Xiaomi Redmi 8: How many megapixels does the camera have and what it means in practice

If you're looking for megapixels in Xiaomi Redmi 8, you've come to the right place. This budget smartphone of 2019 is still a popular choice due to its balanced specs and affordable price. But how good is its camera? 12 MP is a lot or not enough for modern tasks? Let's get to the bottom of this figure and how it affects the real quality of shots.

In this article, we'll not only talk about the number of megapixels, but also explain why this is not always the most important option when choosing a smartphone. You'll learn about the technical features of the Redmi 8 camera, its strengths and weaknesses, and how to use its capabilities correctly. If you're mainly taking photos for social networks or want to see if this model is suitable for shooting for memory, read on.

Official specs of the camera Xiaomi Redmi 8

According to the manufacturer’s specifications, the Xiaomi Redmi 8 is equipped with a dual main camera and a single front module.

• 📷 Main camera: 12 MP (wide-angle lens, f/1.8, pixel size 1.4 micron)
• 🔍 Auxiliary camera: 2 MP (depth sensor for portrait mode)
• 🤳 Front camera: 8 MPP (f/2.0, pixel size 1.12 micron)

On paper, 12 MP is the average for the budget segment of 2019-2020. For comparison, the flagships of the time (for example, the Samsung Galaxy S10) had 16-48 MP, and the top models of 2026 have already crossed the 200 MP mark.

Interesting fact: Redmi 8 uses the sensor Sony IMX363, which is also installed in more expensive models such as Xiaomi Mi 9T and Google Pixel 3a. This suggests that the manufacturer did not save on hardware, and focused on optimizing software.

What do 12 megapixels mean in practice?

12 MP is 4000 × 3000 It's a pixel in maximum resolution, and it's a photo that's good for you:

• 📱 Prints in format 10×15 cm without loss of quality
• 🖥️ Viewing on Full Screens HD (1920×1080) scaleless
• 🌐 Downloads on social networks (Instagram, VK, Telegram) with reserve permit
• 🔍 Crop (trimming) of pictures by 20-30% without critical loss of detail

But don't expect the Redmi 8 to be professional, low-light or nighttime, with noise and limited dynamic range, like the sky slamming against light and shadows losing detail, typical problems for low-end smartphones with small arrays.

⚠️ Attention: When shooting in mode HDR (Camera settings → HDR) The smartphone takes a few frames in a row and glues them together, and at that point it freezes for 1-2 seconds. Don't move the phone, or you'll get a blurry picture!

By comparison, today's 48-108 MP smartphones use pixel binning technology to improve aperture. Redmi 8 doesn't do that -- its 12 MPs work as is, but it's honest resolution without software tricks.

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To reduce noise, turn on Night mode manually (even during the day indoors) and it takes a longer shutter speed, but requires a stable position of the phone.

Comparison with competitors: 12 MP vs other public sector employees

In 2019, the Redmi 8 competed with models such as the Samsung Galaxy A10s (13 MP), Realme 5 (12 MP) and Huawei Y6s (13 MP). At first glance, the difference of 1 megapixel seems negligible, but let’s look at the real differences:

As you can see from the table, Redmi 8 beats competitors in terms of pixel size (1.4 μm vs. 1.12–1.25 μm), which means that its matrix better collects light, which is critical for shooting indoors or in the evening, and the presence of night mode gives an advantage over Samsung and Huawei of the same price category.

But it’s not all that rosy: Xiaomi’s software processing often overdoes noise reduction, making photos look “plastic,” and the Realme 5, with more natural color rendering, sometimes gave better results.

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More megapixels don’t always mean better quality, more than pixel size, aperture and night mode, and that makes the Redmi 8 look good for its segment.

Real examples of photos with Xiaomi Redmi 8

To objectively assess the capabilities of the camera, let’s look at typical shooting scenarios:

• 🌞 Daylight: Photos are clear and detailed, rich colors, but sometimes overstated (especially green shades) and artifacts can appear in the form of purple glare in the bright sun.
• 🌃 Night photography: No night mode, lots of noise and blur. Night mode, fine, but details get lost. Better a tripod or a support.
• 👤 Portrait mode: Operates stably in good lighting, but at the boundaries of objects (such as hair) there may be errors in background blur.
• 🎥 Video: Maximum resolution - Full HD (1920×1080) upon 30 Stabilization is weak, so the hand shot is shaking.

Examples of real photos (conditionally):

Daylight outside: The sky is well-developed, but in contrasting light, light areas can break out, for example, white walls of houses become completely white without textures.

Indoors: In artificial lighting (incandescent lamps) yellowness appears. It is better to turn on the AUTO-HDR mode or manually set the white balance.

⚠️ Note: When shooting a video in Full HD If the temperature of the body exceeds 45, the phone warms very much.°C, the camera will automatically shut down. To avoid this, shoot short videos (up to 5 minutes) or use an external power bank).

How to improve the quality of your photos on Redmi 8?

Even with limited technical capabilities, you can get better results. Here are some proven ways to do this.

Clean the camera lens of dust and fingerprints

Turn off digital zoom (only use optics!)

Shoot in.jpg +.raw format (in camera settings)

Use third-party apps (like Google Camera with ported module)

Set Manual Mode (Pro) to Control Shutter speed and ISO-->

One of the most effective ways is to install alternative camera software, such as a modified version of Google Camera (known as GCam) that allows you to:

• 📸 Use an improved algorithm HDR+ more natural flowers
• 🌙 Get better night shots with Night Sight
• 🔍 Keep more detail in shadows and lights

To install GCam on Redmi 8:

1. Download. APK-file from a verified source (e.g. celsoazevedo.com).
2. Install the file by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install Unknown Applications).
3. Run GCam and select the Config file for Redmi 8 (see 4PDA forums).

Warning: Not all versions of the GCam run on the Redmi 8. Some builds may cause overheating or errors.

Frequent Redmi 8 Camera Problems and Solutions

Redmi 8 users often face typical camera-related issues, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the camera does not start and gives an error "I failed to connect to the camera", try:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Clear the cache and data of the Camera application.
3. Check if the antivirus or application is blocking access to save charge.
4. Update the firmware to the latest version (Settings → About the phone → System Update).

In extreme cases, you may need to reset to factory settings (don’t forget to make a backup!).If the problem is hardware (for example, damaged camera plume), contact the service center.

Should I buy a Redmi 8 in 2026 for a camera?

In the 4-5 years since the Redmi 8 was released, the standards of mobile photography have changed a lot, and today even budget smartphones (such as the Redmi 12 or Samsung Galaxy A14) offer:

• 📸 50 MP main camera with better aperture
• 🌃 Improved night modes with AI processing
• 🎥 Video in the video 4K (Redmi 8 has a maximum of Full HD)
• 🔄 Optical stabilization (Redmi 8 only has electronics)

However, Redmi 8 may still be a viable choice if:

• 💰 Your budget is very limited (new smartphone will cost 2-3 times more expensive)
• 📸 You take pictures most of the day and do not require professional quality.
• 🔋 You are more important battery life (5000 mAh in Redmi 8 vs. 4000-4500 mAh in modern state-owned employees)

If the camera is a priority for you, consider the alternatives:

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 (~15 000 ₽) — 50 MP, night mode, 4K-video
• Samsung Galaxy A23 (~18 000 ₽) — 50 MP with optical stabilization
• Realme 9i (~14 000 ₽) — 50 MP, quick focusing

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi camera 8