Xiaomi 12 Pro is still one of the brand’s most talked-about flagships, not least because of its camera. This smartphone became the first in Xiaomi’s lineup to receive official support for Leica and the revolutionary Sony IMX707 sensor with pixel binning. But is the camera so good in practice? Should you buy a Xiaomi 12 Pro in 2026 for photos, or should you pay attention to new products?
In this guide, we will take all the camera modules (main, ultra-wide, telephoto), test them in real-world conditions — from portraits to night photography — and reveal hidden MIUI settings that 90% of users do not use. And compare with competitors: how Xiaomi 12 Pro holds against the iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 2 years after release.
Technical characteristics of the camera Xiaomi 12 Pro
The heart of the Xiaomi 12 Pro is a triplet of cameras developed in partnership with Leica. Yes, it's not just marketing: optical profiles and color rendering are really different from standard Xiaomi.
- 📸 Core module: 50 MP, Sony IMX707, aperture f/1.9, optical stabilization (OIS), pixel size 1.28 micron (2.44 micron after binning).
- 🌌 Ultra-wide module: 50 MP, Samsung JN1, aperture f/2.2, angle 115°, autofocus.
- 🔍 Telephoto module: 50 MP, Samsung JN1, aperture f/1.9, 2× zoom, OIS.
The key is hardware support for 8K@24fps and Dolby Vision HDR for video, but the most interesting thing is hidden in the software: Night Mode 2.0 algorithms and AI Cinema Effects.
| Parameter | Xiaomi 12 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary sensor | Sony IMX707, 50 MP | Sony IMX803, 48 MP | Samsung GN5, 108 MP |
| Optical zoom | 2× | 3× | 10× |
| Night mode. | Night Mode 2.0 (Multiple Exposition) | Deep Fusion + Night Mode | Bright Night |
| 8K video | ✅ (24 fps) | ✅ (24 fps) | ✅ (24 fps) |
⚠️ Note: Despite the same 50MP resolution for all three modules, ultra-wide and telephoto use a cheaper Samsung sensor JN1. This means the worst detail in difficult conditions (for example, in anti-light photography).
Real quality of photos: pros and cons
On paper, the Xiaomi 12 Pro looks like a monster, but how does it show up in everyday shooting?
- 🌞 Daylight: Excellent detail, natural colors (due to Leica Authentic and Leica Vivid profiles) but sometimes overexposure to the sky — HDR They don’t always deal with contrasting scenes.
- 🌃 Night Mode 2.0 really works – less noise than the Xiaomi 11 Ultra, but details get lost as you zoom in ISO 3200.
- 👤 Blogging (boke) looks natural, but algorithms sometimes eat away at hair or small details (e.g. earrings).
- 🏙️ Urban landscapes: The ultra-wide module gives noticeable distortions at the edges (typical for 115).°), but correction MIUI Camera partially fixes this.
- 🎥 Video: 8K Looks impressive, but overheating the case after 10 minutes of recording is a frequent problem.
The main disadvantage is that autofocus is unstable in low light conditions, such as when shooting pets at dusk, the camera can "lost" the object and focus in the background, which is treated with manual focusing (holding a finger on the screen), but not always convenient.
Hidden Camera Features: What You Didn't Know About Xiaomi 12 Pro
The MIUI Camera in the Xiaomi 12 Pro hides a few useful features that are not obvious at first glance.
- Pro Mode (More → Professional): Allows you to manually adjust ISO, shutter speed (up to 32 seconds!), white balance, and even save photos in RAW (.dng format) - useful for post-processing in Lightroom.
- Double press volume button: By default, launches the camera, but in Settings → Special features → Quick start of the camera can be reassigned to a selfie camera or video.
- AI Cinema Effects (More) → Movie effects: It simulates depth of field like professional cameras, works only for video, but requires good lighting.
- Super Moon Mode: Automatically activates when shooting the moon, uses algorithms to increase detail, but sometimes overdoses with sharpening.
