Xiaomi’s smartphones have many sensors that users don’t even know exist, one of which is a barometer, or atmospheric pressure sensor. It's built into most of the brand's flagship and some mid-budget models, but is rarely mentioned in official specs.Meanwhile, this tiny sensor is responsible for the accuracy of flooring in buildings, improves performance. GPS-navigation and even helps to predict the weather.
Many people mistakenly believe that the barometer in the phone is a useless feature that only takes up space on the board, but in fact it is actively used by MIUI system services, third-party fitness apps and even emergency alert services. For example, when pressure drops sharply (which may indicate an approaching storm), some Xiaomi models automatically send a notification about possible weather deterioration. But how exactly this sensor works, what models it is in, and can it be turned off?
What is a barometer in a smartphone and why you need it
The barometer at Xiaomi is a microscopic atmospheric pressure sensor that measures the force of air exposure on the surface. Unlike the mechanical barometers used in weather stations, smartphones are used in the field of air pressure. MEMS-Micro-electro-mechanical systems are compact, energy efficient and capable of detecting the slightest pressure fluctuations with precision. ±1 gPa.
The main tasks of the barometer in the phone:
- 📍 Improvement GPS-navigation: combined with accelerometer and gyroscope data, the sensor helps to determine vertical position (floor in the building) with an error of up to 1-2 meters.
- 🌦️ Weather forecasting: High pressure surges often precede rain or thunderstorms, and apps like Mi Weather or AccuWeather use this data to make local predictions.
- 🏃 Fitness tracker: In running or mountaineering applications (such as Strava or Mi Fitness), the barometer helps calculate height gain, a key parameter for assessing load.
- ⚠️ Emergency Notifications: In some regions (such as Japan or the United States), barometer-based smartphones can alert you to a tsunami or tornado by analyzing pressure.
Interestingly, the sensor works even when the phone is asleep, and the data from the barometer is processed by low-level MIUI services, so its power consumption is minimal, about 0.1-0.3% of the charge per day.
What Xiaomi models have a barometer: the full list
Not all Xiaomi smartphones have a pressure sensor, which is typically found in flagship and premium mid-budget models where accuracy in navigation and fitness is important. Below is the current list of barometer devices (as of 2026):
| Series | Barometer models | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 | 14, 14 Pro, 14 Ultra | Bosch BMP388 sensor (more precisely 10% than in the 13th series) |
| Xiaomi 13 | 13, 13 Pro, 13 Ultra, 13T, 13T Pro | There's no barometer at 13 Lite. |
| Redmi K | K60, K60 Pro, K60 Ultra, K50 Gaming | The K50 Pro does not have a sensor. |
| POCO | F5 Pro, F4 GT | Only in the pro versions. |
| Mix | Mix 4, Mix Fold 2/3 | In foldable models, the sensor is calibrated automatically when deployed. |
To check for a barometer in your model, you can:
- Install the AIDA64 or CPU-Z application and open the Sensors section.
- Enter the request “barometer” in the search for MIUI settings – if there is a sensor, the item “Pressure Calibration” will appear.
- Try running a mountaineering app (like AltiTrack) – it will give you an error if there is no barometer.
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If your model does not have a barometer, but you need an altimeter function, use it. GPS-Accuracy will be worse (accuracy up to 10-15 meters), but for tracking it is acceptable.
How the barometer improves GPS and maps
One of the key uses of the Xiaomi barometer is to help with vertical navigation, because standard GPS only detects coordinates in two planes (latitude/longitude), and calculates altitude from satellites with an error of 20 to 30 meters, while the barometer detects pressure that changes with altitude: climbing 8 to 10 meters up reduces pressure by about 1 hPa.
How this works in practice:
- 📱 In Google Maps or Yandex.Navigator when driving on a multi-storey parking smartphone more accurately determines what level you are at.
- 🚗 In taxi apps (such as Yango or Didi), a barometer helps the driver find a passenger on the correct floor of an underground passageway.
- ✈️ In flight simulators or drone applications (like) DJI Fly) sensor used to stabilize height.
Example: If you're in a mall trying to make a route to a 3rd floor store, a smartphone with a barometer will show you stairs/elevators leading to that floor, not to the next floor. Without a pressure sensor, the navigator can "lost" 1-2 levels.
