Xiaomi’s best camera: 2026 rating for photo and video quality

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone with the best camera in 2026 is not an easy task. The brand offers dozens of models, from budget Redmis with decent photos in daylight to flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, competing with professional DSLRs. But how do you know which camera is really the best for your needs? Because the criteria are different: someone cares about detail in zoom shooting, someone — night photography, and someone looking for the perfect balance of price and quality.

In this guide, we will analyze the TOP-5 Xiaomi models on the quality of cameras, compare their technical characteristics, show real examples of photos and videos, and also reveal hidden settings MIUI, which will improve your pictures on 30-40% You will find out whether to overpay for Leica optics in Xiaomi 13T How to get around the limitations of the Redmi Note budget 12 Pro+, Why even old flagships like the Mi 11 Ultra is still relevant for photographers.

1. How Xiaomi achieved leadership in mobile photography: technology after success

Xiaomi has made a breakthrough in mobile photography over the past 3 years, outperforming many of its competitors, and the secret lies in three key innovations:

• 🔬 Collaboration with Leica: Starting with Xiaomi 12S Ultra (2022), all flagships are equipped with optics with Leica’s signature “gloss” – a unique color reproduction and processing that mimics Leica film. M10.
• 📸 1-inch sensors: Models 12S Ultra, 13 Ultra and 14 Ultra uses giant Sony matrix IMX989 (the size of a compact camera, which is collected on 76% More light than standard 1/1.28" sensor.
• 🤖 AI-processing Xiaomi HyperOS: New firmware (replaced) MIUI) Analyzes the scene in real time, automatically selecting one of 12 profiles of the shooting – from “Winter landscape” to “Portrait with contrast light".

But technology is only half the success. It's important to understand how these innovations work in practice. For example, the Sony IMX989 in the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is better at shooting in RAW than in JPG, because standard MIUI processing sometimes "overcooks" colors. In the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, the Samsung ISOCELL HPX (200 MP) sensor gives amazing detail in daylight, but loses a lot at dusk due to the lack of optical stabilization.

2.TOP-5 Xiaomi smartphones for camera quality in 2026

We analyzed more than 20 Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models released in the past 2 years and selected the top 5 in terms of price/quality/opportunity. The ranking is based on DXOMARK tests, real-life photographer reviews and laboratory tests (including shooting in RAW).

⚠️ Warning: Prices are quoted for new appliances in official stores (June 2026) Models older than 2 years (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra) can be found cheaper in the secondary market, but their cameras are losing to modern flagships in autofocus and video processing.

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Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the only smartphone with variable aperture (f/1.6–f/4.0), which allows you to accurately control the depth of field, as in a DSLR.

3. Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13T Pro: Which is Best for a Photographer?

The two models are often compared because of their collaboration with Leica, but their approach to photography is fundamentally different. Xiaomi 14 Ultra is a “Swiss knife” with maximum flexibility: a variable aperture, two telephoto lenses (75 mm and 120 mm), and the ability to shoot in RAW 14-bit. And 13T Pro is a more compact and balanced option for those who appreciate natural colors without unnecessary settings.

Let's compare the key aspects:

• 🌓 Night photography: 14 Ultra wins with bigger sensor and Night Mode algorithm 2.0, fold-up 20 staff. 13T Pro's behind on 1-1.5 stage ISO, But it gives you a more film-based result.
• 🔍 Zoom: 14 Ultra has real 5x optical zoom (120 mm), while the 13T Pro only 2x (The difference is visible already at a 3-fold magnification - the younger model has artifacts.
• 🎥 Video: Both are filming 8K, 14 Ultra supports Dolby Vision and Log profile for post-processing. 13T Pro is limited HDR10+.
• 💰 Price: Difference of 40,000 ₽ This is only justified if you need a professional zoom or a shot in the RAW. There's enough for social media and travel. 13T Pro.

🔹 Secret Lifehack: Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a hidden Leica Authentic mode that disables all AI processing.To activate it, go to Camera Settings → Additionally. → Leica profiles and select "Authentic Look" and the photos will be less "glossy", but you will be able to accurately color correct in Lightroom.

4.Budget marvels: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and POCO F5 Pro

Not everyone has 100,000. ₽ On the flagship, but also among the budget Xiaomi there are models with cameras that bypass some of the competitors from the middle segment.+ (with a 200-megapixel sensor, and POCO F5 Pro (with optimized video shooting).

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is breaking records in detail thanks to the Samsung ISOCELL HPX sensor. In good lighting, it takes pictures that can be sprinkled 4-5 times without loss of quality.

