Next articleFollowing autofocus in Xiaomi smartphones: technology, configuration and secrets of application

Have you ever tried to shoot a video on a smartphone, but the subject was constantly "runaway" from focus? Or photographed a moving child and the camera focused stubbornly against the background? These are the problems faced by many — until Xiaomi smartphones appeared tracking autofocus (AF Tracking: This technology revolutionized mobile photography, allowing the camera to stick to a selected subject and retain sharpness even as it moves.

But how exactly does tracking autofocus work, what Xiaomi models support it, and how to make it work at its maximum? In this article, we will break down the technology to the smallest detail, from the principles of operation to the hidden settings in the firmware. MIUI. You will learn why sometimes autofocus "lost", how to choose the optimal mode for different scenes, and even how to fool the algorithm if it stubbornly focuses not on the one.

What is a tracking autofocus and how it differs from the usual

Traditional autofocus in smartphones is a point-focus-forgotten approach. You tap on the screen, the camera sharpens the point you select, but if the object moves, the focus is lost (AF Tracking is an advanced system that:

• 🎯 It highlights an object (face, animal, car) and creates a virtual tracking “frame” around it.
• 🔄 Dynamically adjusts focus even if the subject moves in the frame or changes the distance to the camera.
• 🤖 Uses AI to predict the trajectory of movement (in new models Xiaomi is responsible for this processor Qualcomm Spectra) ISP).
• 📹 It works in real time, both when shooting photos and when recording videos (including: 4K@60fps flagship).

The key difference from the usual autofocus is the following AF It analyzes not only sharpness, but also the movement of an object in three-dimensional space, for example, if you are shooting a person running, the camera takes into account not only his movement around the frame, but also the change in distance (he is approaching or moving away). In older smartphones, this required manual control, now the algorithms Xiaomi cope automatically.

However, tracking autofocus is not always enabled by default! in some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro).+) You need to activate it manually – we will talk about this in the next section.

What Xiaomi smartphones support tracking autofocus

The technology of tracking autofocus appeared in Xiaomi smartphones not immediately. The first experiments began with the model Mi 9 (2019), but full implementation with AI improvements received only flagships on chipsets Snapdragon 8 series and some mid-budget devices. Below is a table with support for the function on the line of devices:

Note that even if your model is on the list, tracking autofocus can work differently depending on the firmware. 12T Pro on MIUI 13 function was limited 1080p, after updating before MIUI 14 earned in 4K. You can check the support in the camera menu:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Go to Video or Photo mode.
3. Touch the screen and hold your finger on the subject for 1-2 seconds.
4. If a yellow frame appears with the words Tracking, the function works.

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On smartphones with MIUI 14+ You can use a voice command to track autofocus. Say, "OK, Google, turn on focus tracking).

How to turn on and set up tracking autofocus

In most Xiaomi models, tracking autofocus is activated automatically when you press the object for a long time. However, in some firmware (especially on budget models), it must be turned on manually.

Open the Camera app|

Go to Settings. → Camera settings → Focus.|

Activate the Tracking option AF or continuous AF|

For video, turn on. AF-C (Autofocus-Continuous) in shooting mode|-->

On flagships (Xiaomi) 13/14 series, Mix Fold 3) Additional options available:

• 🔍 Tracking Mode: Faces, Animals, Objects (selected from camera settings).
• 🎯 Focus Zones: You can limit the tracking area (useful for crowd shooting).
• ⚡ Quick switching: Double tapping on screen resets tracking.

For video shooting, it is recommended to use the mode AF-C (Continuous autofocus, along with tracking, will allow the camera to adjust its focus smoothly even when you're moving abruptly. For example, when shooting a cyclist on a Xiaomi 13 Pro, the algorithm will take into account not only how he moves around the frame, but also how he changes his distance (approach / remove).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 11 Pro, POCO X4 Pro) tracking autofocus is turned off when the camera overheats. If the tracking frame suddenly disappears, let the smartphone cool for 2-3 minutes.

Problems with tracking autofocus and how to solve them

Even on top-end Xiaomi smartphones, tracking autofocus may not work perfectly, and here are the typical problems and ways to fix them:

One of the most common complaints is that autofocus is clinging to the background instead of the main object, which is due to AI algorithms that mistakenly recognize the background as “more interesting” (such as a bright sign behind a person’s back).

1. Turn off the scene autodetection option in the camera settings.
2. Manually specify the object, holding the finger on it for 2-3 seconds.
3. Use Pro mode and block focus with a button AF-L.

Another nuance: in models with a telephoto lens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), tracking autofocus can turn off when zooming is strong. This is due to the physical limitations of the optics - try to reduce the proximity or switch to the main camera.

