How to find out the exact number of megapixels of the camera on Xiaomi

Owning a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is often accompanied by a desire to know the real characteristics of the device, especially when it comes to photography. Marketers like to use high-profile numbers of 108, 200 or even 64 megapixels, but the real resolution of the matrix and the final resolution of the image can be significantly different due to the technology of binning pixels.

Users often face confusion when the specification specifies one value and the properties of the finished file another, less. This is not a fraud on the part of the manufacturer, but a complex signal processing process that must be understood to professionally evaluate the capabilities of the gadget.

In this article, we will explore all the available methods for checking the actual resolution of the sensor, from standard system settings to the use of advanced engineering codes, learn how to distinguish between interpolated resolution and physical resolution and understand why your image weighs less than expected.

Checking through the standard Camera app

The most obvious, but not always informative, way is to look at the settings of the app itself. Open the standard Camera app and go to the settings menu, usually indicated by the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner.

Here you will see the option "Size Photo" or "Resolution." However, be careful: Xiaomi will often activate compression or binning mode by default, showing not the full resolution of the matrix, but the final frame size. For example, for a sensor of 64 MP, 16 MP can be chosen to save memory.

By changing this setting, you can see the maximum resolution available for software processing. If the list does not correspond to the declared megapixels (for example, 12 MP instead of 48 MP), this means that the camera is operating in pixel combining mode to improve light sensitivity.

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In night mode, the camera is forced to lower the resolution to increase the size of the light-sensitive cell, so don’t be surprised by the smaller number of megapixels in night shots.

It's worth noting that in some MIUI or HyperOS shells, the maximum resolution is hidden in a separate High-Res mode, which is in the "More" menu, which is where the true potential of your optics lies.

Analysis of EXIF-data of the finished image

A more reliable method is to analyze the metadata of the photo that has already been taken, and each digital photo contains hidden EXIF information, which spells out the technical parameters of the shooting, including the exact resolution of the matrix at the time of the shot.

Take a picture in standard mode, then open the gallery, select a photo and click on the icon "i" (info) or swipe up. In the menu that opens, find the "Details" or "Details" section, which will indicate the resolution in the format "Wide x Height".

• 📸 To calculate megapixels, multiply the width by height and divide by a million (for example, the size of the megapixels, 4000×3000 = 12 000 000 = 12 MP).
• 📂 Files in format JPG may contain compressed data, while RAW (DNG) Shows honest sensor resolution without processor processing.
• 🔍 Note the line “Camera Model” – sometimes it indicates the real code of the sensor, which can be broken through the Internet.

If you use third-party file managers like MI File Manager or Total Commander, you can access file properties that also duplicate this technical information, allowing you to quickly check data without opening a gallery.

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EXIF-Data is a digital passport of a photograph that never lies about the real resolution of a particular frame, unlike advertising booklets.

Use of system codes and engineering menu

For a deeper immersion in the hardware of the smartphone, there are special engineering codes that allow accessing hidden parts of the system, where complete information about the connected modules, including cameras, is displayed.

Open the Phone app and type the combination ##6484##. This code opens the CIT (Customer Interface Test) engineering menu. In the test list, find the item associated with the camera (usually BackCamera or FrontCamera).

When you run the test, you'll see the camera preview and the technical data in the corner of the screen or in the log, and it's often the actual resolution of the video stream from the matrix, which may differ from the settings of the photo, and it's the raw data that the processor sees before any improvement algorithms are applied.

⚠️ Note: Do not change settings on the engineering menu that you do not know the value of.Accessual change in color or focus settings can lead to incorrect camera operation, requiring resetting of settings.

Alternative code ##4636## opens the testing menu. Go to Phone Information or Statistics, where you can sometimes find information about connected components, although this section is more often about network modules.

Third-party diagnostic applications

If built-in tools are not enough, specialized utilities from Google Play come to the rescue. Applications like Device Info HW, AIDA64 or CPU-Z can read information directly from device drivers.

Once you install the app, go to the Display or Camera tab, where you will see not only the resolution, but also the physical size of the sensor, as well as the name of the matrix model (for example, Samsung ISOCELL or Sony IMX).

The thing about these programs is that they show the physical resolution of the sensor, even if it's software-limited, so you can see the actual pixel density and see if your phone uses interpolation.

It is recommended to use Device Info HW as the most accurate tool for Xiaomi owners, as it best decodes specific strings of identifiers of Chinese manufacturers.

Difference between physical and interpolated MP

It's critical to understand the difference between physical pixels and interpolation. Physical megapixels are real light-sensitive cells on a matrix. Interpolation is a mathematical algorithm that "thinks out" missing pixels, increasing the resolution programmatically.

Xiaomi smartphones often use Pixel Binning technology. A 48MP camera can take 12MP pictures by combining 4 neighboring pixels into one large one, which improves the quality of images in poor light, but reduces detail in good light.

• 📉 Binning reduces megapixel count, but improves color reproduction and reduces noise.
• 📈 Interpolation artificially increases megapixels, but doesn’t add real detail.
• 🎯 For landscape photography, it is important to turn on the high-resolution (Hi-Res) mode to engage all physical pixels.

You can only know which mode is active by the weight of the file and its resolution. A full-matrix image will weigh 3-4 times more than a binning shot, and have proportionately more detail when zooming.

⚠️ Attention: High-resolution (Hi-Res) mode often doesn't support touch autofocus or takes a snapshot with a few seconds delay. Use a tripod to get a clear image.

Table of popular sensors in Xiaomi and Redmi

To make it easier for you to navigate the specs, we have prepared a table with common matrices that are installed in Xiaomi phones. Knowing the sensor model, you will understand exactly what your camera is capable of.

This data will help you quickly identify the capabilities of your device, and if the store specifies one sensor and the apps show another, it may be that the manufacturer has replaced the component in the new smartphone revision.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)