What Xiaomi with a good camera to buy in 2026: a review of the best models

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone with a good camera is not an easy task. Even in 2026, the brand offers dozens of models, from budget devices with acceptable shooting quality to flagships competing with the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. But how not to get confused about the characteristics and not overpay for unnecessary features? This article will help you figure out which Xiaomi is better for photos and videos, based on your budget and tasks.

We analyzed DxOMark’s camera tests, user reviews and technical specifications to get an honest rating, not just megapixels, but real-world image quality in different environments: low light, in motion, portraits, and uncovered the hidden nuances of MIUI firmware that affect photo processing (this is not talked about!).

If you are looking for a smartphone for:

• 📸 Professional photography (RAW, manual settings, external lenses)
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Family photos (portraits, children's pictures, videos)
• 🌃 Night photography (city landscapes, starry sky)
• 💰 Budgetary option (up to 20 000) ₽ well-cameraed)

You'll find a model here, start with the flagships and end with the hidden gems of the public sector.

Xiaomi flagships with the best camera in 2026

If you don’t have a budget, you should look at Xiaomi’s top-end models, which are equipped with the most advanced camera modules, support 8K shooting, have optical stabilizers and advanced processing algorithms. The main contenders for the title of “best Xiaomi for photos” are Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi 14 Pro and Xiaomi Mix Fold 3.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the absolute leader in shooting quality among all smartphones of the brand. It has a 1-inch sensor Sony IMX989 (the size of a compact camera!), which provides incredible detail and dynamic range. Four lenses (main, ultra-wide, telephoto 3.2x and 5x) cover all shooting scenarios, from macro to long-range, and thanks to cooperation with Leica, the colors in the photo are natural, without excessive processing.

But there's a nuance: Xiaomi 14 Ultra weighs 224 grams and has a protruding "island" camera that makes the phone unstable on a flat surface, but the kit comes with a protective case with a ring for a comfortable grip - a trifle, but nice.

The Xiaomi 14 Pro is a more compact alternative with the same IMX989 sensor, but without a telephoto lens. But it has a variable aperture (f/1.6 to f/4.0) that allows you to control depth of field directly in the camera app. This is a rare feature even among flagships!

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi flagships are often sold with global firmware, which cuts some camera features compared to the Chinese version. for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra for Europe disabled Dolby Vision mode HDR Please specify the firmware region before buying!

Middle class: balance of price and quality of the camera

Not everyone needs a 100-dollar flagship.+ In the segment of 30 000-70,000 rubles ₽ Xiaomi offers models with cameras that are not inferior to the top, but are 2-3 times cheaper. 13T Pro, Redmi K60 Ultra and POCO F6 Pro.

The Xiaomi 13T Pro is the best choice for those who want a flagship-level camera for the price of a mid-range. It has a 200-megapixel Samsung HP3 sensor with pixel binning technology (combining 16 pixels into 1 for better light transmission), resulting in night shots are bright, noise-free, and during the day the camera catches little things that are not visible to the naked eye.

An interesting feature is the HyperOIS mode, which stabilizes video even when running or shooting from hand, which is relevant for bloggers and travelers. The minus is the lack of a telephoto lens, so zoom is implemented software (up to 2x without loss of quality).

The Redmi K60 Ultra and POCO F6 Pro (essentially the same phone under different brands) feature Sony’s IMX890 50MP sensor — the same one that last year’s Xiaomi 13 Pro — a robust and time-tested module that does great portraits and video, plus a 2x optical approximation that most competitors don’t have for the money.

• 💡 For bloggers: Xiaomi 13T Pro thanks to stabilization and video quality in 4K@60fps.
• 📷 For photographers: Redmi K60 Ultra due to more natural color reproduction (in the 13T Pro colors are sometimes overstated).
• 💰 To save money: POCO F6 Pro is the same. K60 Ultra, but cheaper by 5-10%.

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In the camera settings (Additionally → Camera Lab) enable the option "Save settings" - this will not reset manual settings (white balance, exposure) when closing the application.

Xiaomi budget with a good camera (up to 25 000) ₽)

Yeah, even for 15,000-25,000. ₽ You can find Xiaomi with a camera that doesn't fail in everyday scenarios, but rather, not chasing megapixels (they're often virtual), but looking at the size of the sensor and the presence of optical stabilization.

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G is the best budget photo in 2026. It has a 200-megapixel sensor Samsung HP3 (the same as the Xiaomi 13T Pro!), but with a stripped firmware. In reality, the difference in quality with the flagship is noticeable only when 100% zoom in or shoot in RAW. For social networks and printing in 10×15 cm, the images are more than enough.

Another thing that's good about it is IP53 water and dust protection, which is not completely waterproof, but random rain or splashing on the phone is not scary, and the downside is that there's no optical stabilization, so you get jiggy videos when you're driving.

