Why Xiaomi Cameras Are Worse Than Competitors: Technical Reasons and How to Fix Them

Xiaomi smartphones have long been popular for their price-quality ratio, but there is one area where the brand regularly receives criticism: photo quality. Users complain about blurry details, unrealistic colors and poor performance in low light, even in premium models, while competitors like Samsung or Google Pixel are showing markedly better results on similar hardware.

In this article, we’ll break down 7 key reasons why Xiaomi cameras often lose out to other flagships, from hardware limitations to software optimization. You will also learn how to improve your camera experience without buying a new smartphone, and which models of the brand are able to compete with market leaders. MIUI and expert feedback.

Spoiler: It's not always the hardware that's the problem, sometimes it's the aggressive processing that you can turn off, but it's all in order.

1. Budget Matrices Even in Flagships: Savings on Sensors

One of the main reasons for weak cameras is the use of cheap matrices, even in top models. For example, Xiaomi 13 Pro received a Sony IMX858 sensor (1 inch), which on paper is not inferior to competitors, but in real tests loses Samsung ISOCELL HP2 in the Galaxy S23 Ultra in dynamic range and noise.

Budget models like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ are equipped with Samsung ISOCELL HM6 or OmniVision OV64B, which can not physically compete with flagship sensors due to the smaller pixel size (0.7 μm vs. 1.1-1.6 μm in leaders).

• 📉 Bad light power – the matrix “does not catch” enough light at dusk.
• 🌫️ High noises on high ISO (Especially noticeable with digital zoom).
• 🎨 Limited dynamic range – the sky in the photo is often “broken” or dark areas lose details.

By comparison, the Google Pixel 7 Pro uses the Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor with 1.2 μm pixels and dual-pixel autofocus technology, which gives a noticeable advantage in focus and detail. Xiaomi often chooses matrixes that focus on megapixels (108-200 MP), rather than real quality.

2 Aggressive software processing: when software spoils a photo

Even with a good matrix, Xiaomi often "oversteps the stick" with post-processing. MIUI default:

• 🔍 Excessively smooth textures (skin, hair, foliage look “plastic»).
• 🎨 Overstate saturation - colors become unnatural (especially noticeable in the sky and greenery).
• 🌙 Applied aggressive noise cancellation, killing parts in dark areas.
• 📏 Distorted geometry (for example, artificially “pull” faces on a selfie).

Example: on the Xiaomi 12S Ultra (with a Leica camera), in Live Colors mode, the grass turns acid green and the sky unnaturally blue. In comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro retains natural shades in the same frame.

How to turn off processing? In the camera settings (Additionally → Camera settings) you can:

1. Select Leica Authentic (if any) or Natural profile.
2. Shut down. AI-improvement HDR+.
3. Set contrast and saturation to a minimum.

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Shoot in RAW format (includes in Settings → Photo format) to then manually process the picture in Lightroom or Snapseed without distortion from MIUI.

Weak HDR algorithm: Loss of parts in light and dark zones

HDR technology (High Dynamic Range) has to balance exposure in the frame, keeping details in the shadows and in the light. Xiaomi has a chronic problem with this: the algorithm often “overlits” the sky or, conversely, makes dark areas too noisy.

Reasons:

• 🤖 Incorrect exposure – the camera makes a mistake in choosing a reference point (for example, measuring light on a bright window, not on the face).
• ⏱️ Slow stitching of frames - when shooting from hand HDR-photo is blurred.
• 📊 Limited dynamic range of matrices (especially in budget models).

For comparison, Google Pixel uses HDR+ technology, which takes up to 15 frames with different exposures and combines them into one shot. Xiaomi even in Xiaomi 13 Ultra HDR is often limited to 3-4 frames, which affects the detail.

Solution: Manually reduce exposure by 0.3–0.7 EV (Up/down wiring) before shooting HDR. Also try third-party cameras like the GCam (but require manual tuning).

4.Autofocus problems: misses and “breathing” when shooting video

Many Xiaomi users experience unstable autofocus, especially in low light or macro photography.

• 🎯 «Focus misses – the camera catches the background instead of the object.
• 🔄 «Breathing of focus – constant “twitching” of sharpness when shooting a video.
• 🐢 Slow focusing in Night Mode mode.

The reason is the use of contrast autofocus (instead of phase or laser) in budget models, as well as weak motion prediction algorithms. For example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ focuses 2-3 times longer than the Samsung Galaxy A54 in the same conditions.

How do you improve focus?

Set AF-S (one-time focus) in manual settings |

Turn it off. AI-scene recognition in camera settings|

Use Touch Focus (touch screen) instead of Automotive |

For macro, turn on Super Macro mode (if any) and keep the distance 2-4 cm.|-->

In flagships (Xiaomi 13T Pro, Mix Fold 3) the problem is less noticeable thanks to laser autofocus, but in budget series (Redmi, POCO) it remains relevant.

5.Weak night mode: noise instead of details

Xiaomi's Night Mode is often disappointing, with users getting soapy artifact photos instead of clear frames.

• ⏳ Too short shutter speed – the camera can’t collect enough light.
• 🤖 Aggressive noise cancellation – algorithm ‘smears’ details in an attempt to hide noise.
• 📱 Lack of stabilization in budget models – hand tremors spoil the frame.

By comparison, the Google Pixel 6 in Night Sight can be shuttered for up to 4 seconds (manual stabilization), while the Xiaomi 12T Pro is limited to 1-1.5 seconds.

How do you improve night photography?

1. Use a tripod or lean your phone on a hard surface.
2. Turn on Pro Mode and manually set ISO 800-1600, shutter speed 1/4-1 s.
3. Turn it off. AI-improvement and take off in RAW post-processing.

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Night mode on Xiaomi works better when shooting static objects (landscapes, architecture). For moving scenes (people, cars), use the main camera with Night Mode on and short shutter speed.

6. Software zoom vs. optical: why 100x is a hoax

Many Xiaomi smartphones advertise a 50x-100x hybrid zoom, but in practice it is just a software increase with loss of quality.

• 🔍 Xiaomi 13 Ultra has optical zoom 5x (Periscopic lens, but all that is above is digital interpolation.
• 📉 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ It doesn't have any optical zoom at all — «2x» and «10x» software.
• 🎨 Increase >10x The photo turns into an impressionist picture with blurred details.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra features 10x optical zoom (real lossless zoom), and the digital zoom up to 100x uses Super Resolution algorithms that retain more detail.

Tip: Don't use >5x zoom unless absolutely necessary. Better take a shot on the main camera and cut it later - the result will be cleaner.

7.Incomplete video algorithms: tremors and artifacts

Videos on Xiaomi are often affected by:

• 🎥 Lack of stabilization in budget models (video shakes even when walking).
• 🔊 Bad microphone – sound is drowned out by noise or distorted.
• 📊 Artifacts when changing lighting (for example, flickering lamps).
• 🔄 Overheating - after 5-10 minutes of recording in 4K camera strangles bitrate.

The reason is the lack of hardware stabilization (OIS) cheaper 30 000 ₽ And we have weak codecs for video, POCO X5 Pro's shooting. 4K@30fps without stabilization, while the Samsung Galaxy A73 In the same way, Super Steady is used.

How do you improve the video?

• Shoot in 1080p@60fps instead of 4K – less CPU load.
• Use an external microphone (connects via USB-C).
• Turn on Pro Mode for video and manually block the exposure.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cameras