What Xiaomi Redmi smartphone with a good camera to choose in 2026: a review of the best models

Why the camera in a Redmi smartphone might disappoint (and how to avoid it)

Choosing a smartphone with a good camera is not an easy task, especially when it comes to budget and mid-budget models Xiaomi Redmi. Marketing slogans promise "professional shooting" and "flagship quality", but in practice, many users are faced with blurry night shots, overlit shots in daylight or a complete lack of detail when zooming.

The fact is that camera quality is not only determined by megapixels. Matrix size, lens aperture, image processing algorithms, and even the MIUI firmware version play an important role. For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ on paper has a 200-MP core module, but without the right settings it loses in detail to the more modest 50-MP cameras of competitors. In this article, we will analyze what really worth looking for when choosing, and rank the best Redmi for photography in 2026 – from budget to premium options.

Spoiler: If you want a camera for social media (instagram, tiktok), the options are different than for professional shooting or video blogging. We will take into account all scenarios!

Top.-5 Xiaomi Redmi smartphones with the best camera in the world 2026 year

We analyzed DxOMark tests, user reviews on 4PDA and Mi Community, and independently tested several models.

• 📸 Detailing (preserving textures as you increase)
• 🌃 Night shooting (noise level, brightness)
• 🎥 Video (stabilization, autofocus, bitrate)
• 🔄 Universality (how well can you cope with both portraits and landscapes)
• 💰 Price/quality ratio

An important nuance: models with 200-MP cameras (for example, Note 13 Pro+) in real conditions often lose to 50-MP flagships due to smaller pixel size and weak software optimization. If you want stable shooting without a lottery, pay attention to the Redmi K70 Pro with a matrix from Sony - it shows better results in dynamic scenes (for example, shooting children or pets).

200 MP vs 50 MP: Which camera is best in practice?

On paper, 200 megapixels sounds impressive, but in reality, it's a marketing ploy.

• 🔍 Pixel size: In 200 MP matrices (e.g. Samsung) HP3 Note 13 Pro+) pixels are smaller — 0.56 μm versus 1.0-1.2 μm in 50-MP cameras, which means that in poor lighting, they collect less light. → noise.
• 📏 Binning pixels: To compensate for the small pixels, the smartphone combines them into groups (4-into-1 or 16-into-1), taking the final photo in 12.5 or 50 MP: That is, the actual resolution is often lower than the stated!
• 🖥️ Processing: Xiaomi's algorithms don't always handle this amount of data, resulting in artifacts at object boundaries and the "plasticine" effect of post-processing.

When is 200 MP justified?

• ✅ Shooting landscapes with subsequent framing (you can cut a fragment without loss of quality).
• ✅ Macrographing of small objects (e.g. jewelry, insects).
• ❌ Not suitable for videos, portraits or dynamic scenes – here more important than aperture and autofocus.

The bottom line: if you don't plan on typing pictures on billboards or cutting shots too hard, a 50-MP camera with large pixels (like the Redmi K70 Pro) will be more practical.

Night shooting: what Redmi can cope without a flashlight

Shooting at night is a weak spot for most budget smartphones, but some Redmi models are showing good results thanks to:

• 🔦 Optical stabilization (OIS) — compensates for the trembling of the hands with long exposure.
• 🌙 Night Mode 2.0 algorithms are used in MIUI 14 uses multi-frame addition.
• 💡 Additional LED-flashes (in cheap models often one, in top - double).

The leaders in night shooting among Redmi:

1. The Redmi K70 Pro is the best balance of detail and color reproduction thanks to a collaboration with Leica.
2. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G – OIS + bright flash, but sometimes overshadows the highlights.
3. POCO F6 Pro (similar to Redmi K70) – good for video at night (stabilization at the level of the gimbal).

⚠️ Attention: In models without OIS (For example, Redmi 12. 5G) The only way to keep the camera at night is to fix it perfectly, and even a slight tremor of your hands will cause a blurred frame!

Advice for improving night photos:

Turn off HDR manually (in camera settings)

Use a delay timer (2-3 seconds)

Shoot in RAW format (if supported)

Reduce ISO manually to 800–1600

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Video Shooting: Which Redmis Are Right for Bloggers

If you need a camera not only for photos, but also for videos (for example, for YouTube or TikTok), pay attention to:

• 🎬 Permission and FPS: Minimum. 4K@30fps, perfectly — 4K@60fps.
• 🌀 Stabilization: OIS + EIS (electronic) for smooth personnel.
• 🎤 Microphones: Stereo sound or support for external microphones (connector 3.5 mm or more) USB-C).
• 🔋 Autonomy: Video puts a lot of battery down - look for models with 5000 mAh+.

The best options for video blogging:

For professional video (such as shooting events), it is better to consider the Xiaomi 14 or 14 Pro, but if the budget is limited, the POCO F6 Pro is the best choice. It supports log profile (Log), which makes it easier to color correct in Premiere Pro or CapCut.

⚠️ Note: In budget Redmi (e.g. Redmi 12) videos in the 4K It's recorded with a strong crop (reduced viewing angle). If you want a wide picture, shoot in the image. 1080p Or use an external camera.

Selfie cameras: which Redmi take the best photos for social networks

For portraits and stories are important:

• 👤 Frontal resolution: At least 16 MP, ideally 32 MP+.
• 💡 The lighter the number after f/, the better, for example, f/2.0 preferably f/2.4).
• 🎨 Beauty Algorithms: In MIUI They can be turned off or manually configured.
• 🔄 Autofocus: In cheap models it is often not – photos are blurred when moving.

Top.-3 Redmi for selfie:

1. Redmi K70 Pro – 16 MP with autofocus and natural color reproduction.
2. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ – 16 MP with good detail, but without autofocus.
3. POCO X6 Pro – 20 MP with a wide viewing angle (suitable for group selfies).

Tip: To make selfies look natural, turn off automatic skin smoothing in the camera settings (Settings → Beauty → Level: 0). Also experiment with Portrait mode - it adds a beautiful background blur (bokeh).

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If you want the perfect Instagram stories, shoot in “Photo” mode, and add background blur later in apps like Snapseed or Lightroom, so you avoid artifacts at the boundaries of hair or clothing.

How to choose a Redmi with a good camera for your tasks: checklist

Before you buy a smartphone, answer the following questions:

1. What type of photography is important to you? 📷 Photo by day → enough 50 MP with good optics. 🌙 Night photos → seek OIS pixel-size (1.0 micron+). 🎥 Video → Priority of stabilization and support 4K@60fps. 👗 Selfie. → frontal 16 Autofocus MP.
2. What budget is it? 💰 20,000 ₽ → Redmi 12 5G or POCO M6 Pro. 💰 20 000–35 000 ₽ → Redmi Note 13 Pro+. 💰 35 000 ₽+ → Redmi K70 pro POCO F6 Pro.
3. Do you need additional chips? 🔋 Long video → battery+. 🎤 Clear sound. → stereo microphones or 3.5 mm connector. 📱 Convenience → Lightweight (190 g) and compactness.

Remember to check for software updates: some models (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+) have started to shoot worse after MIUI updates due to changes in processing algorithms. Before buying, read the latest reviews on 4PDA or YouTube (look for reviews no older than 3 months).

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If you choose between two models with similar cameras, pick the one with the newer processor (like the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 instead of the Snapdragon 778G).

FAQ: Frequent questions about cameras in Xiaomi Redmi