Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a situation where the image on the screen appears faded or not bright enough immediately after purchase, due to factory calibrations that focus on energy saving and natural color reproduction, but do not always satisfy users who are used to juicy AMOLED-matrixes of competitors.
Fortunately, MIUI and its successor HyperOS provide a wide range of tools to fine-tune the display. You don't have to be an engineer to change the color gamut, contrast and saturation right in the standard menu. In this article, we'll take a look at all the methods available, from basic switches to hidden engineering settings.
Before we start making radical changes, it's important to understand the difference between software correction and the physical limitations of the matrix. Saturation is the intensity of the color, and it can be enhanced programmatically, but it can be increased by the physical limitations of the matrix. IPS-Deep black and perfect contrast are not software-enabled, but the right profile setting can dramatically change how you experience interfaces and content.
Basic Color Profile Settings in MIUI
The first and safest step to improving the image is to use built-in image profiles. Xiaomi developers have put in a few (presets) that change white balance and saturation. The default mode is often Standard or Professional, which can seem dull.
To change your profile, go to Settings → Screen and Brightness → Color Scheme. Here you will see several options: “Saturated”, “Classic”, “Standard” and sometimes “Enhanced”. Selecting “Saturated” mode instantly increases the intensity of colors, making red more red and green brighter. This is ideal for those who like “screaming” picture.
If standard mode isn't enough, switch to Professional mode (or Color Customization) and this menu features a color wheel that allows you to manually shift sliders, you can separate saturation and hue. By moving the saturation slider to the right, you amplify the intensity of all the colors on the screen.
- 🎨 Saturated: maximum bright and intense colors, suitable for games and videos.
- 📜 Classic: imitation of paper printing, soft and natural colors.
- ⚖️ Standard: balance between the first two modes recommended by the manufacturer.
Extended calibration through the engineering menu
For a deeper setup that goes beyond the standard interface, you can use the engineering menu, which requires caution because it allows you to change the system settings of the display, and it is accessed through a dialer by entering special code.
Type ##6484## in the Phone app. The CIT (Customer Information Test) menu will open. Find Display or Color Test. Some versions of MIUI have broken pixel and gradient tests available, but there may also be hidden gamma switches. If your menu region is limited, this method may not work without changing region.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu may cause color displays throughout the interface to be incorrect.
An alternative way to get into advanced settings is to use the Mi Remote app or special utilities to change the region, for example, switching a region to India or China will sometimes unlock additional items in the screen menu, such as Read Mode 2.0 or extended temperature correction, which indirectly affects the perception of saturation.
What if the code doesn't work?
Using Developer Mode to Configure DPI and Gamma
The developer menu contains parameters that affect graphic rendering. Although they are not directly called “saturation,” changing the density of DPI and simulation modes can visually change the perception of color and clarity of fonts, making the picture more contrasting.
To activate the developer menu, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7-10 times on the MIUI Version. After the “You’ve become a developer” notification appears, go back to the main settings menu and select Additional → For Developers. Find the section related to hardware acceleration or color space simulation.
You should pay special attention to the item "Simulation of color vision abnormalities." If it's on, the screen may look faded or distorted. Make sure it has a "Disconnected" value. Some builds also have a "Color profile" option in the rendering section, where you can force sRGB or DCI-P3.
- 🔍 DPI: Changing the pixel density makes elements smaller and sharper, which subjectively improves picture quality.
- 🎨 Color Space: Switching between sRGB and P3 Change the range of flowers, making them deeper.
- ⚙️ Hardware Overlays: Disabling this option can boost productivity GPU play.
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Don’t change the minimum width (DPI) to values above 600 or below 300 unnecessarily, which can make the interface unreadable or cause app crashes.
Third-party applications for screen color correction
If there's not enough system tools, Google Play apps come to the rescue, and they act as filters on top of the main image, changing the gamut, contrast and saturation in real time. IPS-screens where there is a lack of color depth.
One of the most popular solutions is the Color Manager or Screen Balance app, which allows you to create your own profiles, so you can amplify the blue and red channels to get a warmer, richer picture, or add contrast to improve readability in the sun.
Another powerful tool is Hex Loader (requires root rights) or Vivid, which changes the system's display calibration files, which is maximally effective, but requires unlocking the bootloader. For ordinary users without root rights, applications that use accessibility APIs to overlay the color filter are better suited.
| Annex | I need a Root. | Functional | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Balance | No. | Thin RGB tuning | Minimum |
| Color Manager | No. | Presets and filters | Low. |
| Vivid | Yes. | System calibration | Absent. |
| Blue Light Filter | No. | Warm tones (decreased saturation) | Minimum |
Configuration and HDR in applications
Often the problem is not the system, but the content. Video players and browsers have their own rendering settings. For example, on YouTube or Netflix, the quality of the image depends on the selected codec and HDR support.
Make sure that the video app settings have the option of Image Improvement or HDR effect enabled. The standard Xiaomi video player has an "AI Picture" feature that automatically tweaks saturation and contrast during playback, which creates the illusion of a better screen.
For readers and web surfers, you should set up a design theme. MIUI Not only does it change the color of the interface, but it also improves the contrast of the interface. AMOLED-It's actually making black really black, and it visually enhances the overall saturation of the rest of the content.
☑️ Checking video settings
Hidden Display Features in HyperOS and New MIUI
Xiaomi's latest shells have features that adapt color reproduction to ambient lighting. TrueColor technology or similar sensors can automatically reduce saturation in the daytime and increase it in the evening. If you think colors are floating, check these settings.
Go to Settings → Screen → Reading Mode. Sometimes the "Paper" or "Classic" mode in the reading section can conflict with the basic color settings, making the entire interface pale. Turn off the adaptive color temperature if you want to capture maximum saturation regardless of the time of day.
⚠️ Attention: Constant screen operation at maximum brightness and with artificially increased saturation can lead to accelerated burn-out of pixels (burn-in) on the screen. AMOLED-matrix.
Also worth mentioning is DC Dimming (if available in your area via hidden menus or third-party launchers) which reduces screen flickering at low brightness, but can slightly distort colors at minimal backlight levels, making them less saturated in the dark.
Effects of protective films and tempered glass
And don't forget the physical factor: Cheap protective glass or film without oleophobic coating can have rainbow or matte effects, drastically reducing saturation and contrast, and if you've recently changed your screen protection and noticed the color deterioration, that's where the problem might be.
High-quality glass labeled 9H and high (light transmission) has little effect on the picture. However, budget counterparts can absorb up to 10-15% of light and distort color reproduction. Removing film is the easiest way to check whether it is the cause of a dim screen.
In addition, pollution and greasy traces on the screen scatter light, making the colors less bright. Regularly wiping the screen with a microfiber with a special tool can return the "factory" brightness and depth of colors without any software settings.
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The quality of the protective glass directly affects the perception of the picture: cheap films can reduce saturation by up to 15%.