Xiaomi Redmi 9: How many cameras and how to use them 100%

Why Redmi 9 Cameras Are So Many Questions

Xiaomi Redmi 9, released in 2020, is still one of the most popular budget devices on the market, and its value for money appeals to millions of users, but it is the camera unit that is the most controversial. There are some controversial reports online, with four cameras, three or even two, and how many modules are actually installed in this model and how they work.

The manufacturer has positioned Redmi 9 as a daily shooter, but marketing claims are often at odds with reality. Many users are disappointed to find that not all cameras are equally useful. In this article, we will not only answer the question "how many cameras" but also explain which ones are really needed and which ones are purely decorative.

Official Features: What Xiaomi Says

According to the manufacturer’s specifications, the Xiaomi Redmi 9 is equipped with four rear cameras, as they are presented in official materials:

• 📸 Main camera: 13 MP, diaphragm f/2.2, phase-focus (PDAF)
• 🌃 Wide-angle camera: 8 MP, angle of view 118°, diaphragm f/2.2
• 🔍 Macro camera: 5 MP, focal length 2 diaphragm f/2.4
• 💡 Deep camera: 2 MP, diaphragm f/2.4 (portrait-mode)

On paper, this looks impressive for the budget segment, but in practice it is not so rosy, because software optimization plays a key role: some cameras only work in certain modes, and their actual resolution may differ from what they claim due to pixel binning or interpolation.

The Real Number of Cameras: Myths and Truth

If you look closely at the back of the Redmi 9, you can see four separate lenses in a vertical block, but physicality doesn't equal functional utility. Let's see which ones actually affect the quality of the shot.

1. The main camera (13 MP) is the only module that is used 90% of the time, and it is responsible for shooting in automatic mode, HDR and video.
2. Wide-angle (8 MP) – useful for landscapes or architecture, but loses in detail at the edges of the frame.
3. Macro camera (5 MP) – can be useful for shooting small objects, but its quality leaves much to be desired.
4. The depth camera (2 MP) is used exclusively to create the bokeh effect in portrait mode. It does not take a photo by itself.

So there are three functional cameras: the main, wide-angle and macro. The fourth is more of a marketing move than a real need. Moreover, in some regions (for example, in India) the Redmi 9 Prime version with a triple camera was sold, where the macro module was replaced with a depth sensor with a different resolution.

Comparison with competitors: who offers more

When Redmi 9 was released in 2020, most budget smartphones had either a dual or triple camera, and a four-modular system was a rarity in the segment.

As you can see from the table, the Xiaomi Redmi 9 was not a pioneer in terms of camera count, but offered a more balanced set of modules. For example, it had a wide-angle camera at 8 MP higher resolution than its competitors. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy M11 lost in the number of modules, but won in the aperture of the main camera (f/1.8 vs f/2.2).

⚠️ Note: When comparing cameras, pay attention not only to megapixels, but also to pixel size and aperture. For example, 13 MP with a pixel of 1.12 microns will be worse than 12 MP with a pixel of 1.4 microns in low light conditions.

How to Use Redmi 9 Cameras as Effectively as You Can

Even with limited camera capabilities, Redmi 9 can achieve good results if you know a few tricks.

Main chamber (13 MP)

• 🌞 Use the regimen. HDR In bright sun or contrast light, it turns on automatically, but you can fix it in the settings.
• 🌙 In the dark, activate the night mode (keep the smartphone as still as possible). 2-3 seconds).
• 🎯 For moving objects, use continuous shooting (hold down the down button).

Wide-angle camera (8 MP)

• 🏞️ Perfect for architecture and landscapes, but avoid shooting against the light – there will be strong glare.
• 📏 Keep the subject closer to the center of the frame, as there are distortions along the edges ("barrel effect").
• 🚫 Don’t use it for portraits – the faces on the edges will be unnaturally elongated.

Macro camera (5 MP)

This module is the most capricious, to get an acceptable result:

• 🕵️‍♂️ Bring your smartphone to a distance 2-4 cm to the object (closer or further - will be blurred).
• 💡 Shoot in good lighting - the matrix is too small for low light.
• 🖼️ Use post-processing (e.g. Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile) to improve clarity.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 9's Macro Camera doesn't have autofocus. If an object is moving (like an insect), you'll have to adjust the distance manually, which is extremely inconvenient.

Frequent Redmi 9 Camera Issues and How to Solve Them

Redmi 9 users often face typical camera-related issues, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

1. Blurred photos in automatic mode

Reasons:

• Dirty lens (wipe with a soft cloth).
• Trembling hands (use a timer or external support).
• Low lighting (turn on night mode or use an external light source).

2.Wide-angle camera gives purple glare

This is a defect of many budget wide-angle modules.

• Change the angle of shooting so that the sun does not hit the lens directly.
• Use post-processing apps (such as Adobe Lightroom) to correct color balance.

3.Portrait mode poorly separates the object from the background

The depth chamber (2 MP) is low resolution, so it often makes mistakes with the boundaries.

• Shooting is carried out at a distance of 1-1.5 meters from the object.
• Use a contrasting background (for example, a light object on a dark background).
• Manually adjust the mask in the editor (for example, in Focos for the iOS/Android).

💡

If the Redmi 9 camera starts to “glutch” (hang, give out a green screen), try resetting the Camera app settings in the Settings menu → Apps → Camera → Storage → Reset. This often helps without completely resetting the phone.

Alternative camera applications for Redmi 9

Stock appendix MIUI Camera doesn’t always reveal the full potential of Redmi cameras 9. Alternative programs can offer more customization and better processing. Here's the top-3 variant:

1. Google Camera (GCam) Ported version of Google's camera with improved HDR Redmi 9 is suitable for modifications from the BSG You can download it from the forum. XDA Developers or in telegram channels dedicated to GCam. ✅ Pros: better detail, more natural colors. ❌ Cons: possible lag, not all functions work stably.
2. Open Camera Open source with manual settings (exposure, ISO, White balance. Supports shooting in RAW. ✅ Pros: Full control over parameters, no advertising. ❌ Cons: the interface is less intuitive than that of GCam.
3. Footage Video Application with Support for Shooting in 4K (The Redmi 9's main camera is limited. 1080p). Allows you to record bitrate and frame rate. ✅ Pros: Professional settings for video. ❌ Cons: paid version to unlock all functions.

Before installing alternative applications, check their compatibility with your version of MIUI. Some GCam modifications may not work on the latest updates.

💡

Using GCam on Redmi 9 can increase photo detail by 20-30%, but requires you to set up your configuration file (XML) properly for your model.

FAQ: answers to popular questions about Redmi 9 cameras