Which Xiaomi 2021 model has the best camera: an honest review of user reviews

Why the camera in the smartphone Xiaomi 2021 became a revolutionary

2021 was a watershed for photography on Xiaomi smartphones, with the company first unveiling models that not only caught up with Samsung and Apple’s flagships, but also surpassed them in some aspects. The main breakthrough was the Mi 11 Ultra, the brand’s first smartphone with a professional camera, developed with Leica (although there was no official partnership at the time). POCO The real "killers" were hidden?

In this article, we will analyze real user reviews, the results of independent tests (DXOMark, GSMArena, Ferra) and compare the key models of Xiaomi 2021 according to 10 criteria: from detailed images in low light conditions to video stabilization in the video. 8K. You'll learn which smartphone to choose for portrait photography, macro, night photography - and where the manufacturer still lags behind the competition.Spoiler: even the top model of 2021 loses to modern flagships 2023-2026 in processing HDR, It is still relevant for mobile photography enthusiasts.

Top.-5 Xiaomi models 2021 Quality of the camera: a short rating

According to aggregated data from reviews on Yandex.Market, AliExpress and thematic forums (4PDA, Mi Community), the top five Xiaomi camera phones of 2021 looks like this:

1. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is the absolute leader in all respects, except for the price.
2. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is a lightweight version of Ultra with the same sensors, but without a secondary screen.
3. Redmi K40 Pro+ is the best option in terms of price/quality ratio.
4. Xiaomi Mi 11 – Balance between performance and photography
5. POCO F3 is a budget surprise with a camera from the Mi 10T.

Interestingly, the Mi 11 Lite and Redmi Note 10 Pro, despite marketing promises, did not make the top because of poor processing of images in automatic mode. But the K40 Pro+ surprised: its 108-megapixel sensor Samsung HM2 paired with the Snapdragon 888 processor showed results comparable to the flagships for half the price.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: King of Photography 2021

The Mi 11 Ultra is not just a smartphone, but Xiaomi’s bid for the title of leader in mobile photography, and the model received a triple module with a resolution of 50 + 48 + 48 MP, where each sensor is responsible for its task:

• 📸 Main camera: Sony IMX766 (50 MPP, 1/1.12") optically stabilized and aperture f/1.95.
• 🔍 Periscopic telephoto lens: 48 MP with 5× optical and 120× digital zooming.
• 🌌 Ultra-wide angle: 48 MP (128)°) macro-focus.

According to the results of tests DXOMark (143 points), Mi 11 Ultra beat the iPhone 12 Pro Max (138 points) and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (140 points) thanks to:

• 🌃 Best Night Shooting among Android-smartphones (without Artifacts and Noise).
• 🎥 Video 8K with stabilization not inferior to the gimbals.
• 🖼️ Details in mode 10× Zoom (competitors have already given a blur of 5)×).

However, in the reviews, users note two critical shortcomings:

⚠️ Warning: The secondary screen on the back (for selfies with the main camera) quickly scratches and collects prints. Many owners have taped it with protective film, but this spoiled the design.

⚠️ Attention: Algorithms HDR Sometimes they would cook the sky in daytime pictures, leaving the ground too dark, and the problem was solved by manually adjusting the exposure.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs Mi 11 Ultra: Should you pay more?

On paper, the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra are identical: the same 50+48+48 MP, the same Snapdragon 888 processor.

3 key differences that make Ultra the best choice for photographers:

1. Periscopic zoom: In Pro, the telephoto lens is ordinary (without a periscope), so the quality is 5× zoom worse by 2 times.
2. Screen on the back: Allows you to take a selfie with the main camera (50 MP vs. 20 MP at the frontal).
3. More advanced stabilization: Ultra uses a hybrid system (optics + software), whereas Pro uses software only.

But there is a downside: the Mi 11 Pro is 30% lighter (208 g vs. 234 g) and thinner (8.5 mm vs. 8.4 mm — but with a more ergonomic body).If you don’t need zoom and a secondary screen, overpaying for the Ultra makes no sense, especially since in 2021 the price difference between the models reached 20,000 rubles.

Needs zoom over 3.×? → Ultra

Lightness and compactness are important? → Pro

You take a lot of selfies? → Ultra

Budget limited? → Pro

Planning to shoot a video. 8K? → Ultra-->

Redmi K40 Pro+: hidden flagship with a camera for half the price

The Redmi K40 Pro+ is a Mi 11 in a budget case, but with a camera that is not inferior to the flagships.The main advantage of the model is the Samsung HM2 sensor (108 MP, 1/1.52) with Nonapixel technology (combining 9 pixels into 1 for better sensitivity).

• 🌅 Natural colors without excessive saturation (unlike the color of the color) POCO F3, blue-painted).
• 📷 Fast autofocus thanks to laser sensor (not found in cheaper Redmi Note 10 Pro).
• 💰 Price: in 2021, the model was worth ~40,000 rubles (vs 80,000 for Mi 11 Ultra).

But there are pitfalls. First, there's no optical stabilization -- you get jiggy videos on the go. Second, the ultra-wide angle camera (8 MP) plays even the Mi 10T in detail. And thirdly:

⚠️ Attention: In the firmware of Redmi K40 Pro+ for Russia by default disabled mode 108 MP. To activate it, you need to manually switch the resolution in the camera settings (Settings) → Permission → 108 MP).

In a blind test on the 4PDA forum, 65 percent of users were unable to distinguish between a K40 Pro+ photo and a Mi 11 photo in daytime, the difference being only seen when shooting at night or in zoom mode.

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To improve nighttime shooting on the Redmi K40 Pro+, install the GCam (Google Camera) configurable for the Samsung HM2. Download celsoazevedo.com (look for a version from BSG or Shamim).

Comparison with competitors: where Xiaomi is losing?

Despite the progress, Xiaomi cameras in 2021 were inferior to competitors in three key respects:

1. HDR processing: iPhone 12 Pro Max and Google Pixel 5 were better at contrasting scenes (like a sunset against a background of dark trees).
2. Skin color rendering: In portrait mode, the brand's smartphones added excess yellowness, while Samsung kept its natural tones.
3. Video Stabilization: Even the Mi 11 Ultra played the Galaxy S21 Ultra in smooth shooting when walking.

But Xiaomi had one undeniable advantage: the flexibility of settings, for example, only in the firmware MIUI could be manually adjusted:

• 🔘 Sharpening (degree of field) for each module separately.
• 🔘 Contrast in mode HDR.
• 🔘 White balance by Kelvin (from Kelvin) 2000K before 10000K).

This made Xiaomi smartphones ideal for enthusiasts willing to take the time to set up, but uncomfortable for those who want to just press a button and get a good shot.

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If you want an Instagram camera without manual settings, choose an iPhone or Samsung. If you’re willing to experiment with settings and install GCam, Xiaomi 2021 will be a powerful tool.

Reviews of real users: pros and cons

We analyzed more than 500 reviews on Yandex.Market, AliExpress and Mi Community (including negative ones) and identified the most common opinions:

Interestingly, POCO F3 owners often complained about the pink tint in the photos in artificial light, and it turned out that the problem was the firmware - after upgrading to MIUI 12.5.3, the defect disappeared.

Here is what Mi 11 Ultra user @PhotoMaster wrote on 4PDA:

"I bought Ultra after the iPhone 11 Pro. Pros: zoom, night shot, detail. Cons: sometimes you have to rework the pictures in Lightroom (especially portraits), but for that money - the best Android camera of 2021, the main thing is not to drop, screen repair costs 40k."

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions