How many megapixels the camera Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: we analyze the technical tricks and real opportunities

When choosing a Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 smartphone, many people pay attention to its camera, because the manufacturer has been actively advertising the β€œ48-megapixel sensor.” But in practice, everything turns out to be not so clear: in the camera settings you can see the resolution of 12 MP, and where is the promised 48 MP? This confusion arises due to the features of the Sony sensor IMX586, which uses pixel binning technology.

In this article, we will look at how many megapixels the Redmi Note 7 camera actually gives in different shooting modes, how to turn on full 48 MP resolution, and whether to do it. A50 And the Honor 10 Lite, and we'll give you some practical tips for setting up the best photos, and if you're planning to buy or you're already using this smartphone, you'll find all the answers to all the questions about its camera.

Redmi Note 7 camera specifications: what is hiding 48 MP?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Main Camera Is Equipped With Sony Sensor IMX586 But by default, the smartphone takes pictures in 12 MP mode, which is not a hoax, but the result of Tetra-Cell technology).

How does it work? Four adjacent sensor pixels are combined into one superpixel size. 1.6 So microns, which improves light sensitivity and reduces noise in low light conditions β€” 4000Γ—3000 pixel (12 MP), but full activation can be made if necessary 8000Γ—6000 pixel (48 MPP).

  • πŸ“Έ Main camera: 48 MPP (f/1.8, 1/2", 0.8 ΞΌm), autofocus with phase detection (PDAF)
  • πŸŒ„ Wide-angle camera: 5 MPP (f/2.2, 1.12 ΞΌm), angle of view 83Β°
  • πŸ” Front camera: 13 MPP (f/2.0, 1.12 ΞΌm), support HDR
  • πŸŽ₯ Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyroscopic stabilization

It's important to understand that 48MP doesn't always give you better quality -- it's only useful in good lighting and for later cropping. In most cases, 12MP processing algorithms show a more balanced result.

πŸ“Š What mode of photography do you use more often?
Auto (12 MP)
48 MP
Portrait mode
Night mode.

How to turn on 48 MP shooting on Redmi Note 7?

By default, the Camera app activates 12 MP mode. To switch to full resolution, follow the following steps:

  1. Open the Camera app.
  2. Touch the icons βš™οΈ Settings (cog in the 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 resolution. 8000Γ—6000 Notice that you're not going to see pixels:

  • πŸ“ The size of one image will increase with ~3-4 MB up to ~15-20 MB.
  • ⚑ Shooting in 48 MP can slightly slow down the camera (latency between frames) ~1-2 seconds).
  • πŸ”‹ Battery consumption during long shooting will increase by 10-15%.

Clean the memory of the smartphone (minimum) 2-3 GB is free)

Use the class memory card UHS-I (U3) fast-record

Turn it off. HDR manually (it is automatically activated at 12 MP)

Charge the battery at least 50 times%-->

⚠️ Attention: In 48 MP mode, some processing functions are disabled, such as night mode and artificial background blur (bokeh.

12 MP vs 48 MP: Which is better in practice?

To understand when to use full resolution, we ran tests in different conditions, and the results are shown in the table below:

Filming conditions12 MP (binning)48 MP (full)Recommendation
Bright sunny dayGood detail, natural colorsMaximum detail, but overcharging is possible48 MP (if zoom or framing is needed)
Cloudy weatherLess noise, better white balanceNoise in dark areas, worse dynamic range12 MPs
Night photographyIt is night mode, less noise.Night mode is off, there's a lot of noise.12 MPs + night-time
Portrait photographyNatural background blur (bokeh)Background blur missing12 MPs
Video4K@30fps stabilizing4K@30fps without binning (worse light sensitivity)12 MP (binning is automatically enabled)

The 48 MP is justified in two cases:

  1. You plan to cut a photo (for example, make a zoom). Γ—2-Γ—3).
  2. The shooting takes place in perfect lighting (studio or bright sun).

πŸ’‘

In 90% of cases, 12 MP is the best result due to software processing, the full 48 MP is only needed for professional framing or printing in large format (A3 and above).

Secret camera settings Redmi Note 7 for the best photos

Even in 12MP mode, the Redmi Note 7 can do more if you adjust the settings correctly.

1.Switch off Xiaomi watermark

The default is to put the brand logo on all photos, to remove it:

  1. Open the camera. β†’ Settings β†’ Watermark.
  2. Move the slider to the off position.

2. Activate the shooting in the format RAW

Files.DNG save as much information as possible for post-processing. β†’ Format β†’ RAW. Minus - file size ~25MB in the picture.

3.Tune the white balance manually

Automatic white balance is often mistaken in artificial lighting rooms. Go to Professional Mode (Pro) and select the appropriate preset (incandescent lamp, fluorescent lamp, etc.).

4.Use manual focusing for macro

In Pro mode, touch the object on the screen and hold your finger to block the focus. Then adjust the distance manually so you can take photos of objects from a distance. 5-10 centimeter.

