 800–1 500 ₽.

The most effective (but risky) way is to replace the camera, and AliExpress sells Redmi Note 10 Pro (108 MP) modules with a compatible connector, but it requires a soldering iron and experience in disassembling smartphones, and you'll need to flash the modified software after the replacement, otherwise the camera won't work.

⚠️ When installing external lenses, avoid cheap "Chinese" nozzles with AliExpress for 200 ₽ — They're made of plastic, and they only degrade the quality of the plastic by chromatic aberrations.

5 Post-processing: how to save even damaged photos

Even with perfect settings, sometimes you get bad shots, and you can fix them in 3 free apps:

• 🎨 Snapseed – for color correction and selective editing.
• 📊 Lightroom Mobile – to work with RAW curved.
• 🤖 Google Photos – for automatic enhancement (using AI).

Checklist for saving blurred photos:

1. Open the picture in Snapseed.
2. Use the Details tool → Structure (+20–30%).
3. Use selective correction to brighten the shadows.
4. Add the vignette (-10%) center-point.
5. Export in JPEG 90% (more – artifacts).

For RAW-files (if filmed in GCam or Pro Mode):

• Import it to Lightroom.
• Raise the exposure to +0.5-1.0.
• Reduce the Contrast to -15.
• In the Details section, set Noise Reduction to 30-40.
• Apply Google Preste HDR+ (are in free collections).

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Always take it off. RAW, If you're planning post-processing, yes, files take 20-30 MB, but they contain 4 times more editing data than you do. JPEG.

6. firmware update: why new MIUI improves the camera

Xiaomi regularly optimizes image processing algorithms in new versions MIUI. For example, in MIUI 13 added:

• 🔄 Improved. HDR (fewer artifacts at the boundaries of light/dark areas).
• 🌙 Night mode 2.0 (better to keep details in the shadows).
• 🎥 Video Stabilization (now working on the 4K@30fps).

How to upgrade without risk:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If a new version is available, download it over Wi-Fi.
3. Before installing, make a backup in Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
4. After the update, reset the camera settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data.

If the official update is not available, you can install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) that gives:

• 📸 Google Pixel Camera Out of the Box".
• 🔄 Monthly security updates.
• 🚀 No restrictions. MIUI (For example, to record video in 4K@60fps).

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware will unlock the bootloader, which may lead to a loss of warranty, and some banking applications (for example, Sberbank Online) will stop working due to the lack of SafetyNet.

7.Alternative applications: when a standard camera is powerless

If neither GCam nor manual settings help, try specialized apps:

Lifehack for document capture: use Microsoft Lens. It's automatic:

• 📄 Balances perspective.
• 🔍 Increases clarity of text.
• 🖼️ Keeps in PDF word.

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To capture moving objects (children, animals) use ProCam X with Burst Mode enabled, which will give you a better chance of catching a sharp shot.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions