Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is still one of the most popular budget smartphones due to its balance of price and capabilities. And most importantly, its advantage is a four-modular camera, which at the time of release in 2019 made a splash in the segment up to 15,000 rubles. But is the Redmi Note 8 camera so good today, a few years later? And how to unlock its potential at 100%?
In this article, we will analyze the specifications of each module, compare the camera with competitors (including the newer models of the Redmi Note). 9/10), We'll reveal the hidden settings. MIUI We'll give you some practical advice on how to shoot in different environments, from portraits to night photography, and we'll also answer the big question: Should you buy a Redmi Note today? 8 for his camera?
Technical characteristics of the camera Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: what is hidden behind 48 MP
The core module of the Redmi Note 8 is the 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 sensor with an aperture of f/1.79 and a pixel size of 0.8 microns. On paper, this sounds impressive, but it is important to understand how it works in practice:
- 📸 Binning pixels: By default, the smartphone takes 12MP shots, combining data from 4 pixels into one to improve light transmission. 48MP mode is manually enabled, but it is only useful in good lighting.
- 🔍 Phase autofocus (PDAF): Fast focus even on moving objects, but in the dark can miss".
- 🌈 6-lens lens: Reduces distortion at the edges of the frame, but does not save from chromatic aberrations in contrast light.
In addition to the main module, the camera has:
| Module | Characteristics | Appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Wide-angle | 8 MP, f/2.2, 120° | Landscapes, architecture, group photos |
| Macro | 2 MP, f/2.4, focus 2–10 cm | Photography of small objects (insects, textures) |
| Depths | 2 MP, f/2.4 | Blurring background in portrait mode |
The video camera shoots at 4K@30fps and Full HD@60fps, but without stabilization in 4K. There is an electronic stabilizer (EIS) in Full HD, but it trims the edges of the frame by ~10%. Also supported is slow-motion 720p@960fps (with strong crop') and 1080p@120fps.
⚠️ Note: In 48MP mode, files weigh 15-20 MB each. When shooting actively, the memory will fill up very quickly - watch for free space or use a microSD card (up to 512 GB).
Comparison with competitors: Redmi Note 8 vs Redmi Note 9/10 vs Realme 5 Pro
When the Redmi Note 8 was released, it was one of the best cameras on the budget, but what does it look like next to newer models? We compared it to the Redmi Note 9 (2020), Redmi Note 10 (2021) and the Realme 5 Pro, the main competitor of the time.
- 📊 Daylight: Note 8 loses Note 10 in detail (due to older Snapdragon 665 vs 678) processor, but bypasses Realme 5 Pro in color rendering.
- 🌙 Night mode: Note 8 The new system uses Multi-frame Noise Reduction algorithms, but the Note 9/10 They are improved by hardware acceleration.
- 🎥 Video: Note 8 has no stabilization in 4K, Unlike the Note 10, it gets less heat when recording for a long time.
The main advantage of the Redmi Note 8 today is the price on the secondary market (from 8 000 rubles in 2026), for this money you get a camera that is still capable of decent pictures with the right settings, but the Note 9/10 already cost 1.5-2 times more.
Hidden MIUI settings to improve photo quality
By default, the Redmi Note 8 is in "universal" mode, which doesn't always give the best result. To unlock its potential, you need to get into the hidden settings and turn on a few important options:
- Open the Camera app → press on ⚙ Settings (cog in the upper right corner).
- Activate: 🔘 Keep the originals in HDR — It retains two versions of the image: c HDR without. 🔘 Improvement AI — But turn it off for the shoot. RAW (down). 🔘 Serial shooting → High quality (not “standard” quality").
Pro mode.
- 📏 ISO: up to 800 in the afternoon, up to 1600-3200 at night.
- ⏱ Excerpt: 1/1000c for frozen objects, 1/30tripod.
Turn off AI-improvement | Set ISO 100-400|Stop 1/500-1/1000c |Stop White balance "Auto" or "Cloud" |Stop manual focus (screen tap)
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⚠️ Attention: When shooting in RAW The files take 30 to 40 MB each. RAW Not supported in 48 MP mode – only in 12 MP.
Night photography: how to take good photos in low light
Night mode in Redmi Note 8 works on the principle of multi-frame addition: the smartphone takes several pictures with different exposures and combines them into one.
- 🌃 No tripod: Keep your smartphone as still as possible. Even a slight shaking of your hand will ruin the frame.
- 🕯 In very low light: Use Pro mode with a shutter speed of 2-4 seconds (you need a tripod!).
- 💡 With artificial light: Turn off night mode - it can over-light lamps and lights.