⚠️ Attention: 1) No optical stabilization – walking videos are “shaking”; 2) Night mode only works on the main camera (ultra-wire and macro are useless in the dark); 3) AI algorithms sometimes “grease” textures (for example, hair on portraits becomes “plastic").

POCO F5 Pro, despite the lower resolution (64 MP), is more versatile:

• 🎬 Video in the video 8K (and overheating after 10 minutes of shooting).
• 🔄 Hybrid stabilization (optics) + software works even in 4K@60fps.
• 🌈 More natural color rendering "out of the box" (without yellow, like Redmi's).

🔹 Who's good for anything:

• 📷 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ — If you need detailed photos to print (for example, for Instagram bloggers selling photos).
• 🎥 POCO F5 Pro – if video priority (for TikTok, YouTube) or shooting in motion.

Prioritize: photo or video | Check for optical stabilization | Compare sensor size (minimum 1/1.5) | Test the night mode in the store | Pay attention to RAW-->

5 Hidden MIUI/HyperOS settings to improve photos

Even the average Xiaomi smartphone can be made to shoot at the flagship level, if you know the hidden settings and tricks. Most users do not suspect that the firmware is hidden professional tools that are disabled by default.

Here are the 5 most effective settings (working on MIUI 14 and HyperOS):

1. Activate full RAW: Go to Camera Settings → Format → RAW + JPEG and select RAW 12/14-bit. This will save raw sensor data for post-processing. Important: files will weigh 30-50 MB!
2. Turn off noise emitter: In Settings → Additional → Image enhancement, turn off Noise Reduction and Detail Improvement. This will make the photo more natural, but can add grains in the dark.
3. Manual focus in video: In video mode, tap the screen and hold your finger for 2 seconds, and a focus slider will appear. Useful for macro photography.
4. Leica profiles in non-flagships: On models without official Leica support (e.g. Redmi) K60 Pro) profiles can be set through ADB-Adb shell settings put global camera_leica_mode 1 After the reboot, the "Leica" tab will appear in the camera settings".
5. Increase video bitrate: In Settings → Video resolution → Alternatively, select High bitrate. The videos will weigh more, but without compression artifacts.

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If your Xiaomi is “lighting up” the sky in the photo, turn on the camera settings option “HDR Auto” and set the exposure correction to -0.7.

⚠️ Attention: Setup through ADB It can cause camera crashes if you type the command incorrectly. Before experimenting, back up your data via Settings. → Memory. → Backup.

6. Which Xiaomi to choose for specific tasks?

There is no universal “best” Xiaomi smartphone on camera, it all depends on your goals. We have compiled a guide of choice based on real cases of users:

🔹 Important nuance: If you shoot for social networks (Instagram, VK), The difference between flagships and budget models will be noticeable only at 100% increase. For stories and reels, even the Redmi Note 11 Pro will suffice - the main thing is to learn how to process photos correctly.

7. Frequent Mistakes When Shooting on Xiaomi and How to Avoid Them

Even with the top camera Xiaomi 14 Ultra, you can take bad photos, if you do not know the typical mistakes. We analyzed thousands of user shots and identified 5 most common misses:

• 📸 Shooting in JPG instead RAW: 90% of users are filmed in JPG, where the camera itself bakes the color and contrast settings. RAW You get 3 times more data to edit. Correction: Enable RAW + JPEG customized.
• 🌃 Use of digital zoom: Any magnification above optical zoom (e.g., magnification, 10x Xiaomi 13T Pro, where only optical 2x) Correction: Get closer to the object or crop the photo later.
• 💡 Shooting against light without HDR: If the sun or lamp is behind the object, the details are lost. Correction: Turn on HDR Auto or take it off in RAW with subsequent shadow processing in Lightroom.
• 🤳 Dirty lens: 70% of blurred photos are due to fingerprints or dust on the lenses. Correction: Rub the lens with a microfiber before shooting (especially the ultra-wide, it is most vulnerable).
• 🎭 Ignoring Leica profiles: Many Xiaomi owners 13T The Pro or 14 Ultra do not use Leica's branded profiles, although they give a unique color rendering.Fix: Experiment with the "Authentic" and "Vivid" modes in the camera settings.

🔹 Bonus: If your night photos are noisy, try this trick: set the shutter speed to the top of the screen. 1/4 seconds, ISO on 800 And you can take it with manual stabilization -- put it in the wall or use a mini-station -- and you can do better than you can do it in automatic night mode.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions