How to find out which camera is installed on Xiaomi Redmi

Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face a situation where the claimed characteristics of the device in the store do not match reality, or there is a desire to know the exact model of the installed sensor to select compatible software. Mobile manufacturers rarely specify a specific matrix provider, limiting themselves to general phrases about megapixels and aperture. However, a technical enthusiast or amateur photographer seeks details to understand whether to wait for driver updates or whether to improve the quality of images by third-party methods.

There are several proven ways to access hidden technical information about your gadget’s photo module. Sensor identification may be required not only out of curiosity, but also when looking for information about specific defects in certain batches of arrays, or when trying to flash the device with replacement components. In this article, we will look at all the current methods, from simple system settings to the use of specialized engineering software.

It is worth noting that the exact matrix identifier (e.g. IMX582 or Samsung GM1) is often hidden from the average user at the system level to avoid confusion with software image processing algorithms. So the standard settings menu does not always give a complete answer. You will have to use a combination of methods to get a reliable picture. Some methods require root rights, others work on standard firmware.

Analysis of technical characteristics through the system menu

The most obvious, but not always informative, way is to look at the phone's built-in information. The Android operating system, in conjunction with the MIUI or HyperOS shell, collects basic information about the hardware connected. First, go to Settings → Phone → All settings. Here you'll see general data, such as the resolution of the main and front cameras, but the name of the sensor is usually not specified here.

You can find a deeper level of information by using the detailed specification feature that is built into some firmware versions. Try repeatedly and quickly clicking on MIUI Version or Android Version in the About Phone menu. Sometimes this opens up a hidden testing menu where the Camera Test or Sensor Info section can display hardware technical codes. However, this method does not work on all Redmi models.

If the standard paths didn't work, you can try to find information in the "Specification" section inside the Camera app. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the camera interface and select "About the Camera" or similar. In rare cases, information about the driver version or module type may slip there, although most often it is only legal information.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to change the values in hidden engineering menus if you are not sure of your actions. resetting color calibration or focusing can lead to malfunctioning of the module, which is difficult to fix without service equipment.

For more advanced users, it is possible to obtain system logs that mention camera drivers, which requires connecting the phone to a computer and using ADB debugging. Commands like adb shell dumpsys media.camera can give a list of connected devices and their current status, although the name of the sensor there can be encoded as hexadecimal identifiers.

Use of specialized applications for diagnostics

The most effective way for the average user is to install third-party utilities from Google Play, which can read system configuration files and output information in an understandable way. The leader in this area has been the Device Info HW application for many years. Once installed, launch it and go to the Camera tab.

Here you'll see a list of all the modules that are connected: the main, wide-angle, macro and front-end. The app will try to determine the sensor model, its resolution, the pixel size, and even the driver version. If the model field says "Unknown," it means that the manufacturer has blocked the kernel-level reading of this parameter, and other methods will help.

Another powerful tool is AIDA64. In the Display and Camera section, you can find detailed data on pixel density and supported video resolutions. While the sensor name may not be directly displayed, indirect features such as the physical size of the matrix (for example, 1/2.0 inch) will help identify the model when searching the Internet for the specifications of your phone.

• 📱 Device Info HW — Best App for Detailed Viewing of Sensor and Codec Models.
• 🔍 AIDA64 — powerful combine to collect complete information about iron and OS.
• 🛠️ CPU-Z — Easy tool for quick check of basic parameters of SoC and camera.
• 📸 Open Camera – a third-party camera that can show supported API and sometimes the type of sensor.

It's important to understand that no application has the magical power to get around system restrictions without super-user rights. If MIUI hides data, the app will show a stub, but in 90% of cases, basic sensor type information (Sony, Samsung, OmniVision) is still readable through standard Android APIs.

Checking through the engineering menu and codes

The engineering menu is a hidden section of the system designed to test equipment in the factory, and is logged in through a set of special codes in the Phone app. For Xiaomi and Redmi devices, the main code is ##64663## or ##6484##. After the code is dialed, the CIT menu will open.

