Choosing a Xiaomi Phone with good camera on Aliexpress: What to consider

Xiaomi has been in the mobile market for more than a decade and has established itself as a strong competitor. With its impressive designs, powerful performance, and affordable prices, the company offers consumers an excellent cost-benefit ratio. The brand has evolved and grown over the years, making it a formidable competitor to established brands like Samsung and Apple.

The camera is one of the most important factors consumers consider when purchasing a product. Xiaomi has been working hard to improve its camera technology to compete in the mobile industry’s photographic competition. To compete with brands such as the iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S series, they have heavily invested in research and development.

Xiaomi has been able to produce mobile devices with cameras that rival those of its rivals thanks to these efforts. With high-resolution sensors and advanced features like night mode and portrait mode, Xiaomi smartphones have high-quality cameras, resulting in images that are stunning.

In the mobile world, the photographic competition is fierce, but Xiaomi has made significant investments in R&D and formed key partnerships to compete with the iPhone and the Galaxy S series from Samsung. With these efforts, Xiaomi is now a serious contender on the market and a great option for customers looking for a high-quality camera on their mobile devices.

Xiaomi offers a wide range of products, from budget-friendly smartphones to high-end flagship devices that cater to different segments of consumers. Customers can choose a Xiaomi device that suits their needs and budget, making it a popular brand worldwide.

As a result, Xiaomi has made great strides in the mobile industry in just over a decade. With its impressive designs, powerful performance, and affordable prices, Xiaomi has become a serious competitor to well-established brands such as Samsung and Apple.

Xiaomi is now a great option for customers who want a high-quality camera on their mobile device, as well as a brand that continues to innovate and evolve, keeping itself at the forefront of the mobile industry.

What to consider when choosing a Xiaomi Phone with a good Camera on Aliexpress

There are various considerations that must be taken into account when selecting a Xiaomi mobile with the optimal camera. Notably, the top-tier models stand out in this category but do not fret as you can discover a middle-range option that delivers impressive results at a more reasonable cost and without the requirement to invest a massive sum of money.

Most consumers examine the number of megapixels a camera sensor possesses and associate it as the primary aspect of the quality it provides, however, while it is a crucial characteristic, there are other considerations that you must pay attention to, such as the quantity and caliber of the lenses, the dimensions of the sensor, the technologies it incorporates the mobile processor, and even the RAM memory.

Below, we inform you of what you should ponder in each of these sections.

 

#1. Megapixel

A while back, camera manufacturers initiated a competition to determine which brand had the camera with the highest number of megapixels, leading consumers to believe that the quality of a photograph was solely dependent on the number of megapixels on the sensor. The truth is quite the opposite; while it is significant, the number of megapixels pertains to the physical dimensions of an image when printed, meaning that a sensor with more megapixels enables you to produce larger photographs.

However, with the advent of new technologies, other features have been introduced to cameras. Furthermore, advanced chipsets with superior components and more sophisticated Image Signal Processors (ISPs) can extract more from a sensor’s megapixels.

One of these new technologies is pixel binning. With this capability, smartphones that have large sensors, such as 108 or 200 megapixels, group their pixels together to form a larger one. This can be done in different configurations, such as 2×2 (combining four pixels into one) or 3×3 (combining nine pixels into 1).

Pixel binning has two major benefits. The first benefit is capturing a greater amount of light, resulting in photographs with improved contrast, sharpness, texture, and more realistic and vivid colors. The second benefit is in the final size and weight of the photographic film, which is optimized to be 12 megapixels instead of 108 or 200, thereby reducing the consumption of ROM memory and allowing for more files to be stored.

Of course, smartphones that have this type of sensor also have a high-resolution mode, which allows you to capture photos using all the pixels of the sensor. With this mode, it is possible to have a large image, which can be edited later without losing quality, however, in these cases, the advantages of pixel binning are not utilized.

 

#2. Lenses

Currently, Xiaomi smartphones with the finest cameras feature a minimum of three lenses in their primary system (rear camera).

Typically, the primary sensor (the one with the most megapixels) is accompanied by a wide-angle lens, and is supplemented by smaller sensors that may be behind an ultra-wide, macro, or telephoto lens, or designed to act as a depth sensor, which works in conjunction with the main camera to generate more precise results in portrait mode and produce a more natural bokeh effect.

A system with a primary camera of three elements or more provides users with greater flexibility when capturing images. However, it is not only important to consider this, it is also essential to examine the quality of the lenses.

The finest manufactured have seven elements or more.

#3. Processor

Currently, the chipset is one of the most critical components for the camera. In addition to ensuring the mobile’s performance in terms of speed and multitasking, the chipset encompasses vital elements for the camera, such as the neural processor and the ISP.

The neural processor is responsible for artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks, which in the camera translate to detecting scenes by recognizing different elements, such as food, the sky, people’s faces, and proximity to the subjects, among others, in order to instantly suggest a specific camera mode such as “food” or “portrait” or make any required adjustments so that everything comes out with a good balance of color and contrast.

