108 MP in Xiaomi camera: marketing or real advantage?

When Xiaomi first introduced the 108 megapixel camera, it was a sensation. The manufacturers promised “studio quality in the pocket,” but in practice many users were disappointed: the images took up gigabytes of memory, and there was no visible improvement. So what does the 108 MP figure in the characteristics of the Xiaomi camera – and why is it not always “better”?

In this article, we'll look at how the 108MP sensor works, how it differs from traditional 12-48MP sensors, and what high-resolution scenarios are really justified, and what Xiaomi models have with this camera, how to adjust the shooting to take advantage of the matrix's potential, and when to switch to lower-resolution mode, and why pixel size is more important than the number of sensors, and how this affects nighttime shooting.

What is 108 megapixels in a smartphone camera?

The figure “108 MP” indicates that the camera matrix contains 108 million light-sensitive elements (pixels). For comparison, standard smartphones usually have 12, 48 or 64 MP arrays. In theory, the more pixels, the more detailed the image should be – but in practice, it is more complex.

The fact that the physical size of the matrix in smartphones is limited (usually this is the case). 1/1.33" or 1/1.56"), and to fit 108 You have to make them tiny, like in Xiaomi Mi. 11 The Ultra size of one pixel is only 0.8 micron 1.4–2.0 And there are two key consequences of this in microns in lower resolution chambers:

• 📸 More detail – with good lighting and proper processing, the pictures do contain more small elements (e.g., you can see the text on a sign in the distance).
• 🌙 Light sensitivity is worse – small pixels are worse at catching light, so at dusk or at night, the camera can lose to less megapixel counterparts.
• 💾 Large file weight – one photo in full resolution can weigh 20-40 MB (vs. 3-8 MB for 12-MP cameras).

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi (like other manufacturers) uses pixel binning by default, a technology in which 4 or 9 neighboring pixels are combined into one “superpixel.” For example, in the default mode, the camera delivers pictures at 12 or 27 MP, rather than the full 108 MP. This is done to improve light sensitivity and reduce noise.

Which Xiaomi models have a 108 MP camera?

Xiaomi’s first 108-megapixel smartphone was the Mi Note 10 (2019), and then the technology spread to flagship and some mid-budget models. Here’s the current list of devices with such a matrix (2026):

Please note: not all 108-The MP cameras are the same. For example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra is used by Sony sensor IMX989 matrix-size 1" (The largest among smartphones, while in the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ It is worth a more budgetary Samsung ISOCELL HM6 matrixed 1/1.28". The difference in quality, especially in difficult conditions, can be significant.

⚠️ Note: If you see the characteristics of the smartphone "108 MP, but the model is not listed in the table above – most likely, we are talking about interpixel binning (for example, 9-into-1), When the actual resolution of the matrix is lower (for example, 12 MP, and before 108 It's software-driven, a trick that some brands use for marketing purposes.

108 MP vs. 12/48 MP: What's best in practice?

To see if the 108MP camera offers real benefits, compare it to more traditional 12MP and 48MP sensors in key terms:

• 🔍 Details: With good lighting, the 108 MP wins – you can zoom in on a PC screen and see fine details (such as the texture of fabric or leaves.
• 🌃 Night shooting: Large pixel cameras (1.4–2.0 μm) are the leading ones, such as 12MP sensors in iPhone or Google Pixel. 108MP sensors lose out due to smaller pixel sizes if binning is not used.
• 📱 Performance: 108MP image processing requires more resources. On weak processors (for example, in the Redmi Note) there may be a delay when shooting a series of frames.
• 💾 Memory: One photo in full resolution takes 20-40 MB. When shooting 128 GB of memory may not be enough for a month.

For clarity, we will compare the same frame made on Xiaomi 13 Ultra in 108 MP and 12 MP (with binning):

Conclusion: 108 MPs are justified if you:

1. You can print photos in a large format (for example, posters).
2. Frequently crop shots (cut edges) and need a margin of resolution.
3. You shoot landscapes or architecture where detail is important.

In all other cases (social networks, messengers, household shooting) 12-48 MP is enough.

💡

108 MP is not about "better at everything," it's about specific tasks, and for most users, 12 MP with good optics is enough.

How to turn on shooting in full 108 MP on Xiaomi?

