Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro has become one of the most popular devices in the mid-price segment thanks to its balanced characteristics and impressive camera. But how good is its photo module in practice? In this article we will look at technical parameters of the camera, we will analyze the quality of images in different conditions and give practical advice on settings for perfect photos.

Many users note that Redmi Note 9 Pro It takes bright and detailed photos during the day, but how does it cope with night photography or portraits? We tested all modes including AI camera, Night mode And Professional modeto give an objective assessment. You will also learn how to bypass the limitations of standard software using third-party applications and manual settings.

Redmi Note 9 Pro camera specifications

Main module Redmi Note 9 Pro equipped four cameras, each of which plays its own role:

  • 📸 Main camera: 48 MP (Samsung GM2), aperture f/1.79, pixel size 0.8 µm. Supports pixel binning to improve detail.
  • 🌃 Wide angle camera: 8 MP, viewing angle 119°, aperture f/2.2. Useful for photographing architecture and landscapes.
  • 🔍 Macro lens: 5 MP, focal length 2–10 cm. Allows you to take pictures of small objects with high detail.
  • 📏 Depth sensor: 2 MP. Used to create a bokeh effect in portrait mode.

Front camera – 16 MP with aperture f/2.48, supports HDR And Portrait mode. Video recording is possible in resolutions up to 4K@30fps on the main camera and 1080p@30fps on the front. It is important to note that video stabilization is implemented in software (EIS), not hardware.

Parameter Main camera Front camera
Resolution 48 MP (12 MP in binning mode) 16 MP
Aperture f/1.79 f/2.48
Stabilization EIS (software) No
Max. video resolution 4K@30fps 1080p@30fps

A unique feature of Redmi Note 9 Pro is support for Document mode in the standard camera application, which automatically straightens the perspective when shooting text or tables. This is useful for students and office workers who often take photographs of documents.

📊 How often do you use a macro lens on your smartphone?
  • Constantly
  • Sometimes
  • Nearby
  • Never

Photo quality during the day vs at night: a fair comparison

During the daytime Redmi Note 9 Pro demonstrates excellent results thanks to good color rendition and high detail. AI camera automatically recognizes scenes (sky, grass, food) and adjusts the white balance. However, in bright sunshine they may appear overexposure in light areas - this is a minus of the absence HDR+ in automatic mode.

Night photography is the weak point of most budget smartphones, and Redmi Note 9 Pro no exception. Without Night mode the photos come out noisy and dark. Enabling this mode significantly improves the result, but requires holding the smartphone motionless for 2–4 seconds. Example:

  • 🌆 Cityscape at night: Night mode saves the detail of buildings, but the colors become less natural.
  • 🌌 starry sky: Almost impossible to capture without a tripod - shutter speed is limited to 1/4 second.
  • 🍽️ Eating in dim lighting: Night mode makes photos brighter, but there is noticeable noise in dark areas.
⚠️ Attention: When shooting in Night mode Avoid moving objects - they will turn out blurry due to the long shutter speed. It is better to use this mode for static scenes.
How to enable manual ISO and shutter settings?

Go to Professional mode (Pro) in the camera app. Here you can manually set ISO (from 100 to 3200), shutter speed (up to 32 seconds) and white balance. For night photography, we recommend ISO 800–1600 and a shutter speed of 1–4 seconds (you need a tripod!).

Portrait mode and bokeh effect: how it works and how to improve it

Depth sensor Redmi Note 9 Pro helps create a background blur effect (bokeh), but its quality depends on the lighting and distance to the object. In ideal conditions (good light, clear separation of subject and background), portraits turn out professional. However, in low light or complex background textures (for example, tree branches), the contours of the object may become “torn.”

To improve portraits:

Make sure the subject is 1-2 meters away from the camera

Use natural light (avoid contrasting shadows)

Turn on AI camera for automatic skin correction

After shooting, edit the background blur in applications like Snapseed or Lightroom-->

Comparison with competitors shows that Redmi Note 9 Pro inferior to flagships in portrait photography (for example, iPhone 12 or Samsung Galaxy S21), but outperforms many budget models due to the presence of a separate depth sensor. The main disadvantage is incorrect work with hair and small parts, which are often “eaten up” by blur.

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For indoor portraits, use an additional light source (such as a table lamp) to the side of the subject. This will create three-dimensional shadows and improve the separation of the subject and background.

Video shooting: possibilities and limitations

Redmi Note 9 Pro supports video recording in resolution 4K@30fps, but with reservations:

  • 🎥 Stabilization: Software (EIS) only works in 1080p. B 4K The shaking of the hand is noticeable.
  • 🔊 Sound: The microphone records wind noise when shooting outdoors. For clear sound you will need an external microphone.
  • 🌡️ Overheating: When recording for a long time 4K (more than 10 minutes) the smartphone may overheat and reduce resolution.

For best results:

  1. Shoot in 1080p@60fps for smooth video with stabilization.
  2. Use a tripod or makeshift support (such as stacked books).
  3. Turn on HDR in the video settings for better elaboration of shadows and highlights.
⚠️ Attention: When shooting video in 4K The zoom option is disabled - this is a hardware limitation. If you need zoom, lower the resolution to 1080p.

