How many megapixels in Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: a detailed analysis of the camera of the smartphone

The megapixel question in Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most popular among users planning to buy or wanting to improve the quality of photos. Redmi 8 Pro, released in 2019, became a prominent model in the line of budget devices thanks to its four-module camera. But the figures on paper and the real performance often differ: 48 MP on the main module sounds impressive, but what does it mean in practice?

Many people mistakenly believe that the number of megapixels directly determines the quality of the images. In fact, what matters is the size of the pixels, the aperture of the lens, the processing algorithms and even the firmware version. In this article, we will examine not only the technical characteristics of the Redmi 8 Pro camera, but also the nuances of its operation, from the resolution of each module to tips for setting for the perfect shots.

If you already own or are just choosing this smartphone, note that the Redmi 8 Pro uses pixel binning (4-in-1), which allows you to combine 4 pixels into one to improve light absorption in low light conditions. This means that the actual resolution of photos in automatic mode is often 12 MP, not 48 MP.

Technical characteristics of the camera Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro

The Redmi 8 Pro has four rear cameras, each of which plays a different role. The main module is the 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 sensor with an aperture of f/1.79 and a pixel size of 0.8 microns. In theory, this allows you to take pictures with a resolution of 8000×6000 pixels, but in practice, the smartphone default saves photos in 12 MP due to binning.

The second module is an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens (120°) with an aperture of f/2.2, ideal for landscape or architecture photography. The third is a 2-megapixel macro lens (4 cm minimum focal length) for detailed shots of small objects. Completes the set with a 2-megapixel depth sensor responsible for blurring the background in portrait mode.

The front camera is more modest: a 20-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture and HDR support. It is hidden in a drop-shaped screen cutout and is suitable for selfies and video calls.

• 📷 Main camera: 48 MP, Sony IMX586, f/1.79, phase-focus
• 🌄 Super-wide-angle: 8 MPP, 120°, f/2.2
• 🔍 Macro: 2 MP, focal length 4 cm
• 👤 Depth Sensor: 2 MP for Portrait Mode
• 🤳 Frontal: 20 MPP, f/2.0, HDR

It's important to understand that 48 MP is a marketing figure. In most scenarios, a smartphone uses binning, combining pixels to improve quality in poor lighting. To take a full-resolution picture, you need to manually switch to 48 MP mode in the camera settings.

How to Enable 48 Megapixel Shooting on Redmi 8 Pro

By default, Redmi 8 Pro takes photos in 12 MP. To use the full sensor resolution, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ Settings in upper right corner.
3. Select the photo resolution option.
4. Activate the 48 MP option (some firmware may call it High Resolution).

After that, all photos will be saved in a resolution of 8000×6000 pixels. Note that such pictures take up much more space on the drive (about 10-15 MB per frame versus 3-5 MB in 12 MP).

Clear the memory on the phone|Charge the battery (high resolution shooting consumes more energy)|Shut down. HDR (It can make the detail worse)|Use a tripod for stability-->

Should you always shoot in 48 MP? No. In most cases, the difference between 12 MP and 48 MP is only noticeable when you zoom in or print photos in large formats, and for social networks or viewing on a smartphone screen, there is a standard mode.

⚠️ Attention: 48 MP shoots some features, like Night Mode and AI enhancement, and if you care about those options, stay at 12 MP.

Redmi 8 Pro camera compared to competitors

In 2019, the Redmi 8 Pro competed with models such as the Samsung Galaxy A50, Realme 5 Pro and Honor 9X. Let’s compare their cameras on key parameters:

On paper, the Redmi 8 Pro is not inferior to competitors, but in practice it loses in color processing and detail. For example, the Galaxy A50 copes better with white balance, and the Realme 5 Pro offers more saturated colors.

The advantages of the Redmi 8 Pro camera:

• 🔹 High resolution main sensor (48 MP)
• 🔹 The presence of ultra-wide-angle and macro lenses
• 🔹 Good job in daylighting

Disadvantages:

• 🔸 Weak detail in low light conditions
• 🔸 Noticeable noise in photos when increasing
• 🔸 Software processing sometimes "cooks" colors

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To improve nighttime image quality, use third-party apps like GCam (Google Camera), which are better at handling noise and storing detail.

Real-life photos from Redmi 8 Pro

To objectively assess the capabilities of the camera, consider typical shooting scenarios:

Daylight:

In sunny weather, the Redmi 8 Pro performs well: sharp details, natural colors and a wide dynamic range. However, in bright sunshine, overlights can appear in bright areas (such as the sky or white walls), in which cases manual adjustment of the exposure helps.

Low lighting:

This is where the smartphone's weaknesses come in. Without Night Mode, photos are noisy, with loss of detail. Turning on night mode improves things, but not radically -- compared to flagships like the Mi 9, the difference is obvious.

3. Portrait mode:

The Redmi 8 Pro's depth sensor is good at blurring the background, but sometimes algorithms misunderstand the boundaries of objects (e.g., eating away at the hair or edges of clothing).

4. Macrograph:

The 2-megapixel macro lens allows you to photograph small objects from a distance of 4 cm. The quality of the images is medium: the detail is weak, and the colors are often faded. For serious macro photography, it is better to use the main camera with manual focus.

Tips for improving the quality of photos

Even with limited camera capabilities, the Redmi 8 Pro can achieve great results if you follow a few rules:

Camera settings:

• 📲 Turn off AI enhancement if colors seem unnatural.
• 📲 Turn on the Grid (Rule of Thirds) for the best composition.
• 📲 Use Pro Mode to Manually Set Up ISO, white balance and exposure.

Lighting:

• 💡 Avoid shooting against the sun – this leads to strong overlights.
• 💡 In cloudy weather, increase ISO 400-800, but not higher, otherwise there will be noise.
• 💡 For portraits, use natural light from the window instead of flash.

Post-processing:

Even good pictures can be improved with the help of editors:

• 🎨 Snapseed – for correction of exposure and colors.
• 🎨 Lightroom Mobile – for fine-tuning contrast and sharpness.
• 🎨 VSCO — preset-style.

⚠️ Note: When shooting a video in 4K (3840×2160) on the Redmi 8 Pro turns off electronic stabilization. If you want to keep your frame smooth, shoot it in Full. HD (1920×1080) switched-on EIS.

Frequent camera problems and their solutions

Redmi 8 Pro users sometimes face technical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

The camera is not focusing:

• 🔧 Wipe your lens with a soft cloth – dirt or fingerprints can interfere with autofocus.
• 🔧 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes it helps to reset temporary data.
• 🔧 Check if the camera has a protective film installed (a common problem after purchase).

The photographs are blurred:

• 🔧 Make sure you don’t move your smartphone while shooting (use a timer or tripod).
• 🔧 Turn on Pro Mode and manually set shutter speed at least 1/125 static.
• 🔧 Turn off digital zoom, it severely degrades quality.

The camera app is out:

• 🔧 Clear the app's cache in Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Memory.
• 🔧 Update your firmware to the latest version (camera bugs are often fixed in updates).
• 🔧 Install alternative software such as Open Camera or GCam.

If problems persist, one of the camera modules may have malfunctioned, in which case, contact Xiaomi Service Center. The average cost of rear camera repair for the Redmi 8 Pro is 3,000–5,000 rubles (2026).

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Before contacting the service, check if the warranty period has expired (typically 12 months from the date of purchase).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions