Which Xiaomi with the best camera to choose in 2026: a review of top models by price / quality ratio

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone with a good camera is not an easy task. Even in the budget segment, the brand offers models with multi-module systems, and flagships compete with the top iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. But how not to get confused about the characteristics and not overpay for unnecessary features? In this article, we will analyze the best Xiaomi smartphones for camera quality in 2026, compare their capabilities in photo and video shooting, and give recommendations for choosing for specific tasks โ€“ from selfies to professional shooting.

It's important to understand that a good camera is a subjective concept, and some users are critical to the size of the matrix and the aperture of the lens, others are critical to the processing algorithms and video stabilization, and we took all of these factors into account, as well as the results of independent tests (DXOMARK, DxO Photo) and reviews of real owners. The review presents models of different price categories - from POCO Xiaomi 14 Ultra to make sure everyone can find the best option.

Top.-5 Xiaomi with the best camera in the world 2026 year: rating of test results

According to the data DXOMARK And expert reviews, the leaders in camera quality among Xiaomi smartphones in 2026:

  1. Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the absolute flagship with 1-Sony-inch IMX989 and variable diaphragm (f/1.6โ€“f/4.0).
  2. Xiaomi 13T Pro โ€“ Best Price/Quality Balance with Samsungโ€™s 200MP core module.
  3. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G โ€” middle segment leader with 200 MP camera and OIS.
  4. POCO F6 Pro โ€“ the best choice for video with support 8K Dolby Vision and.
  5. Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro โ€“ the best for selfies thanks to two front-facing cameras (32 MP) + 32 MP).

Below we will discuss each device in detail, but first we will discuss the key criteria that you should pay attention to when choosing.

๐Ÿ“Š What type of photography is more important to you?
Photo by day
Photos at night
Video
Selfie.
Universality

Key camera settings Xiaomi: what to look at when choosing

In order not to make a mistake with the purchase, evaluate the smartphone by the following characteristics:

  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Basic module: resolution (MP), matrix size (1/1.5" and higher, better, and lighter (f/1.6โ€“f/1.9 โ€” optimally).
  • ๐Ÿ” Additional cameras: presence of telephoto (optical zoom), ultra-wide-angle module, macro- or depth meter.
  • ๐ŸŽฅ Video Opportunities: Support 4K/8K, frame-rate (30/60 FPS), stabilisation (OIS/EIS), Formats (Dolby Vision, HDR10+).
  • ๐Ÿคณ Front camera: resolution (16-32 MP), autofocus (important for selfies), support for portrait mode.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Software processing: noise reduction algorithms, HDR, night mode, AI enhancements.

Important! Don't chase megapixels - better 50 MP with a large matrix than 200 MP with a tiny sensor. For example, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra with a 50-MP camera shoots better than many 200-MP smartphones thanks to advanced optics and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.

๐Ÿ’ก

Before buying, check the sample photos on the GSMArena sites or DXOMARK โ€” They publish raw pictures (RAW), Showing the real capabilities of the camera.

Xiaomiโ€™s best flagships with a camera: Xiaomi 14 Ultra comparison, 13T Pro and Mix Fold 3

If the budget is not limited, look for top Xiaomi models that compete with the iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

ModelMain camera.Telephoto.VideoDXOMARK assessmentPrice (2026)
Xiaomi 14 Ultra50 MPP, 1" Sony IMX989, f/1.6โ€“f/4.0, OIS50 MP (3.2x) + 50 MP (5x)8K@24fps, Dolby Vision140 (2nd)~120 000 โ‚ฝ
Xiaomi 13T Pro200 MPP, 1/1.22", f/1.69, OIS50 MP (2x)8K@24fps, HDR10+126 (10th)~70 000 โ‚ฝ
Xiaomi Mix Fold 350 MP, Sony IMX898, f/1.8, OIS10 MPs (5x) + 12 MPs (2x)4K@60fps, Leica profiles131 (5th)~150 000 โ‚ฝ

Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the best choice for professional photography thanks to:

  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ Variable aperture (adapted to lighting, as in DSLRs).
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Leica Summicron with 4 lenses (including 120mm telephoto).
  • ๐Ÿ“น Dolby Vision support for video (color coverage as in movies).

But there are nuances:

โš ๏ธ Note: Xiaomi 14 Ultra weighs 234 g and has a protruding camera - it is inconvenient to use without a case. Also in Russia, it is not officially sold (you will have to take it from China or buy from resellers).

What is Xiaomi 14 Ultra better than iPhone 15 Pro Max?
On the tests. DXOMARK, Xiaomi 14 Ultra ahead of iPhone 15 Pro Max in detail (due to the 1-inch matrix) and zoom-shooting (5x zoom 5x However, the iPhone is better at white balance and video stabilization.

Mid-range: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ vs POCO F6 Pro

If you are looking for a smartphone up to 50,000 โ‚ฝ With a camera level flagships 2022, pay attention to:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G โ€” 200 MP main camera with OIS, 8-MP super-wire, 2-MP macro.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ POCO F6 Pro - 50MP Sony IMX890 (Like Xiaomi 13), 8K-Video by Dolby Vision.

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Wins in daytime shooting due to high resolution, but loses POCO F6 Pro in video:

ParameterRedmi Note 13 Pro+POCO F6 Pro
Main camera (day)โญโญโญโญโญ (200 MP)โญโญโญโญ (50 MP, but better processing)
Night photographyโญโญโญ (snapshot)โญโญโญโญ (night-time)
Video4K@30fps, No Dolby Vision8K@24fps, Dolby Vision, OIS
Frontal16 MP, no autofocus20 MP, with autofocus

Who has to choose:

  • ๐Ÿ“ท For photo: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (More details thanks to 200 MP).
  • ๐ŸŽฅ For the video: POCO F6 Pro (8K, Dolby Vision, the best stabilization).
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ For savings: Redmi Note 13 Pro (without a "+") โ€” The same 200 MP, but without OIS and with a weaker processor.

View full resolution photo examples (look for artifacts)

Check the autofocus in manual mode (Pro Mode)

Take a video with stabilization enabled (OIS/EIS)

Make sure there are no scratches on the lenses (take a picture of the light surface)

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Xiaomi budget with a good camera: Redmi 13C and POCO M6 Pro

Even for 15,000 to 20,000. โ‚ฝ Xiaomi can be found with a suitable camera.The best options in 2026:

  • ๐Ÿ’Ž Redmi 13C โ€” 50MP main camera (Samsung) JN1), 2MP macro, night shooting.
  • โšก POCO M6 Pro 64MP main camera (OmniVision) OV64B), 8-MP super-wire.

Both smartphones shoot better than the iPhone SE (2022) in a similar price segment, but there are restrictions:

โš ๏ธ Note: Xiaomiโ€™s budget models often lack optical stabilization (OIS), And video is limited. 1080p@30fps. For social networks, this is enough, but for professional shooting such smartphones are not suitable.

Comparison of photos by day (Redmi) 13C vs POCO M6 Pro):

  • ๐ŸŒž Redmi 13C: More natural colors, but less detail.
  • ๐ŸŒ… POCO M6 Pro: high detail (thanks to 64 MP), but sometimes twitches the exposure.

Redmi is better for selfies. 13C โ€” He has an 8MP frontal with soft background blur, whereas POCO M6 Pro only 13MP camera without autofocus.

๐Ÿ’ก

In the budget segment, the size of the matrix is more important than the megapixels, 50-MP camera at Redmi 13C matrixed 1/2.76" shoots better than 108-MP in some Chinese nounaims with a tiny sensor 1/3.1".

Specialized models: Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro for selfies and Mix Fold 3 for travel

If you need a camera for specific tasks, consider:

  • ๐Ÿคณ Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro โ€“ the best for selfies thanks to dual front camera (32 MP) + 32 MP) with autofocus and LED-flash.
  • ๐ŸŒ Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is the perfect travel experience: 5x optical zoom, folding screen for easy viewing photos, support for Leica profiles.

Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro beats even some flagships in terms of selfie quality:

  • ๐Ÿ’„ Portrait mode with blur at the level of the iPhone.
  • ๐ŸŒ™ Night shooting frontal (rare in Android smartphones).
  • ๐ŸŽญ 10 Beauty Filters with Intensity Customization.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 offers unique chips for travelers:

  • ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Documents mode โ€“ scans passports and tickets with minimal distortion.
  • ๐Ÿž๏ธ Leica Authentic Look โ€“ Natural Color Rendering for Landscapes.
  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Three cameras on the back (main) + telephoto + super-wide) covers all scenarios.

Both smartphones are expensive (from 80 000). โ‚ฝ), But if the camera is your top priority, they'll pay off the investment.

How to improve the camera on Xiaomi: settings and applications

Even the average Xiaomi smartphone can be "pumped" software. Here's what you should do:

  1. Enable Pro Mode in the standard camera app โ€“ manual settings are available there ISO, white balance and exposure.
  2. Install GCam (Google Camera) โ€“ a ported application with the best algorithms HDR It's important to look for a version that's optimized for your model.
  3. Activate. AI-scenes in camera settings โ€“ the AI will automatically select the optimal parameters for portrait, food, sunset, etc.
  4. For the video, turn on Stabilization (EIS/OIS) and film in 4K@30fps โ€” It is the best balance between quality and file size.

Useful applications for shooting:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฒ Open Camera โ€“ Open source software with support RAW manually.
  • ๐ŸŽฅ Filmic Pro โ€“ Professional Video (log profiles, manual focus).
  • ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Snapseed โ€“ Googleโ€™s editor for fine processing.

โš ๏ธ Note: When using GCam on some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12) the night mode or portrait shooting may not work โ€“ check compatibility on forums 4PDA.

๐Ÿ’ก

To reduce the noise in the photo, shoot in the format RAW (In Pro mode, and then you can process it in Lightroom Mobile, which gives you more control over exposure and colors.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cameras

๐Ÿ”น Why Xiaomi 14 Ultra is not officially sold in Russia?
Xiaomi 14 Ultra is not certified for the Russian market due to sanctions restrictions. It can be bought from official resellers (for example, MegaFon or Svyaznoy). On AliExpress (global version with a warranty of 1 year); In Chinese stores (for example, TradingShenZhen), but without Russian firmware. Check the support of the Russian LTE-Band 3, 7, 20 before purchase!
๐Ÿ”น Which Xiaomi Model Is Better for TikTok and Instagram?
For social networks optimal: POCO F6 Pro, thanks. 8K-Video and Dolby Vision (colors like in clips). Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro - the best selfies and portrait mode for storis.Redmi Note 13 Pro+ โ€” budget option with good detail. 1080p@60fps Stabilization enabled is the ideal format for TikTok.
๐Ÿ”น How to check Xiaomiโ€™s camera before buying?
In the store or when you receive a package: Take a photo at maximum zoom โ€” check for no blur. Take a video with fast movement (for example, wave your hand) โ€” evaluate stabilization. Take a picture of a dark corner โ€” there should be no strong noise. Check autofocus: move the camera from a close object to a distant one โ€” focus should be smooth. If any item causes questions, refuse to buy.
๐Ÿ”น Can I get a camera from Xiaomi? 13T Pro on the Redmi Note 12?
No, it's technically impossible. Camera modules are integrated into the motherboard, and even if you physically replace the sensor, you say, "Software processing won't work (drivers are not compatible). No support." OIS Artifacts can arise from discrepancies in the connectors, and the only way to improve the camera is to use external lenses (like Moment) or software techniques (Gam).
๐Ÿ”น Why Xiaomi photos are blurry?
Main causes: ๐Ÿ“ต Dirty lenses โ€“ wipe the lens with a microfiber. ๐Ÿคณ Trembling hands โ€“ use a timer or tripod. ๐ŸŒ“ Low lighting โ€“ turn on Night Mode or use an external flash. โš™๏ธ Incorrect settings โ€“ install in Pro mode ISO not more than 800. ๐Ÿ”„ Software bugs โ€“ Update your firmware or reset your camera settings (Settings) โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Camera. โ†’ Warehouse โ†’ Clear the data).