Hidden camera functions: what Redmi Note 9 Pro can do

Many users are unaware of the useful features of the standard camera application:

  • 📄 Document mode: Automatically adjusts perspective when shooting text. Useful for scanning pages of books or contracts.
  • 🎭 Live filters: Apply makeup, change hair color or add effects in real time (available in front camera).
  • 🔄 Cloning: Allows you to take multiple photos at different exposures and combine them into one photo (similar to HDR, but with manual control).
  • 📐 Ruler: In mode Professional displays a grid to enforce the rule of thirds.

To activate hidden features:

  1. Open the application Camera.
  2. Swipe left on the screen to open the list of modes.
  3. Click on the three dots () in the upper right corner and select Settings.
  4. Enable options Grid, Shutter sound or Save settings.
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Clone mode is useful for capturing moving subjects (such as waterfalls or cars). The smartphone takes a series of photos and combines them, creating a motion blur effect.

How to Improve Your Camera Using Third-Party Apps

Standard software Redmi Note 9 Pro limited in settings, but third-party applications will help you unlock the potential of the camera:

  • 📱 Google Camera (GCam): Portable versions of this application add HDR+, Night mode And Astrophotography. For Redmi Note 9 Pro modifications from BSG or Urnyx05.
  • 🎞️ Open Camera: Free app with manual settings for ISO, shutter speed and white balance. Supports shooting in RAW.
  • 🖼️ Snapseed: Powerful editor for photo post-processing (color correction, noise removal, selective blur).

Installation GCam Requires bootloader unlocking and activation Camera2 API. Instructions:

1. Скачайте APK-файл GCam для Redmi Note 9 Pro (например, версию от BSG).

2. Установите файл, разрешив установку из неизвестных источников.

3. В настройках GCam включите:

- HDR+ Enhanced

- Night Sight (для ночной съёмки)

- AWB (автобаланс белого) на "Cloudy"

⚠️ Attention: Some versions of GCam may cause the smartphone to overheat during prolonged shooting. Monitor the temperature of the device and take breaks.

Comparison with competitors: who takes better pictures?

In its price segment (15–20 thousand rubles) Redmi Note 9 Pro competes with Samsung Galaxy M31, Realme 7 Pro And Poco X3 NFC. Let's compare their cameras:

Model Main camera Night mode Video 4K Portrait mode
Redmi Note 9 Pro 48 MP, f/1.79 Yes (2–4 sec) Yes (without stabilization) 2 MP depth sensor
Samsung Galaxy M31 64 MP, f/1.8 Yes (up to 5 sec) Yes (EIS in 1080p) Software blur
Realme 7 Pro 64 MP, f/1.8 Yes (up to 3 sec) Yes (EIS in 4K) 2 MP depth sensor
Poco X3 NFC 64 MP, f/1.89 Yes (up to 4 sec) Yes (without stabilization) Software blur

Redmi Note 9 Pro loses to competitors in the resolution of the main camera (48 MP vs 64 MP), but wins due to physical depth sensor, which improves portrait photography. Leading in night shots Samsung Galaxy M31 thanks to a longer shutter speed, and video stabilization - Realme 7 Pro.

If it is critical for you detailing, choose models with a 64 MP camera. If more important portraits and versatilityRedmi Note 9 Pro remains a good option.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions about the Redmi Note 9 Pro camera

🔍 Why do photos turn out blurry when zoomed in?

B Redmi Note 9 Pro There is no optical zoom. When digital zooming, quality drops due to pixel interpolation. For macro photography, use a separate macro lens (5 MP), approaching the object by 2–10 cm. In standard mode, do not zoom by more than 2× - then strong artifacts begin.

🌃 How to shoot a starry sky on Redmi Note 9 Pro?

The standard camera does not support astrophotography, but it can be used GCam with module Astrophotography:

  1. Mount your smartphone on a tripod.
  2. Enable GCam mode Night Sight.
  3. Point the camera at the sky and wait for the inscription "Astrophotography mode activated".
  4. The shooting will take 1–4 minutes (the smartphone will take a series of pictures and combine them).

Without a tripod, the stars will turn out blurry due to hand shake.

📸 Is it possible to shoot in RAW on Redmi Note 9 Pro?

Yes, but only through third-party applications like Open Camera or Lightroom Mobile. Xiaomi stock software does not support saving to RAW. Files .DNG occupy ~20–30 MB and require post-processing, but provide more editing options (for example, restoration of highlights).

🔋 Why does the camera get very hot when shooting for a long time?

Overheating caused by processor operation Snapdragon 720G, which processes video into 4K or a series of photographs in Night mode. To avoid overheating:

  • Record videos no longer than 10 minutes at a time.
  • Use a heat-sinking case or remove it while shooting.
  • Close background applications before launching the camera.

If your smartphone overheats, let it cool for 5-10 minutes before continuing to shoot.

🛠️ How to reset camera settings to factory settings?

Go to Settings → Applications → Camera → Storage and press Clear data. Alternatively:

  1. Open the application Camera.
  2. Tap on three dots () in the upper right corner.
  3. Select Settings → Restore default settings.

This will return all parameters (resolution, grid, shutter sound) to standard values.