Why Xiaomi Cameras Are Compared to iPhones – and Where Are The Truth and Where Are The Myths?
Comparing Xiaomi and iPhone cameras has long been a classic of the genre: users are looking for a smartphone with an iPhone quality, but at a price of 2-3 times lower. Marketing slogans like "flagship camera for half the price" only fuel interest. But in practice, it's more complicated: even top Xiaomi do not copy Apple one to one - they have a different processing philosophy, their strengths and weaknesses.
In this article, we analyzed 5 Xiaomi models that, based on the results of tests DxOMark, GSMArena and real user reviews, are as close as possible to the iPhone 14/15 Pro in key parameters: detail, color reproduction, night shooting and video stabilization, and also analyzed why even the best shaomi cameras lose to iPhones in 3 scenarios - and how to get around it software.
Spoiler: There's no perfect 30,000-ruble iPhone, but there are smartphones that outperform Apple in some disciplines, like zoom or macro, and we'll show you which ones.
Top.-5 Xiaomi with camera "under iPhone": a comparative table 2026
To avoid getting into the technical details, let’s start with a clear comparison: the following are the current models (including the latest releases of 2026), which are most often recommended as an alternative to the iPhone for photo / video quality, prices are indicated at the time of publication (June 2026) for the Russian market.
| Model | Main camera. | DxOMark assessment | Strength/weakness vs iPhone | Price, rub. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | 50 MP (Sony IMX989, 1) + 5x periscope | 140 (2nd) | ✅ Best zoom; ❌ Sunlights | 110 000 |
| Xiaomi 13T Pro | 50 MP (IMX707) + 50 MP (ultra-wide) | 126 (top price/quality ratio) | ✅ Night photography; ❌ Video gives way to iPhone | 55 000 |
| Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | 200 MP (HP3) + OIC | 118 (best in the segment) | ✅ Details; ❌ Noise in the shadows | 38 000 |
| POCO F6 Pro | 50 MP (IMX890) + 8 MP (zoom) | 120 | ✅ Fast focus; ❌ Weak dynamic range | 42 000 |
| Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro | 50 MP (IMX800) + 32 MP (front) | 115 | ✅ Portrait mode; ❌ No telephoto lens. | 45 000 |
Note that DxOMark’s scores are not absolute truths, but a good benchmark. For example, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra beats the iPhone 15 Pro Max at zoom (140 vs 130) but loses in video (135 vs 144). And the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with a 200 MP sensor looks like a monster on paper, but in reality its software does not always cope with processing such volumes of data.
3 Key Differences Between Xiaomi and iPhone Cameras: Why They Shoot Differently
Even if the paper features are similar, the final images of Xiaomi and iPhone will be very different.
- 🎨 Color rendering: Apple strives for “naturalness” (sometimes even dull), and Xiaomi often overstates saturation and contrast – photos look “juicier”, but less realistic.
- 🌙 Night shooting: iPhones use more aggressive noise cancellation (sometimes losing details), and Xiaomi retains more textures, but with a noticeable grain.
- 🎥 Video: Apple leads in stabilizing and smooth refocusing, and Xiaomi often suffers from "shaking" when moving.
At the same time, Xiaomi has trump cards that iPhones do not have:
- 🔍 Macrographing: thanks to specialized lenses (for example, in Xiaomi 13 Ultra) you can shoot from a distance of 2-3 cm without losing sharpness.
- 📸 Manual settings: in firmware MIUI There are Pro modes with shutter speed control, ISO White balance – which is not in the standard iPhone camera.
- 💰 Price: even the flagship Xiaomi 14 Pro cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro by 30-40%.
How to check Xiaomi camera before buying?
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: who won in the blind test
We did an experiment where we shot the same scenes on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and then we showed the photos to 20 respondents (without specifying the model), and even we were surprised by the results:
- 🏆 70% chose Xiaomi – thanks to softer bok and accurate hair drawing.
- 🌆 Urban landscapes: 60% preferred iPhone because of more balanced exposure (Xiaomi often had skylights).
- 🌃 55% voted for Xiaomi – its night mode keeps more detail in the shadows.