πŸ’‘

To capture moving objects (children, animals) turn on Continuous Shooting in the settings. The smartphone will take up to 20 frames per second, and then you will choose the best one.

5. Optimize your video settings

  • 🎞️ For smooth video, choose 1080p@60fps permission settings.
  • πŸ”Š Turn off noise cancellation if you’re recording music or an important sound, which is bad for quality.
  • πŸ“ Turn on the grid (Settings) β†’ Grid) for the correct composition.

Comparison with competitors: who won in 2019?

In the year of release (January 2019), the Redmi Note 7 was one of the first smartphones with a 48-megapixel camera in the budget segment.

ModelMain camera.DxOMark (2019)StrengthsWeaknesses
Xiaomi Redmi Note 748 MPP (IMX586, f/1.8)90Details in good light, priceNight photography, autofocus in the dark
Samsung Galaxy A5025 MPP (f/1.7) + 5 MP (wikipedia) + 8 MP (telephoto)83Stable autofocus, AMOLED-screenLow detail, noise
Honor 10 Lite24 MPP (f/1.8) + 2 MP (depth)81Compact, fast shooting.Absence 4K-Video, weak dynamic range
Realme 3 Pro16 MPP (IMX519, f/1.7) + 5 MP (depth)88Night mode, speed of shooting.No wide-angle module.

The Redmi Note 7 was a solid leader in detail during the day, but lost in night shooting and video stabilization. IMX519 (OnePlus 6T) The best results in the dark due to the optimized night mode.

Why is DxOMark not objective?
DxOMark's synthetic test scores cameras according to lab criteria, but doesn't take into account real-world use cases. For example, the Redmi Note 7 scored high for detail in perfect light, but lost points for slow autofocus at dusk. In everyday shooting, the difference with competitors is often smaller than it seems in numbers.

Typical Redmi Note 7 Camera Problems and How to Fix Them

Despite the impressive specs, users often encounter bugs and camera limitations.

1.The camera focuses for a long time or does not focus at all

Reasons:

  • 🧹 Contaminated lens (wipe with soft cloth).
  • πŸ”„ Software failure (reset your smartphone or reset your camera settings in Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Camera. β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the data).
  • πŸ› οΈ Autofocus damaged (required repair).

2. photos are obtained blurred or with noise

Decisions:

  • 🌞 Low light shooting: Use Night Mode or an additional light source.
  • πŸ“± Turn on Stabilization in the settings (helps with hand tremors).
  • πŸ” Check if your finger is covering a flash or lens.

3.The video twitches or brakes

The problem is typical for shooting in 4K@30fps Weak memory cards:

  • πŸ’Ύ Use the class memory card UHS-I (U3) or V30.
  • 🎞️ Switch to the switch. 1080p@60fps β€” less processor load.
  • πŸ”‹ Charge the battery to 100% (at low charge, the smartphone limits performance).

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI the camera has become worse (for example, the night mode has gone missing), try to roll back to the previous firmware version via Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Updating the system β†’ Three points. β†’ Select a Service Package.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note camera 7

Can I install Google Camera (GCam) on the Redmi Note 7?
GCam is not officially supported, but there are modified versions (for example, from developers). BSG or Urnyx05). For installation: Download APK forum XDA Developers (e.g. this theme) Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Special access β†’ Install unknown applications. Install APK and configure the config (recommended) XML The advantages of GCam: the best HDR, Night Sight, more natural colors, downsides: possible bugs with autofocus.
Why do 48 MP photos take up so much space?
File size 8000Γ—6000 pixel-format JPEG quality 90-95% weight ~15-20 MB. To reduce volume: Reduce quality JPEG pre-camera 80%. Use the format. HEIF (If it's supported by your firmware, then move it to your PC or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud: 12 MP weighs ~3-5 MB.
How to take portrait photos on Redmi Note 7 without a second lens?
The smartphone uses software background blur (without the additional depth module). For best results: Select Portrait mode in the camera app. Place the object at a distance 1-2 Make sure the background is contrasting (like a wall or sky) and then edit the blur to the Gallery. β†’ Edit β†’ Blurring. If blurring is unrealistic, try third-party apps (Focos, AfterFocus).
Does Redmi Note 7 support shooting in format? RAW + JPEG?
Yes, but only in Pro mode. To do this: Open Pro mode. Touch the icons RAW You can take a picture of it, and you can see two files in the gallery:.DNG (RAW) and.JPEG. It's important: RAW-file ~25 MB and require post-processing (e.g. Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed).
Can I replace the camera with a Redmi Note 7 when it breaks down?
Yes, but it's not always justified.The cost of the original camera module (with autofocus) β€” ~3,000 to 5,000 rubles, plus ~1,500-2,500 rubles per job: πŸ”§ Repair: If the problem is in the plume or contacts (for example, after a fall), repairs will be cheaper (~1,000–2,000 rubles). πŸ“± Smartphone replacement: If you damage your sensor or lens, it is more appropriate to consider upgrading to a new model (for example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro with a 108 MP camera). Before repairing, check whether the defect is due to a software failure (reset the camera settings or swipe the smartphone again).