Smartphones are no longer just communication devices, becoming powerful pocket photo labs, and Xiaomi is setting the tone here by constantly introducing revolutionary solutions. If you wonder what’s new in Xiaomi’s camera this year, the answer lies in the deep integration of Leica’s technology, the use of the latest Light Fusion sensors, and the aggressive introduction of artificial intelligence into the image processing process.
This year, the company’s engineers have been betting not on just increasing the number of megapixels, but on the quality of each individual pixel and the physical size of the matrix. A key innovation is the Light Fusion 900 sensor, which provides incredible dynamic range and low-light operation, which was previously available only to professional SLR cameras.
Users now have access to tools that allow them to create, not just capture, reality. From the new mode of portrait photography to the ability to record video in RAW format, the functionality expands with each update of the HyperOS shell. Let's take a look at exactly what changes are waiting for owners of current models and what the next generation of optical zoom is capable of.
Optics Revolution: Partnership with Leica and New Lenses
The collaboration with the legendary German company Leica has taken a whole new level, where once it was just a software color correction, now we see physical changes in the design of lenses. The latest flagships are equipped with Leica Summilux optics, which provides less light scattering and more natural bokeh even without software processing.
T* Coating technology (adapted for Xiaomi) significantly reduces glare and bunnies when shooting against light, a critical feature of urban photography, where many artificial light sources have often spoiled the shot in previous generations of smartphones.
Engineers have also redesigned telephoto lenses, and now floating focal length allows the telephoto lens to focus on objects just 10 centimeters from the lens, turning it into a macro lens with optical zoom, opening up new horizons for macro photography with natural background blur.
⚠️ Note: When using the open-aperture Leica Authentic mode, the depth of field can be very small. Watch your focus, especially when shooting moving objects, as the autofocus system may not have time to respond to a sharp movement.
Light Fusion sensors and low-light operation
The basis of any modern camera is a matrix, and here Xiaomi introduces Light Fusion technology. Unlike traditional sensors, the new pixel architecture allows you to capture more light without increasing the physical size of the sensor, which saves space inside the case of the smartphone.
Night photography has undergone dramatic changes, with Night Mode 3.0 algorithms now using layered noise cancellation at the hardware level, which means that photos taken in the dark retain skin textures and clothing details without turning into oily stains, as often happens with strong digital noise reduction.
For low-light video, Dual Native ISO Fusion is implemented, which reads two sensitivity values simultaneously for each frame, combining them in real time, resulting in video with minimal digital noise even in extremely low light conditions, such as in a nightclub or outdoors with lights.
- 🌟 Increased pixel size to 2.4 μm in binning mode for maximum light capture.
- 🌟 43% reduction in noise compared to the previous generation of sensors.
- 🌟 Support for video recording 8K active HDR light-in.
How does pixel binning work?
Artificial Intelligence and Computational Photography
Xiaomi Image Brain’s next generation image processors are powered by neural networks trained on millions of professional photos. Now, AI doesn’t just “improve” colors, it understands scenes semantically, it distinguishes between sky, water, people’s faces, food and text, applying a customized processing algorithm to each object.
AI Eraser 2.0 is much smarter, and if you could only remove static objects, now algorithms can reconstruct complex textures and even remove reflections in glass or water, filling voids with realistic content, and this is achieved by generative models running locally on the device.
In portrait mode, the AI now analyzes the lighting of the scene and can virtually rearrange the light sources after the shooting, so you can change the direction of the shadow on the face or add counterlight, and the system will do this photorealistically, given the geometry of the face and the environment.
⚠️ Attention: Using maximum AI processing settings (especially in 200 MP mode) can significantly increase the time of saving the image and heating the device.
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For best nighttime results, try to keep your smartphone still for the first 2-3 seconds of exposure. Even with optical stabilization, microshifts can reduce detail in the shadows.
Video capabilities: from 8K to master modes
Video footage on Xiaomi’s smartphones has approached mirrorless camera levels this year, with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ recording support now available on all camera modules, including ultra-wide-angle and telephoto lens, enabling cinematic quality content with the widest dynamic range.
The new Master Cinema mode is now available, which allows you to manually adjust your video settings: shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focal length, while keeping all your profile settings. Moreover, LOG recording is available, giving videographers tremendous flexibility in color correction in post-production.
Video stabilization has also been updated: OIS+EIS 4.0 uses high-frequency gyroscope data to compensate for hand tremors even when running or shooting from moving vehicles, the horizon is minimally slammed, and the jelly effect is almost completely eliminated.
| Characteristics | Flagship model | Mid-segment | Budget segment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Video resolution | 8K @ 24 fps | 4K @ 60 fps | 4K @ 30 fps |
| Stabilization | OIS + EIS (Hybrid) | OIS (Optical) | EIS (Electronic) |
| HDR format | Dolby Vision / HDR10+ | HDR10+ | HDR10 |
| Recording LOG | Got a 10-bit. | No. | No. |
☑️ Setup of camera for video shooting
Generation Comparison: What Has Changed Over the Year
When you compare the current models to their predecessors, the difference is visible to the naked eye, especially when it comes to shutter lag speed, and now the time between pressing a button and saving a frame has been reduced to almost zero thanks to new motion prediction algorithms.
Zoom has also improved, and digital magnification has been enhanced by the use of super-resolution zooms, and a 30-50-fold magnification now looks acceptable for social media, whereas before, the picture has crumbled into pixels at 10x zoom.
The camera interface has also undergone changes, allowing for quick switching between lenses without delay and with no exposure, and adding a floating viewfinder that allows you to see the whole frame, even when the phone is used horizontally with the keyboard connected or folded (for models).
- 🚀 The camera’s launch speed from the off state was reduced to 0.6 seconds.
- 🚀 Improved algorithm for facial recognition in masks and glasses.
- 🚀 Added the possibility of shooting in format RAW immediately in the application "Gallery" without third-party software.
⚠️ Note: When shooting in format RAW (14-bit) The size of a single file can reach 50-80 Make sure there is enough free space on your device, especially if you are planning a serial shoot.
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The main difference of the new generation of Xiaomi cameras is the transition from simple light storage to intelligent control of each pixel, which gives a result comparable to semi-professional cameras.
Practical tips for Xiaomi camera owners
To get the most out of your new Xiaomi camera, just pressing the descent button is not enough. Experiment with Profi mode, where you can manually set the shutter speed to capture car light trails or freeze water.
Don't ignore image format settings. For everyday shooting and posting on social networks, it is better to use the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) format, which takes up half the space at the same quality as JPEG. For further processing on your computer, choose RAW or Ultra RAW.
Regularly update the Camera app through the GetApps store or system updates. Xiaomi often releases patches that improve the algorithms for processing specific scenes that do not fall into the general version notes.
To stabilize the camera during long exposure or macro photography, use a tripod or simply elbow against a hard surface. Even the best optical stabilization will not cope with the tremors of the hands when exposure is longer than 1/10 of a second.