Xiaomi Mi 11 is an amazing example of how macro cameras should work

Xiaomi Mi 11 is an amazing instance of how macro cameras should piece of work

(Image credit: Future)

I've been thinking about the Xiaomi Mi 11 a lot since I reviewed this new flagship phone. The reason? It might exist the outset smartphone to become macro photography correct — something that a lot of other phone makers take struggled with.

Macro lenses ofttimes appear to be an afterthought feature tacked on to phones that tin can't afford more sophisticated cameras. This isn't the case with the Mi 11 though — its macro lens captures good-looking close-ups without the usual problems nosotros've encounter on other phones that feature a dedicated macro camera.

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What probably helps the Mi xi is that its macro camera is more accurately a "telemacro" camera, which is short for telephoto macro. The Mi 11's lens allows you lot to take close-up shots from further away, which is useful for keeping a subject well-lit, and non scaring off any bug or other wild fauna you're hoping to photograph.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Macro Lens — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Nearly phone macro cameras want you inside ii inches of the subject, which is often then close that you can't help but cast a shadow on your field of study or cake its low-cal entirely. In dissimilarity, the Mi 11 is comfortable taking macro shots from about 4 inches away — not that large a gap in size, but a huge difference when it comes to framing a shot.

The Xiaomi Mi 11'southward macro photographic camera uses a 5MP sensor. When you're taking photos of such small objects, you need all the megapixels you can go to show off the detail and make sure the paradigm is really brilliant enough to appreciate. A lot of phones with macro cameras opt instead for 2MP sensors, which makes the problems we've already seen even more than obvious.

Xiamoi Mi 11 macro photographic camera in action

Put together, the better sensor and wider range of the Mi eleven's macro photographic camera results in some first-class shots, such as this moving picture of a coffee bean. Although the far border of the edible bean isn't in focus, the texture of the closer side and the papery eye is shown in first-class detail.

Xiaomi Mi 11 macro: coffee bean — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Or this image of my desktop buddy, Smithson the Lion. Yous tin can see the loose bits of fur, even the texture of his beady eyes, in stunning detail. I tried to go an equivalent shot with the Mi 11'south 108MP main photographic camera, but at this shut-upwards altitude, the sensor was unable to focus. Sometimes y'all tin can get better shots on a telephone'south chief camera than on its dedicated macro camera, but that's non the example here.

Xiaomi Mi 11 macro: toy lion — (Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

I of the classic macro shot subjects is a flower, fifty-fifty if most phones I've tested struggle with such shots. Even on a professional camera, it's difficult to become the focus correct to capture all of the institute'due south caput.

Xiaomi Mi 11 macro: flower — (Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

The Mi 11 does better than most here, only it's still not quite got all of the flower in focus. This is partially a limit that occurs with fifty-fifty proper macro photography though, as a outcome of the limited depth of field needed to focus on minor objects.

Xiamoi Mi 11 macro camera outlook

While we've been critical about macro cameras on previously reviewed phones, we've recognized that macro cameras could be a valuable improver to a phone'due south photographic camera array — if they were able to capture decent photos. Xiaomi has done well in proving how phones are capable of providing worthwhile macro cameras.

I hope that other phone companies have lessons from what the Mi 11 can practise, and that we'll see telemacro cameras like this announced on other flagship phones before they trickle down to the mid-range and budget devices that gave macro phone photography a bad name in the starting time place.

Richard is a Tom's Guide staff writer based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, gaming, audio and whatever else people need advice on. He'due south also written for WIRED U.Grand., The Register and Artistic Bloq. When non at piece of work, he's likely thinking well-nigh how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.