How to disable the use of a GPS barometer?
Can you use the Xiaomi barometer as a weather station?
Technically, yes, but with reservations, the sensor in the smartphone is not designed for professional meteorological measurements, but can give approximate forecasts, for example, if the pressure drops by 5-7 hPa in 2-3 hours, the probability of rain is high.
- 🌡️ Barometer & Altimeter (shows graphs of pressure and altitude).
- ☁️ Weather Signal (collects data from user sensors for local forecasts).
- 📊 PressureNet (Analyzes Pressure Trends in Your Area).
Important: for accurate readings, you need to calibrate the barometer. In applications, there is a function "Set sea level pressure" - enter the current pressure for your region (you can take from the Gismeteo or Windy site). Without calibration, the error can reach ± 10 hPa.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t rely on your smartphone barometer for critical decisions (e.g. when planning a mountain hike) and your data may be distorted by the use of a smartphone barometer:
- 🔋 Overheating of the phone (the sensor is sensitive to temperature).
- 🚪 Acute pressure drops in elevators or subway.
- 📲 Pollution of the sensor microhole (dust, moisture).
How to check the work of the barometer: step-by-step instructions
If you doubt that the sensor is working correctly, follow the following steps:
Test in the engineering menu | Check through AIDA64| Manual Calibration |Comparison with standards-->
1. Engineering menu (does not work on all models):
Enter the dialer in ##4636##
Go to Sensor Test → Pressure Sensor.
The graph should show the current pressure (e.g., ~1013 hPa at sea level).Annex AIDA64:
Open the Sensors section → find the Barometer bar. If the values are updated when you change height (for example, lift your phone 2-3 floors up), the sensor is intact.
Manual calibration:
If the readings "float", recalibrate:
- Install the Barometer Calibrator app.
- Enter the reference pressure for your area (you can find out on rp5.ru).
- Press Calibrate and wait 10-15 seconds.
Comparison with standards:
Place your phone next to your home barometer (if any) or compare it to the nearest weather station on Ogimet. ±3 gPa.
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If the sensor still shows the wrong values after calibration, it may be damaged, and then only the replacement of the motherboard at the service center will help.
Frequent Barometer Problems and How to Fix Them
Xiaomi users sometimes experience a pressure sensor malfunction, and here are the typical symptoms and solutions:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The evidence is "frozen" on one meaning. | Pollution of the sensor microhole | Blow the hole (near the speaker) with compressed air or a soft brush |
| Pressure jumps chaotically | Interference from magnetic cover or accessories | Remove the case and restart the phone. |
| Apps don't see the sensor | Access is disabled in settings | Include resolution for sensors in Settings → Privacy → Sensors |
| Elevation error >10 metres | Incorrect calibration | Update the firmware or calibrate manually (see section above) |
If none of the methods worked, check the integrity of the sensor using the EngineerMode test.
- Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect the phone to the PC and enter the command in ADB: adb shell dumpsys sensorservice In the output, find the pressure string - if it is not, the sensor is faulty.
⚠️ Warning: Don't try to disassemble the phone to clean the sensor yourself! In most Xiaomi models, the barometer is soldered into the motherboard and protected by a sealed case. Unprofessional intervention will lead to a loss of warranty.
Alternatives to the barometer: what to do if it is not on the phone
If your Xiaomi model doesn’t have a pressure sensor, there are a few ways to compensate for its lack:
- 📡 GPS-Altimeter: Apps like Google Earth or Gaia GPS They calculate altitude from satellite data (±10-15 m), but enough for tracking.
- 🌐 Online Services: Windy or Ventusky sites show pressure in your region with geolocation-based.
- 📱 External sensors: Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro smartwatch or Mi Band 8 fitness bracelets have a built-in barometer and can transfer data to the phone.
- 🔧 Modules for DIY: If you like experiments, you can connect an external sensor (for example, the device is not a sensor, BME280) through USB-C Bluetooth.
For mountain hikes or mountaineering, it is better to use specialized devices, for example, Garmin inReach or Suunto 9. Their barometers are 5-10 times more accurate than smartphones and are resistant to extreme conditions.
If you need a barometer solely for weather forecasting, just install the widget 1Weather or Overdrop – they will Pull data from weather stations, not from the built-in sensor.