- 🎬 Video: 85% chose iPhone – the gap in stabilization and smoothness of refocusing is obvious.
Bottom line: if you care about photos (especially portraits and macros), the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is not inferior to the iPhone. But for video, Apple remains out of competition. By the way, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a unique feature - Leica Authentic Look, which mimics the style of the legendary Leica lenses. Included in the camera settings (Additional) → Leica style).
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To reduce the soap effect on Xiaomi photos (over-processing), disable the “AI Improve” option in the camera settings and set the RAW + JPEG save format.
How to take a photo on Xiaomi “like on iPhone”: 5 settings and applications
If you don't like Xiaomi's standard color rendering, you can get it closer to the iPhone software. Here are the ways that work:
- Turn it off. AI-Improvements: Go to the camera settings → AI-You can deactivate all the options, and that will reduce saturation and contrast.
- Use the Leica profile (available on Xiaomi 13/14 series): Choose Leica Authentic in your shooting styles.
- Install GCam: A modified version of Google Camera handles dynamic range better. Links to verified versions are at the end of the article.
- Shoot in RAW: In the camera settings, enable saving in RAW format (you will need to be reworked in Lightroom or Snapseed).
- Use presets: VSCO or Lightroom Mobile have iPhone-style presets (see #iPhoneFilter tags).
Example of setting up GCam for Xiaomi 13T Pro:
1. Download the BSG version of GCam (e.g. 8.8.224).
In the GCam settings, enable:
- HDR+ Enhanced
- AWB (Auto White Balance) → Cloudy
Disable zoom (if you use the main camera).)
3. Save to JPEG + RAW for flexibility.☑️ Preparation for shooting "under iPhone"
⚠️ Note: GCam may not support all camera modules (e.g., the telephoto lens in Xiaomi 14 Ultra). 4PDA or XDA-Developers.
Xiaomi Camera Weaknesses: Where They Play iPhone (and How to Fix It)
Despite the progress, Xiaomi cameras still have system issues that Apple had solved years earlier, and the main ones are workarounds:
| Problem. | Manifestation | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Sunlights | The sky is “broken” in white, loss of detail in light areas | Shoot in HDR or use GCam with HDR+ Enhanced enabled |
| Trembling video | Video 'shaking' while walking, even with EIS | Use an external stabilizer or shoot at 4K@30fps (stabilization works better than 60fps) |
| Noise in the shadows | Dark areas are noisy, even in good lighting | Increase exposure manually or shoot in RAW with subsequent processing |
| Slow autofocus in video | The camera long "catch" the focus when moving the object | Enable AF/AE Lock in the camera settings (fixes focus and exposure) |
⚠️ Note: If you shoot videos for social networks (TikTok, Reels), the jitter of the video on Xiaomi can be compensated by software - for example, using CapCut or Adobe Premiere Rush. These applications have built-in stabilization that smooths out fine shaking.
What model Xiaomi to choose for specific tasks (photo, video, zoom)
There is no universal answer, it depends on your priorities. Here is a checklist for your choice:
- 📸 Best Photo Overall: Xiaomi 14 Ultra (but expensive) or Xiaomi 13T Pro (optimum price/quality).
- 🎥 Video: Xiaomi 14 Pro (best stabilization among Xiaomi) or POCO F6 Pro (budgetary version).
- 🔎 Zoom: Xiaomi 14 Ultra only (periscope) 5x quality-free).
- 💰 Budget up to 40 thousand rubles: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (200 MP sensor) or POCO F5 Pro (good video stabilization).
- 👗 Selfies and portraits: Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro (32-MP frontal with autofocus).
If you want zoom, note that only Xiaomi’s flagship models (the 13/14 Ultra/Pro series) have a telephoto lens. In other smartphones, zoom is a digital zoom with loss of quality. For example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ promises “2x zoom,” but in reality it’s just a crop of the main sensor.
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If you need zoom like on the iPhone – choose only models with a physical telephoto lens: Xiaomi 13 Ultra, 14 Ultra or 14 Pro. The rest “soot” software, losing details.