Comparison of Xiaomi’s tracking autofocus with competitors

Technology AF Tracking is not just Xiaomi, it's been implemented by other brands, but with different approaches. Let's compare how tracking autofocus works in smartphones Xiaomi, Samsung, Apple and Google:

• 📱 Xiaomi: Uses a hybrid approach (laser) + phase AF) It works best in flagships (Xiaomi 14 Ultra), but can "glut" in budget models, the advantage is flexible settings (you can choose the type of object you track).
• 🍎 Apple (iPhone): Tracking through Deep Fusion and LiDAR (in Pro models). More stable, but fewer manual settings. Minus — not working in ProRes video.
• 🤖 Samsung (Galaxy): Single Take technology with up to 10 objects tracked at a time. good for dynamic scenes, but consumes a lot of battery.
• 🔍 Google (Pixel): Magic Focus AI algorithms adjust focus after shooting.

Xiaomi’s main advantage is the combination of hardware and software solutions, such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro, which uses:

• Laser autofocus for accurate distance determination.
• Dual Pixel AF (Each pixel of the matrix is involved in focusing).
• AI algorithms for predicting the trajectory of movement.

But there are also strengths in the competition, such as the Samsung Galaxy. S23 Ultra is better at tracking small objects (like insects), and the iPhone 15 Pro offers a smoother shift in focus in video:

• 🎬 For video - Xiaomi 14 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro.
• 📸 For photo: Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Google Pixel 7 Pro.
• 🏃 For dynamic scenes - Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

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Xiaomi’s tracking autofocus beats competitors in flexibility, but loses in stability in low light. AF (For example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra).

Life hacks for perfect shooting with tracking autofocus

To maximize the potential of tracking autofocus, take advantage of these tips from mobile photographers:

1. Pre-focus: Hold your finger on the subject for 2-3 seconds before shooting, so that the camera can remember it, which is especially important for video.
2. Contrast background: If an object merges with the background (for example, a white cat on a white sofa), add a bright object (a toy, a blanket) next to it, which will help the algorithm to determine the boundaries more accurately.
3. Pro mode for static objects: If you are shooting a portrait or still life, block the focus with a button AF-L This will prevent accidental refocusing.
4. Use telephotos with caution: When shooting on zoom (for example, 5x In Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the tracking autofocus can be turned off. It is better to focus on the main camera first, and then gradually zoom in.
5. Shooting in HEIF instead JPEG: In the camera settings (photo format) select HEIF. This format stores more focus data, which is useful for post-processing.

There are some tricks for video shooting:

• 🎥 Stabilization + AF Tracking: Enable Ultrastabilization (if any) – this will reduce frame jitter and help autofocus track the subject more accurately.
• 🔊 Turn off focusing sound: In camera settings (Camera Sounds) deactivate focusing sound option so as not to spoil the video audio track.
• 📱 Horizontal shooting: When recording video, hold your smartphone horizontally – so the tracking algorithm works more accurately (related to the orientation of the gyroscope).

If you are shooting sports events (football, running), try this trick:

1. Enable Sport mode in the camera settings (if any).
2. Activate tracking autofocus on the main object (for example, on the football player with the ball).
3. Block the exposure by touching the screen and holding your finger until the icon appears. AE-L.
4. Start shooting video. Now the camera will keep the focus on the object, even if it changes its trajectory dramatically.

⚠️ Note: When shooting in format HDR10+ (available 13/14 The tracking autofocus may be slower due to the increased load on the processor. If you want maximum tracking speed, switch to standard HDR.

The future of tracking autofocus: what to expect from Xiaomi

In 2026, Xiaomi announced several innovations that will change the way autofocus is tracked:

• 🤖 AI motion prediction: Xiaomi 14 Ultra has an algorithm that analyzes the trajectory of an object 0.5 seconds before shooting (using data from a gyroscope and accelerometer) and allows the camera to “predict” where the object will move.
• 👁️ Watching the look: In the firmware MIUI 15 (expected in 2026) will feature Eye Tracking – the camera will focus on the eyes of the person even if he turns face to side.
• 🎮 Game mode AF: For streamers and gamers, a special algorithm is being developed that tracks the movement of hands on a controller or keyboard.
• 🌌 New sensors (for example, in the Xiaomi 15 series) will be able to keep focus in complete darkness due to infrared illumination.

Xiaomi is also working on integrating tracking autofocus with other devices in the ecosystem, such as a smartphone camera that could:

• Automatically transfer focus to Xiaomi Watch when taking a selfie (if the clock is in the frame).
• Sync with Xiaomi Home Camera to create multi-camera videos with dynamic focus.
• Use data from Xiaomi Band to stabilize the video (if the bracelet is on the operator’s hand).

By 2026, tracking autofocus is expected to become a standard feature even in Xiaomi’s budget smartphones (starting with the Redmi Note 13 series), and flagships will support tracking multiple objects at once (for example, focusing on a person and his dog at the same time).

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In the Xiaomi 15 series, tracking autofocus will work on the basis of a neural network trained on 10 million videos, which will allow the camera to recognize not only objects, but also their behavior (for example, predict the moment of a basketball player’s jump).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi’s Autofocus