You'll need to find a point in the test list that's associated with the camera, which can be called Front Camera, Back Camera, or just Camera, and when you run the test, the system activates the module and shows a preview. Some versions of the firmware in the corner of the screen, or in the log file that you can call with the menu button, display the sensor ID, which can be a numerical value or a short string.

There's also code ##4636## that opens the test menu, and you can select "Device information" or "Camera information." Here, the data is often more technical and can contain strings with driver names. If you see values like "ov8856" or "s5k3l8," the first two letters point to the manufacturer (OmniVision, Samsung), and the numbers point to the model.

⚠️ Note: In the engineering menu is strictly prohibited function "Touch Calibration" or reset settings Bluetooth/Wi-Fi This can cause a loss of touchscreen calibration or MAC-addresses that require re-flashing.

If the codes don’t work (often on global firmware versions), you can try using the dialing emulator apps available in the Play Market, which have a call history feature and can activate hidden menus through shortcuts.

Comparison of sensor models in different versions of Redmi

One of the biggest challenges for users is that the same phone model (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro) can come with different sensors on the main camera depending on the region and release date, a phenomenon called the “matrix lottery.” To understand what you have, it’s helpful to know the main pairs of sensors the company used.

As you can see from the table, even with the same number of megapixels, the quality of images can vary significantly. Sony sensors are traditionally considered better in low light conditions thanks to Quad Bayer technology and better microlenses. Samsung matrixes often win in detail in good light, but can make noise in the shade.

You can only find out which version you got using the software methods described above. Visually, you can't tell them apart, because the security glass and the module may look identical. If you're planning to buy a used device, be sure to check the sensor when you meet, because the Sony version is valued higher.

Definition of the camera through computer and ADB

For those who are not afraid of the command line, the most reliable way is to use the Android Debug Bridge debugging bridge (ADB). This method allows you to pull raw data out of system logs that are not filtered by the shell. You'll need a computer, USB-cable and installed drivers ADB.

First, you need to turn on the developer mode on your phone. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version. Then activate Debugging on USB from the “Additional” menu. Connect the phone to your PC and type in the command:

adb shell dumpsys media.camera

In the lead, look for lines containing "camera" and "id." There will be listed all available cameras and their characteristics. A deeper analysis is possible through the command adb shell cat /proc/device-tree/i2c@.../, but the paths may differ depending on the processor (Snapdragon or MediaTek).

• 💻 Install drivers – download Platform Tools from the official Google site for your OS.
• 🔌 Connection – Use the original cable to avoid connection errors.
• ⌨️ Enter commands – be careful of the symbol register when entering commands in the terminal.

If you have root rights, the capabilities are greatly expanded. You can read the kernel configuration files directly. The su command will give the superuser permissions, and then you can explore the directory. /sys/bus/i2c/drivers/. There are often files with driver names that directly point to the sensor model, for example, msm_cam_sensor or specific names like imx766.

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Use the program «ADB AppControl for Windows, if you're afraid of the command line, it has a graphical interface and allows you to do many things. ADB-One-click commands, including viewing camera logs.

Compatibility issues and module replacement

The question of how to recognize a camera often arises for those who have broken a lens glass or damaged a module plume and are planning a replacement, and here lies the important nuance: even if you know the sensor model, it is difficult to buy exactly the same module at retail. Manufacturers rarely sell modules to end users, and the parts market is chaos of compatible counterparts.

When you replace the camera module with Xiaomi or Redmi, it is critical to buy a part specifically for your phone model, and not just with similar characteristics. The software (drivers in the firmware) is sharpened for a specific sensor. If you put a module with a different matrix, the camera may simply not start, giving a black screen or an error “failed to connect to the camera”.

⚠️ Attention: After the camera module is replaced, it is often necessary to reset the settings through the receptacles or complete flashing with data clearing (Wipe Data) for the system to reinitiate the new module.

There are service programs like Mi Flash or factory calibration utilities that allow you to prescribe a new module, but at home, this is almost impossible without a special box and an authorized account, so when you repair, try to find a module with the same score number that is listed on the tail of the original camera.

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Buy the camera module strictly by the score number from the original part’s plume, not just the phone model, to avoid driver compatibility issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)