The ISP (image signal processor) is responsible for working with the photographs once they were captured to process them and provide a better outcome.

These types of technologies are highly advanced in the latest generation high-end chipsets and have a good level in the mid-range ones. Qualcomm, one of the leading manufacturers of processors in the industry, has the Snapdragon 8 family aimed at the high-end and the 600 and 700 series for the medium and medium-high ranges.

MediaTek, on the other hand, offers these technologies in the mid-range Helio G series and in the high-end family of Dimensity processors.

Xiaomi smartphones with the finest camera have Snapdragon 8, series processors.

#4. RAM

In conjunction with the processor, RAM memory plays a crucial role in the speed and smoothness of a mobile device. The amount of RAM memory works closely with the chipset to process photographs captured with the smartphone’s camera quickly, almost instantly.

Mid-high-end and high-end cell phones typically have a minimum of 8GB of RAM, which is more than enough to execute these tasks swiftly and without delays. However, Xiaomi smartphones with the finest cameras usually boast 12GB of RAM to provide more fluidity.

RAM memory also impacts the video capabilities of the mobile, which we will discuss further below.

#5. Video Recording

Xiaomi smartphones with the finest cameras offer several options for video recording. The standout feature on some models is the capability to capture video in 8K resolution at 24 frames per second (fps) and with HDR certification. Although it is typically more favorable to record in 4K resolution, which can be achieved at 30 and 60 fps and with HDR10+.

As if that were not enough, they can also capture video in Full HD resolution providing more options for, for instance, the slow motion function, which can reach up to 960 fps, which is equivalent to having a high-speed camera in hand.

In this manner, Xiaomi smartphones with the finest cameras not only provide photographic versatility, they also have a plethora of options for video enthusiasts.

#6. ROM Memory

ROM memory or storage capacity is a critical aspect for photography and videography enthusiasts. Although this component does not directly impact the behavior or performance of the camera, it is crucial to have a sufficient amount of ROM to store all the photos and videos that are captured with the smartphone.

Currently, most Xiaomi smartphones with a good camera have a minimum of 128GB of storage capacity, which can be more than enough to store a large number of photos, however, this depends on the user’s habits, the number of applications downloaded to the smartphone and the usage pattern.

In this regard, the best recommendation for those who, in addition to taking pictures and recording videos, download many applications is to consider a larger amount of ROM memory, which in the case of Xiaomi smartphones with the finest cameras can reach 256GB or even 512GB.

#7. Partnership with Leica

In mid-2022, Xiaomi announced a collaboration agreement with Leica, the renowned German manufacturer of photographic optics with vast experience and an outstanding reputation. For many years, Leica co-developed the cameras for high-end Huawei smartphones, such as the P series and the Mate series, however, the agreement with the Chinese brand also ended in 2022.

The first outcome of the union of Xiaomi with Leica is the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, a mobile device that was presented in July 2022 with an excellent camera consisting of three lenses: one with a 50.3-megapixel primary sensor and two additional 48-megapixel lenses for the ultra-wide angle and telephoto lenses. Finally, this system has a fourth sensor, a 3D TOF dedicated to measuring depth with great precision, which greatly supports portrait mode and its ability to focus in low light conditions.

This mobile was available for purchase only in China, but it is expected that the association between Leica and Xiaomi will be closer and will be reflected in products that reach the rest of the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when choosing a Xiaomi phone with a good camera on Aliexpress, there are several factors to consider. The number of megapixels on the sensor is important, but it is not the only determining factor in the quality of a photograph. Other technologies, such as pixel binning, can greatly improve the performance of the camera. The chipset, RAM memory, and storage capacity also play a crucial role in the overall performance of the camera.

Furthermore, Xiaomi has recently announced a collaboration with Leica, the renowned German manufacturer of photographic optics. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra, the first product of this collaboration, is a great example of the potential of this partnership.

In short, when choosing a Xiaomi phone with a good camera on Aliexpress, it’s important to consider the megapixels, processor, RAM, storage capacity and the technologies used in the camera. Also, you can check if it has a collaboration with a reputable company such as Leica. By taking into account these factors, you will be able to select a Xiaomi phone that will meet your needs and exceed your expectations for a great camera experience.

In conclusion, when choosing a Xiaomi phone with a good camera on Aliexpress, there are several factors to consider. The number of megapixels on the sensor is important, but it is not the only determining factor in the quality of a photograph. Other technologies, such as pixel binning, can greatly improve the performance of the camera. The chipset, RAM memory, and storage capacity also play a crucial role in the overall performance of the camera.

Furthermore, Xiaomi has recently announced a collaboration with Leica, the renowned German manufacturer of photographic optics. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra, the first product of this collaboration, is a great example of the potential of this partnership.

In short, when choosing a Xiaomi phone with a good camera on Aliexpress, it’s important to consider the megapixels, processor, RAM, storage capacity and the technologies used in the camera. Also, you can check if it has a collaboration with a reputable company such as Leica. By taking into account these factors, you will be able to select a Xiaomi phone that will meet your needs and exceed your expectations for a great camera experience.