Xiaomi Redmi 5 camera: how many megapixels, features and hidden features

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a budget smartphone that, despite its modest price tag, offered users decent opportunities for photography. But how many megapixels does its camera have? How does it handle shooting in different environments? And can you improve the quality of your shots without buying a new phone?

This article will not only answer the megapixel question, but also reveal all the details of how the Redmi 5 camera works, from specs to practical tips for setting up, compare it with competitors, show examples of images and tell you how to make the most of this budget module, and also analyze common problems and ways to solve them.

How many megapixels the camera Xiaomi Redmi 5: official data

The main camera Xiaomi Redmi 5 fitted 12-megapixel sensor with aperture f/2.2 and pixel size 1.25 This is a standard Sony module. IMX376 or OmniVision OV12A10 (depending on the batch), which was also used in other budget smartphones of the time.

Front camera is more modest — 5 megapixel f/2.0. It is suitable for selfies and video calls, but not for professional shooting, both cameras support autofocus (except for front-facing in some versions) and video recording in Full resolution. HD (1080p) speedily 30 frame-of-second.

• 📷 Main camera: 12 MPP, f/2.2, phase-focus (PDAF), LED-flash
• 🤳 Front camera: 5 MPP, f/2.0, fixed focus, soft flash (screen)
• 🎥 Video: 1080p@30fps, 720p@30fps, timelapse, slow motion (720p@120fps)
• 🔧 Programme functions: HDR, Panorama, manual mode, scene recognition

It's important to understand that megapixel count isn't the only indicator of quality, for example, Redmi 5 is losing out to more modern smartphones not so much because of resolution, but because of the lack of optical stabilization, poor noise processing and limited night shooting capabilities.

Redmi 5 camera comparison with 2017-2018 competitors

In the year of release (2017) Xiaomi Redmi 5 competed with models such as Samsung Galaxy J4+, Huawei Y7 Prime and Nokia 5. Let's see what his camera looked like in front of them:

The conclusion: Redmi 5 was not the leader in megapixels, but thanks to optimized software and phase autofocus, it often outperformed competitors in shooting speed and detail. Y7 Prime had a dual camera, but its second module (2 MP) was only for blurring the background, not for improving quality.

⚠️ Warning: If you buy a Redmi 5 b/d, check the autofocus, which is a weak spot for the model. PDAF It stops working properly and the camera can’t see nearby objects.

Real quality of photos: pros and cons

On paper, 12 megapixels sound good, but how does Redmi 5 perform in real-world conditions?

• ✅ Daylight: In good lighting, the camera produces detailed images with natural color rendering. PDAF It's a quick focus, and HDR helps avoid overlights.
• ❌ Low lighting: Noise increases dramatically, details are lost. The flash lightens the scene, but often burns out the highlights and creates sharp shadows.
• ✅ Macro: With sufficient lighting, you can get good shots with a minimum focusing distance (~10cm).
• ❌ Dynamic scenes: No stabilization, so videos and photos of moving objects are often blurred.

Examples of typical problems:

- Overexposed sky even with the switched on HDR.

Blurring at the edges when shooting in the mode "Portrait" (software blur, not optical).

Artifacts at zoom - digital magnification greatly spoils quality.

To improve the quality of images, you can use third-party applications such as Google Camera (GCam) with ported settings for Redmi 5. HDR reduce noise.

Hidden camera features: what Redmi 5 can do, but not everyone knows

Xiaomi’s standard camera app hides a few useful features that can come in handy:

1. Manual mode (Pro Mode): Allows you to adjust shutter speed (1/1000s – 32s), ISO (100–3200), White balance and focus, useful for shooting the sky or lighting.
2. Timelapse with settings: You can select the interval between frames (from 0.5 to 60 seconds) and the resolution of the video.
3. Scene recognition: Automatically adjusts settings for portrait, night, text and other frame types.
4. Voice control: Smile, Cheese or Light up commands for selfies without pressing a button.

To activate hidden settings, go to Camera Settings → Additionally. → Version and tap 5 times version number, and you'll see a developer menu with options like save. RAW (if supported by firmware).

Clean the lens of dust and fingerprints|

Disable "Face Improvement" in the selfie settings|

Include a grid (rule of thirds) for the composition|

Activate HDR bright-light|

Set video permission for 1080p (not 720p)

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Another lifehack: if your camera is “slowing” when opening, try turning off animation in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Assembly number (stamp 7 times) → Animation. = 0.5x). This will speed up the launch of the module.

How to improve the quality of photos on Xiaomi Redmi 5: practical tips

Even with limited hardware, you can get better results. Here are the proven ways:

• 🌞 Lighting: Shooting against the sun? Use manual mode and reduce exposure by 1-2 steps.
• 📱 Stabilization: When shooting video, hold your phone with both hands or lean on a hard surface.
• 🔍 Focus: In macro mode, touch the screen at the shooting point and hold your finger to lock focus.
• 🎨 Post-processing: Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile apps will help you adjust colors and sharpness.

For the night shot:

1. Install GCam (e.g., version from BSG or Arnova8G2).

2. Enable Night Sight (Night Mode).

3. Use a tripod or lean your phone on a stable surface.

4 Experiment with manual shutter speed (from 1 to 4 seconds).

⚠️ Attention: When shooting in RAW-file format ~20 MB each. Make sure there is enough free space on the phone (it is recommended to leave at least 2-3 GB).

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If your camera on Redmi 5 is getting worse focus, try resetting the app settings: → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data. This often solves the problem of blurry images.

Common Redmi 5 camera problems and solutions

Redmi 5 owners often experience typical camera malfunctions, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the camera stops working after falling or getting moisture:

1.Do not turn it on - it may aggravate the damage.

2.Dry the phone in a sealed container with silica gel (at least 24 hours).

3. If the problem persists, contact the service - it is possible that the plume has departed or the module is damaged.

To diagnose hardware problems, you can use the engineering menu:

#4636## → Phone information → Camera check

If the test shows an error, it will likely require repairs.

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Most software problems of the Redmi 5 camera are solved by cleaning the cache or resetting the settings. Physical damage (for example, cracked lens glass) requires the intervention of a specialist.

Alternative Camera Apps: Which Is Better Than Standard Camera Apps

Xiaomi’s standard camera app doesn’t always do the job.

• 📸 Google Camera (GCam): Best choice for better photo quality. Supports Night Sight, HDR+ Portrait Mode, even on budget smartphones: BSG GCam_8.1.101.
• 🎞️ Open Camera: Open source with manual settings, support RAW And it's also possible to shoot in the background, and it's suitable for experimentation.
• 🌃 Night Camera: Specializes in night photography, uses multi-frame processing to reduce noise.
• 🤳 BeautyPlus: For selfies with advanced retouch tools (but overloads the processor).

To install the GCam:

1. Download. APK from a verified source (e.g. Celso Azevedo or XDA Developers).

2. Enable installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Security).

3. Once installed, configure the config file for Redmi 5 (can be found on the forums) 4PDA).

4. In GCam settings, turn off Motion Photos (they slow down shooting on weak hardware).

Comparison of the standard camera and GCam on Redmi 5:

Daytime shots: GCam gives more rich colors and better detail.

Night shots: The difference is colossal - Night Sight saves footage where a standard camera sees only noise.

Portrait Mode: In GCam, background blur looks more natural.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi camera 5