By default, Xiaomi smartphones shoot in binning mode (12 or 27 MP) to save space and improve quality. To take a photo in a full 108 megapixels, you need:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the 108M (or HIGH) icon in the top panel.
3. Select the 108M resolution (may be called the 108MP or Max.).

Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) path:

Camera settings → Resolution → 108M

Please note:

• 📵 In 108 MP mode, it is turned off. HDR — This can worsen the balance of light and shadows.
• 🔄 No serial shooting - you can only take a single shot.
• 🎥 Video in the video 108 MP is not removed – the maximum resolution of the video is usually 8K (7680×4320), correspondent ~33 MPP.

⚠️ Note: On models with Snapdragon processor 7xx (for example, POCO F5 Pro) 108 MP shooting can take up to 3-5 seconds to process a single frame, while the camera freezes - do not try to close the application or switch mode!

Camera settings for the best 108 MP shots

To maximize the potential of a 108-megapixel camera, it is not enough to simply turn on high resolution.

1. Pro mode (manual settings)

Go to Pro Mode and install:

• 📷 ISO: 100-400 (day), 800-1600 (dusk) Avoid readings above 3200, because there will be too much noise.
• ⏱️ Excerpt: 1/1000–1/500 moving-object, 1/30–1" static.
• 🎯 Focus: Use manual focus (click on the screen and hold to block focus).

2. File format

In camera settings (Settings) → Photo format) select:

• 📁 RAW: If you plan to edit your photo in Lightroom or Photoshop, the file will weigh 50-80 MB, but give you maximum flexibility.
• 🖼️ JPEG: For quick shooting and posting on social media. ~20-30 MB.
• 🔧 HEIF: Compact format (weight) ~10-15 MB, but not all programs support it.

3. Optimization for night shooting

In the dark:

• 🌙 Turn off 108 MP and use Night Mode (it automatically applies binning and multi-frame processing).
• 📱 Install the smartphone on a tripod or support – exposure can reach 4-6 seconds.
• 💡 If you need to take an urgent photo without a tripod, turn on Ultra-Night Mode (available on Xiaomi) 12S Ultra and newer).

💡

Before filming in RAW Check if there is enough space on the memory card: one file takes up to 80 MB. For a series of 20 frames you will need ~1.5 GB.

108MP camera myths: What is true and what is not?

There are many myths surrounding high-megapixel cameras, and we'll take a look at some of the most common ones.

❌ Myth 1: “108 MP = professional"

Reality: Photo quality is not just about resolution, but also about optics, processing and algorithms. For example, the iPhone 14 Pro with a 48MP camera often beats Xiaomi with 108MP in tests thanks to better software optimization.

❌ Myth 2: The more megapixels, the better the zoom"

Reality: Digital zoom (crop) on 108 MP photos does allow you to zoom in more without losing detail, but optical zoom (for example, 5).× Xiaomi 13 Ultra will always give the best result. 108 MP only help with hybrid zoom (a combination of optical and digital).

❌ Myth 3: 108 MPs are needed for video"

Reality: Video in 108 MP is not removed – the maximum resolution of video in smartphones today is 8K (Moreover, processing such video requires huge resources, and even flagship processors (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) may not be able to cope without overheating.

❌ Myth 4: 108 MP photos are always better than 12 MP photos"

Reality: In low light 12 MP binning photos are often less noisy and more balanced in exposure. 108 MP is justified only under ideal shooting conditions.

💡

Megapixels are not the main thing. It's the size of the matrix, the optical stabilization and the quality of the lens.

108MP Camera Problems and How to Avoid Them

High-megapixel matrices are not without their disadvantages, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

Another common problem is artifacts zooming in, such as 108MP images that can show soapy wiring or unnatural object contours, and this is due to Xiaomi's aggressive handling of detail, which is trying to "draw" details to avoid this:

• 📷 Take it down. RAW And you can manually process the photos.
• 🔍 Turn off the option to Improve details in camera settings (if any).
• 🖼️ Use third-party apps (like Google Camera with ported modules for Xiaomi).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ And older than that, when you shoot 108 MP, you automatically turn off the optical stabilization, which means that even a slight tremor of the hands will lead to a blurred frame!

FAQ: Frequent questions about 108-MP cameras Xiaomi