[Camera improvements] New Redmi Note 7/7S update brings August security patch & pocket mode while Redmi 7A gets July patch

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on August 13, 2019) follows:

The entry level Redmi A series played a significant role in the uprising of Xiaomi as a brand, particularly in the segment that was once dominated by Samsung. The tradition started with 2016’s Redmi 4A, and it’s still going strong with Redmi 7A from this year.

Despite being dirt cheap, the Chinese OEM puts extra care while designing this series. The phones usually get one major Android version update. Redmi 5A experienced little hiccups, but the OTA distribution typically works fine.

2019’s Redmi 7A is worthy beneficiary in the family. The Snapdragon 439 powered handy little gizmo draws power from an enormous 4,000 mAh battery. Xiaomi cut down the fingerprint scanner to save some bucks, but you get face unlock with the help of a 5 MP selfie camera.

In terms of primary camera, Redmi 7A packs a giant-killer 12 MP IMX486 sensor. FYI, Xiaomi used the same module in Mi A2 – a phone known for its stellar camera performance. Although software optimizations plays a big role in photography, the camera sensor itself boosts the value of Redmi 7A.

Talking about software, the phone runs Android Pie based MIUI 10 out of the box. Like newer Xiaomi/Redmi phones, there exists different firmware builds intended for Europe, India and generic global. The OEM is now pushing July security patch as the first big update for Redmi 7A.

• Device: Redmi 7A
• Codename: pine
• Channel: India Stable
• Version: V10.2.6.0.PCMINXM
• Android: 9.0
  • Type: Recovery
    • Download: Link
    • MD5: ea58a33c69425feb9b3b2165ba2123c3
• Channel: Europe Stable
• Version: V10.2.5.0.PCMEUXM
• Android: 9.0
  • Type: Recovery
    • Download: Link
    • MD5: e25fa2a6083b4b9e7aef3c3924357e78

The size of the incremental OTA should be around 220 MB, but Redmi 7A owners can skip the waiting queue by directly update using the appropriate package from the above. The changelog is as follows:

System

Optimization: Updated Android Security Patch to July 2019. Increased system security.

Sounds pretty generic, doesn’t it? Well, yet another Redmi phone (or two) is now getting a new update with a significant number of changes. We are talking about Redmi Note 7 as well as Redmi Note 7S.

In case you need some background info, those two phones are fundamentally identical. The primary rear camera sensors are the differentiating factor between them. Xiaomi launched regular Redmi Note 7 in India, but later phased it out in favor of Note 7S.

The phone duo got July security patch in their last software update, paired with customizable lock screen clock and some fixes. The Indian variant is now blessed with August patch and lock screen pocket mode with a new OTA.

Interestingly, the global Redmi Note 7 units are still stuck with May security patch level. Enthusiast users can cross-flash the regional builds after unlocking the bootloader, but that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

• Device: Redmi Note 7 / Note 7S
• Codename: lavender
• Channel: India Stable
• Version: V10.3.7.0.PFGINXM
• Android: 9.0
  • Type: Recovery
    • Download: Link
    • MD5: 11bd4d8286afeaf1496fefc584fd5420

Credit goes to yshalsager and the Xiaomi Firmware Updater project for tracking the OTA update URLs.

August security update for the global variants of Redmi Note 7 is also out, carries build number MIUI 10.3.9.0 unlike the Indian variants that read MIUI 10.3.7.0.

According to the official announcement, the recent most update for Redmi 7A also enables portrait mode and AI scene detection in the stock camera app. Details here.

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