Macrographing on Xiaomi: how to choose a mode and take clear photos from close range

Xiaomi smartphones have long gained a reputation for having great cameras, but many users still don’t use their full potential. One of the most popular but often ignored modes is macro photography, which allows you to take detailed pictures of small objects from a distance of just a few centimeters. Whether it is a flower, an insect, a fabric texture or a piece of jewelry, the right-tuned macro mode transforms ordinary frames into professional photos.

But not everyone knows that Xiaomi has multiple ways to activate macro photography, and its quality depends on the model of the smartphone and the selected parameters. In this article, we will discuss how to find and enable macro mode, what settings optimize the result, and why it is sometimes better to use third-party applications instead of a standard camera. You will also learn which models of Xiaomi 2022-2026 are equipped with a dedicated macro lens, and where macro photography works software – and how this affects the final photo.

What is macro photography and why it is needed on a smartphone

Macros (from Greek: makros, "large") is the photographing of small objects from a minimum distance, at which they look large and detailed. Unlike the usual zoom, macro mode retains the sharpness and depth of the field, which is critical for shooting textures, insects or miniature objects.

On Xiaomi smartphones, macro photography is implemented in two ways:

• 🔍 Hardware macro lens – a separate camera with a fixed focus (there is in models Redmi Note 11 Pro)+, Xiaomi 12T Pro, POCO X5 Pro and newer. It gives better quality, but is limited by the focus range (usually 2-5 cm).
• 📱 Software macro mode - uses the main camera with a digital approximation, works on all models, but the quality is worse due to loss of detail.

The main advantage of macro photography on a smartphone is the ability to capture details that are invisible to the naked eye without buying an expensive DSLR, such as scales on the wings of a butterfly, dew drops on a web or chips on a board. However, there are pitfalls: when shooting from the hands, there is often a wiggle (blurredness due to the trembling of the hands), and autofocus can be “loss” at close distances.

What Xiaomi models support macro photography

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with a dedicated macro lens, and the table below shows current models (2022-2026) where macro photography is implemented hardware or software with acceptable quality:

If your model is not on the list, it doesn’t mean that macro photography is not available. On most Xiaomi smartphones (including budget Redmi and POCO), macro mode is activated through the standard camera app manually, but the quality of such images will be lower due to the lack of a specialized lens.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones without a dedicated macro camera (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M4 Pro) when shooting from close range, there may be a strong chromatic distortion (purple or green halos at the edges of the object.

How to turn on macro mode in a standard Xiaomi camera

The macro activation algorithm depends on the MIUI firmware version and the smartphone model, and the following is a universal instruction for most devices:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Switch to Photo Mode (if you have been in Video or Portrait).
3. Touch the icon "More" (three dots or stripes in the upper right corner).
4. In the list of modes, select Macro (sometimes referred to as Superclose or 🌸).
5. Bring the camera to the object at a distance of 2-5 cm on the screen will appear prompt “Keep the distance”.
6. Wait until the object is clear (yellow autofocus frame), and take a picture.

On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), macro mode is activated automatically when the camera approaches the object. If the Macro icon is not on the menu, update the Camera app via Google Play or check the settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Camera → Update

Connect an external light source (lantern or ring lamp)

Clean the lens of dust and fingerprints

Fix your smartphone on a tripod or put your hands in a stable surface

Turn off digital zoom (finger approach)

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If the macro mode still does not appear, try resetting the camera settings:

Settings → Applications → Camera → Storage → Clear data

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with MIUI 14 and newer macro mode can be hidden in the Professional mode section (icon) PRO). To find him, switch to PRO, Then touch the magnifying glass icon (🔍) near-button.

Settings for the perfect macro shooting

Even with a dedicated macro lens, the quality of the images depends on the right parameters. Here are the key settings to set before shooting:

• 📸 Resolution: Set the maximum (for example, 12 MP 4:3). On models with a macro camera 2-5 MP this value is fixed.
• 🔦 Exposition: Increase by +0.3–+0.7 EV (manually PRO-mode) to avoid under-lighting.
• 🎯 Focus: Turn off autofocus and use manual focus (if available).Push on the subject on the screen and hold until the lettering appears AF Lock.
• 🌡️ White Balance: Select an Incandescent Lamp for shooting under a lamp (2500–3000K), in daylight - Auto.
• 📏 Side ratio: Optimal 4:3 or 1:1 (for Instagram) Avoid 16:9 - it cuts the edges of the frame.

For models with software macro mode (for example, Redmi 10 or POCO M5) critical to disable HDR — it can blur details when shooting from close range. It is also useful to activate the grid (Camera settings → Grid → 3×3) to comply with the rule of thirds and avoid distortion.

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If your smartphone isn't focusing on an object, try pushing it a little bit back 1-2mm or zooming it in, and macro lenses have a very narrow range of field -- sometimes you just need to move a millimeter to get a clear image.

Third-party applications for macro photography

Xiaomi’s standard camera doesn’t always do well with macro photography, especially on budget models, and specialized apps that offer advanced settings will help:

• 📷 Macro Camera HD — It automatically increases sharpness and reduces noise. There's a Super Macro mode for shooting from 1 cm.
• 🔎 Camera FV-5 — Professional application with manual shutter speed setting, ISO It supports the format. RAW.
• 🎨 ProCam X – allows you to save photos in high resolution and has a built-in editor for macro pictures.
• 🌿 Nature Macro Camera – Optimized for plant and insect photography, automatically adjusts white balance.

Before installing, check the app’s compatibility with your Xiaomi model. Some programs (such as Camera FV-5) require permissions to access the camera’s API, which may be limited by MIUI. To unlock the full functionality, do:

Settings → Permissions → Additional permissions → Access to the camera API → Enable

Third-party applications are particularly useful for shooting moving objects (such as insects), which can be set up to shoot serially at intervals of 0.1-0.5 seconds, which increases the chances of catching a sharp shot.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with the right settings, macro photography on a smartphone can be frustrating because of common errors. Here are the most common problems and solutions:

Another common mistake is shooting against a light source (such as a sun or lamp) which leads to illuminated areas and loss of detail. Always place the light source on the side or front of the object. Use a diffuser (you can make white paper or cloth) for uniform lighting.

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The most common reason for unsuccessful macro shots is the wrong distance to the object. The optimal range for most Xiaomi smartphones: 2-4 cm Closer - focus "loses", then - the effect of macro is lost.

Post-processing of macro pictures: how to improve the photo

Even a perfectly made macro shot often needs to be reworked, and here is a minimum set of edits to improve the result:

1. Cut and align: Remove the extra elements at the edges and align the horizon (Crop tool in Google Photos or Snapseed).
2. Sharpen filters: Use a 20-30% Sharpen filter, avoid values above 50%, and noise will appear.
3. Color correction: Increase saturation by 10-15% and slightly reduce warm colors (if the photo is too yellow).
4. Noise Removal: In Lightroom, use Denoise with a 15-25 setting.

For macro pictures with Xiaomi, applications are especially useful:

• 🖼️ Snapseed – Selective correction tool allows you to brighten only dark areas.
• 🎨 VSCO — filter A6 or HB2 add contrast without losing detail.
• 🔍 AfterFocus blurs the background, imitating the bokeh effect (useful if the original turned out too “flat»).

If you shoot for social media, export photos in 2048×2048 px (optimum for Instagram) or 1200×800 px (for Telegram/VK). Avoid compression in JPEG with a quality below 90% - this will kill the detail.

FAQ: Frequent questions about macro photography on Xiaomi