If you need to be cheaper, pay attention to POCO X6 Pro (price tag) ~18 000 ₽). He has. 64-Megapixel main camera with good detail during the day, but night shooting is lame - the sensor is too small (1/1.72"). But there is. OIS, That's rare for public sector workers.

⚠️ Note: Budget Xiaomi often disabled advanced shooting modes (such as Pro Mode or Long Exposure) in global firmware. To unlock them, you need to install custom software (such as xiaomi.eu), but this deprives you of warranties.

Camera comparison: Xiaomi vs competitors (Samsung, iPhone, Google)

To see how good Xiaomi cameras are, compare them to direct competitors in the same price ranges (~100 000 ₽), middle-class (~50 000 ₽) budget (~20 000 ₽).

In the flagship segment, Xiaomi 14 Ultra competes with the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. In detail and zoom Xiaomi wins thanks to the 5x telephoto, but loses in video: Apple and Samsung have better stabilization and sound processing, but Xiaomi gives more manual settings for photographers.

In the middle class, the Xiaomi 13T Pro beats the Samsung Galaxy A54 in night shooting, but loses to the Google Pixel 7a in HDR processing. But Xiaomi has a 200-megapixel mode, which is not available to competitors.

In the budget segment of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ confidently leads: neither Samsung Galaxy A34 nor Realme 11 Pro+ can boast of a 200-megapixel sensor for such money. But here Xiaomi loses in software optimization – competitors have fewer artifacts when increased.

How to choose Xiaomi by task: portraits, night shooting, video

There is no universal smartphone that works equally well with all scenarios, so before you buy, determine what is more important to you:

• 👗 Portraits and selfies: Look for models with dual front-facing cameras (e.g. Xiaomi 14 Pro or Redmi Note 13 Pro)+). It is important to have a Beauty mode with a background blur level setting.
• 🌙 Night shooting: Priority - large sensor (from 1/1.5") Best options: Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi 13T Pro, Redmi Note 13 Pro+.
• 🎥 Video and Blogging: Optical Stabilization Needed (OIS) support 4K@60fps. It's fine with Xiaomi. 14 Pro, POCO F6 Pro or Redmi K60 Ultra.
• 🌄 Landscapes and architecture: Important ultra-wide angle (from 120)°) Best of all, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 do it.

If you want maximum versatility, look for the Xiaomi 13T Pro. It is not the best at one thing, but it does a good job of all tasks, and for specific needs (for example, shooting stars or macro), specialized models like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra are better.

Check firmware version (Chinese/global)| View camera tests on YouTube (GSMArena, MKBHD channels)| Check the availability of warranty in Russia | Compare prices in official and "gray" stores-->

Hidden chips of Xiaomi cameras, which few people know

Xiaomi has hidden several useful features in its smartphones that can greatly improve the quality of shooting.

1. Super Moon Mode (available in Xiaomi 13/14 series): automatically zooms in on the Moon while retaining details of its surface.
2. Double-pressing the volume button – quick camera start (configured in Settings → Buttons and gestures) works even on a locked screen.
3. Hidden RAW mode: In models with IMX766/IMX989 sensor, you can save raw.dng files for post-processing in Lightroom. Included in Camera Settings → Format → RAW.
4. AI Watermark: automatically adds phone model, date and location information to the photo. Travel-friendly. Customizes to camera settings → Watermark.

Another hack is the Google Camera (GCam) app, which is better than the regular one on many Xiaomi (especially POCO and Redmi), giving more natural colors and better HDR processing. But note: GCam doesn’t support all modes (like Super Moon or 5x zoom).

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In models with the Sony IMX766 sensor (Xiaomi 12T Pro, POCO F4 GT), enable the GCam setting "Sabre Noise Reduction" - this will reduce noise in night shots.

The honest disadvantages of Xiaomi cameras: what to fear

Despite the impressive specs, Xiaomi cameras are not without their flaws, and here are the most common issues that users face:

• 🔍 Over-processing: Algorithms MIUI They often "cook" photos, over-characterizing the saturation and contrast, and you can see that when you're shooting the sky or the skin, the colors are not natural.
• 🎬 Poor video stabilization in public sector: even if available EIS And the only exception is the flickering of the video. OIS.
• 🌃 Problems with automatic white balance: In mixed lighting conditions (e.g. lamp) + Daylight: The camera is often wrong with the color temperature.
• 🔋 Overheating during long shooting: Models on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) warms up after 10–15 minutes 4K@60fps.

Some problems can be fixed software, such as disabling. AI-processing in camera settings (Additional) → AI camera → Off. Or use GCam for more natural colors, but with hardware limitations (e.g., no color). OIS) Nothing to do, it’s a matter of design.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi and Redmi 2023-2026 have disabled the Manual Mode for the front camera, which is a firmware restriction and can only be circumvented through custom software.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cameras