Why Xiaomi Camera Loses to Samsung and iPhone: Technical Reasons and Solutions

Xiaomi smartphones have long been popular for their price-performance ratio, but there is one area where the brand regularly receives criticism: camera quality. Users complain about blurry twilight shots, unnatural color processing and losing even to budget Samsung or Google Pixel models in the same price segment. But is it really that bad?

In this article, we’ll look at 7 key reasons why Xiaomi cameras are often frustrating, from hardware limitations to software processing, which models suffer the most, how AI algorithms sometimes spoil images instead of improving them, and what can be done to get the most out of your device, and compare real-world features with brand marketing statements.

Spoiler: the problem isn't always the hardware, sometimes you just have to turn off a couple of settings or install third-party software to make the camera work. 30-40% But everything in order.

1. Cheap Matrixes: Savings on the Most Important

The main reason for the mediocre quality of photos Xiaomi lies in the choice of sensors. Unlike the flagships of Samsung (using their own ISOCELL-matrix) or Apple (ordering custom solutions from Sony), most Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with serial sensors of the middle level from the same Sony or Samsung, but not the top series.

For example, the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra received a matrix Sony IMX989 (1 inch), which is inferior to the Sony IMX800 in Google Pixel 7 Pro in dynamic range and noise processing. And budget models like Redmi Note 12 and does not cost sensors OmniVision or Samsung S5K with a pixel size of 0.8 microns – this is 1.5-2 times less than competitors.

• 📱 Flagships: using Sony Matrixes IMX7xx/8xx/9xx, but often not the most recent revision.
• 💰 Mid-segment: Samsung sensors S5KGW or OmniVision OV64B reduced-capability.
• 🔻 Budget: matrices with a pixel size of 0.7-0.8 microns (the Samsung Galaxy) A54 — 1.0 μm).

⚠️ Note: Matrix size doesn't always mean quality. 12S Ultra with sensor IMX989 (1 inch) loses iPhone 14 Pro with matrix 1/1.28" Due to the worst optimization of software and lenses.

2. Software Processing: When AI Interferes, Not Helps

Image processing algorithms are the second most important factor that has caused Xiaomi cameras to receive negative reviews, unlike Google (where HDR+ and Night Sight work predictably) or Apple (with natural color rendering), Xiaomi’s software often overdoses:

• 🎨 Oversaturated colors: the sky becomes poisonous blue, greens – acid.
• 🌃 Aggressive smoothing: night shots lose detail, faces look plastic.
• 🔍 Artificial sharpening: Artifacts appear on the edges of objects (halos).

The problem is compounded by Xiaomi’s use of different algorithms for global (MIUI Global) and Chinese (MIUI China) firmware, such as Xiaomi 13 Pro on Chinese firmware, which performs 20% better night mode than on global, according to tests from DXOMARK.

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To reduce aggressive processing, turn off the options in the camera settings AI-The scene and the sky improvement, which will make the colors more natural, though less juicy".

3 Optics: Why even a good matrix gives bad photos

Even if a smartphone is equipped with a top-end sensor, the quality of the lenses can negate all its benefits. Xiaomi often saves on:

• 🔬 Lenses Covering: Cheap Enlightenment Leads to Glare and Contrast Loss.
• 📏 Assembly accuracy: lens distortions in the module cause blurring at the edges (especially noticeable in Redmi and Poco).
• 🔄 Autofocus: budget models use stripped-down versions PDAF (Phase autofocus that doesn’t work well in dynamic scenes.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra uses a 7-lens lens with aspherical elements, while the Xiaomi 13 Ultra only uses 5 lenses, two of them plastic.

• 🌈 Chromatic aberrations (purple halos around light sources).
• 🔎 Drop in field at the edges of the frame (especially when shooting on a wide angle).

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi takes blurry photos even during the day, check the lens for scratches or contamination. In 30% of cases, the problem is solved by simply cleaning the lens with a microfiber.

4. firmware and updates: why the camera works worse over time

Many users notice that after the MIUI update, the photo quality deteriorates. This is not paranoia - Xiaomi does sometimes "optimize" algorithms at the expense of detail.

• 📉 Cut-down settings: some modes are disabled in global firmware (for example, Pro Mode without shutter speed limits).
• 🤖 Mistakes. AI: After the updates, the algorithms begin to over-smooth the textures (for example, hair turns into plastic").
• 🔋 Energy saving: in battery mode, the camera automatically reduces video bitrate and preview resolution.

A striking example is the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: after upgrading to MIUI 14, users complained massively about the green tint in the photo under artificial light, the problem was solved only after 3 months.

Open the Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI|Compare test shots before/after the update (use Manual Mode)|Check the settings. AI-camera HDR|Clear the camera cache in Settings → Annexes-->

5. Marketing vs. reality: cheating with megapixels and aperture

Xiaomi likes to play with numbers in specs, but in practice they are often misleading.

Another trick is hybrid zoom, like the Poco F5 Pro says 30x zoom, but it's actually:

• 🔍 Do 2x — optical (real).
• 🖼️ 2x–10x — digital-sensor crop.
• 🤯 10x–30x — Programmatic increase with loss of quality.

6 How to Improve Xiaomi Camera: 5 Ways to Work

If your Xiaomi takes bad photos, don’t be quick to blame the hardware. 70% of the time, the quality can be improved software:

• 📱 Install GCam: Google Camera port for Xiaomi gives more natural HDR And better processing of night shots. XDA Developers.
• ⚙️ Turn it off. AI: In the camera settings, deactivate AI-scene, portrait enhancement and auto-HDR.
• 📸 Use Pro Mode: Manual Shutter Speed Control, ISO And white balance gives you a better result than automation.
• 🔄 Reset the camera settings: Sometimes software glitches are solved by resetting to Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 🔧 Update the firmware: Sometimes Xiaomi releases patches for the camera. → Updating the system.

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The most effective way to improve your photos on Xiaomi is to install GCam. According to DXOMARK tests, the difference in scores between the stock camera and the GCam can be as much as 15-20 points.

For supported models RAW (For example, Xiaomi 13 Pro is recommended to shoot in this format and process photos in Lightroom Mobile. MIUI.

7.Which Xiaomi models have the best cameras (and which ones to avoid)

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally bad in terms of photography, here is the ranking of models for camera quality (based on DXOMARK, GSMArena and user reviews):

What models to avoid when photos are important:

• 🚫 Redmi 10A, Redmi 9C — Soap-level cameras in 2010.
• 🚫 Poco M5, Poco C55 — Weak sensors and lack of stabilization.
• 🚫 Xiaomi 11 Lite NE — The thin body did not allow to establish normal optics.

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If you want a good camera in a Xiaomi smartphone, choose only flagships (12/13 Ultra/Pro Series). In the mid-range and budget segment, it is better to look towards the Samsung Galaxy A or Google Pixel 6a.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cameras