Turn it on. HDR in settings (always "Included.")|Turn it off "AI-Improvement of natural flowers|Activate the "Ultra-Wide Night Mode"|Set up a double press on the volume button|Update. MIUI Camera to the latest version-->
Another life hack: if you don't like Leica's handling, you can switch to a standard Xiaomi profile.
- Open the camera settings → Color style.
- Select Standard instead of Leica Authentic or Leica Vivid.
⚠️ Attention: When shooting in RAW Files take up to 50-70 MB each. Make sure your device has enough memory, or use a microSD card (if supported by your modification).
Comparison with competitors: Xiaomi 12 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro vs Galaxy S22 Ultra
To see how good the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s camera is, we compared it to two flagships in 2022: the iPhone 14 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
| Criteria | Xiaomi 12 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro | Galaxy S22 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime detailing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Great, but losing in HDR) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (balance) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (overdosing) |
| Night photography | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Okay, but more noise) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (better-handling) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (OK, but the colors are cold) |
| Portrait mode | ⭐⭐⭐ (Sometimes wrong with the mask) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (bokeh) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Okay, but the colors are not natural) |
| Video | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8K, overheating) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (stabilisation and colour) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (OK, but autofocus is slow) |
The bottom line: Xiaomi 12 Pro is pretty good at the top, but it's losing out on the iPhone in HDR processing and video stabilization, but it's bypassing the Galaxy S22 Ultra in natural colors (thanks to Leica). If you care about photography, that's a great choice. If video is the priority, you better look at the iPhone.
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The Xiaomi 12 Pro offers the best camera price-to-quality ratio among the 2022 flagships, but is second to Apple in video processing and Samsung in optical zoom.
How to improve photos on Xiaomi 12 Pro: tips from professionals
Even with a top-end camera, you can get mediocre shots without knowing a few tricks.
- 📏 Rule of thirds: Enable grid in settings (Camera settings) → This will help you to properly compose the frames.
- 🌓 Expo correction: When shooting against light (for example, sunset), reduce exposure to the light. -0.3 or -0.7, to keep the details in the sky.
- 🔄 Serial shooting: Hold down the trigger button, the camera will do up to 20 frames per second, then you can choose the best one.
- 🎨 Post-processing: Use Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed to correct shadows, lights, and color balance.
For shooting in RAW (.dng format):
- Activate Professional Mode.
- Click on the RAW icon in the top menu.
- Shoot with a minimum ISO (100-200) for the least noise.
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If your night photos are too dark, try manual mode and set shutter speeds for 1/4 or 1/2 second. Use a tripod or support to avoid grease.
For the video:
- 🎬 Stabilization: Enable Ultra-stabilization in the video settings (but remember that this cuts the edges of the frame).
- 🔊 Sound: Use an external microphone (via the microphone) USB-C), The microphone is a lot of noise.
Frequent Xiaomi 12 Pro Camera Issues and How to Solve Them
Despite the advanced hardware, Xiaomi 12 Pro users sometimes encounter bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
- 🔴 Camera doesn't start: Often linked to application conflict Solution: Clear camera cache: Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the cache. Restart the phone. If it doesn't help, reset the camera settings: Settings. → System system → Resetting settings → Reset application settings.
- 📉 Autofocus doesn't work: The problem could be lens contamination or software failure. Try: Wash the lens with a soft cloth (don't use alcohol!) Enable Macro mode manually (if you shoot close). Update the camera firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
Overheating while filming video
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Remove the cover (it blocks the heat sink).
- Close the background applications before shooting.
- Reduce the video resolution to 4K@30fps instead of 8K.
Who better to choose something else?
- 🔍 Those who want to be a smog-driven smog. S22 Ultra — 10×, 12 Pros have only 2.×).
- 📱 Those who want long-term update support (Pixel or iPhone last longer).