Best Instant Cameras
Top 5 on Amazon
Our #1 pick is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 13. Instax or Polaroid? We compared the 5 best instant cameras on Amazon, from the easy Instax Mini 13 to the hybrid Mini Evo and the classic Polaroid Now+.
How we picked: we shortlist by Amazon Best Seller rank and number of ratings, then compare published specs. We don't test these products hands-on.
By Jamilur Rahman, Founder & Editor · Updated October 15, 2026
- Owner reviews checked
- Features side by side
- Quick & easy compare
- Smarter purchase
The short answer
For most people, and especially as a gift, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 is the instant camera to buy. You twist the lens to turn it on, it sets the exposure and flash for you, and it prints a credit-card-size photo in about five seconds. It adds a 2 and 10 second self-timer and a camera angle accessory on the strap, and Instax Mini film is the cheapest and easiest instant film to find. It is the newer version of the Instax Mini 12, which is still sold, but the Mini 13 is the one shipped and sold by Amazon.
If you want to choose the best shot before you print, get the Instax Mini Evo: it is a digital camera with a built-in printer, so you only print the keepers, and it can print from your phone too. For the classic large square Polaroid look, the Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 shoots i-Type and 600 film and adds app control. Groups and landscapes look best on the Instax Wide 400, with prints twice the width of a Mini, and the Polaroid Go Gen 2 is the smallest real Polaroid you can carry.
Skip the Mini 13 if you care about creative control or want every shot to count: it has no screen, no manual settings and you can’t preview a photo, so a bad frame still costs you a print. Photo-hobby fans will get more from the Polaroid Now+ or the Mini Evo. How we picked: we compared the popular instant cameras on Amazon, read what owners say about prints, ease of use and film costs, and checked each listing’s specs side by side. We don’t claim hands-on tests. Checked October 2026.
Compare them side by side
Everything that matters, in one table. Swipe to see all 5.
| Product | Best Overall Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 Point-and-shoot instant camera |  Best Hybrid Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Hybrid digital + instant camera |  Best Polaroid Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 Classic Polaroid with app control |  Best for Groups Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 Wide-format instant camera |  Most Portable Polaroid Go Gen 2 Pocket-size Polaroid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore | 92 / 100 | 90 / 100 | 87 / 100 | 85 / 100 | 83 / 100 |
| Best for | Gifts, teens and anyone who wants it simple | Printing only the shots you like, and phone photos too | The classic Polaroid look and creative control | Group shots, parties and landscapes | Travel, bags and pockets |
| Typical price (checked October 15, 2026) | $70–$90 | $200–$240 | $130–$150 | $140–$170 | $70–$90 |
| Film | Instax Mini | Instax Mini | Polaroid i-Type and 600 | Instax Wide | Polaroid Go film only |
| Print size | 2" x 3" | 2" x 3" | Full-size Polaroid | Wide format (2x Mini width) | Mini square Polaroid |
| Power | 2 x AA (included) | See listing | USB-C rechargeable | See listing | Rechargeable (15 packs per charge) |
| Extras | Selfie mirror, close-up mode, 2/10 s timer | 10 lens x 10 film effects, microSD, Bluetooth app | Two-lens autofocus, Bluetooth app, tripod mount | Self-timer, close-up lens, 3 focus modes | Selfie mirror, double exposure, self-timer |
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BeastScore here is our overall rating out of 100, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Prices change daily, so tap "View on Amazon" for today's price. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Why each one made the list
What each pick does best, where it falls short, and the typical Amazon price when we checked.
- 1. Best Overall
Fujifilm Instax Mini 13
BeastScore 92 / 100Typically $70–$90 on Amazon (checked October 15, 2026)The Mini 13 is the easiest way into instant photos. Twist the lens and shoot: the listing says it handles exposure and flash on its own so photos aren’t washed out, and it prints a 2 x 3 inch Instax Mini photo in about five seconds, with the image developing over about 90 seconds. A selfie mirror and close-up mode with parallax correction help with selfies and near shots, and the new 2 and 10 second self-timer plus a camera angle accessory on the strap make group shots easier. It runs on two AA batteries, which are included. The limits are the small print and no manual control.
Pros- Fully automatic, nothing to learn
- Self-timer and angle accessory for group shots
- Uses the cheapest, most common instant film
Cons- Small 2 x 3 inch prints
- No screen or preview, so every miss costs a print
- Newer model with fewer owner reviews than the Mini 12
- 2. Best Hybrid
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
BeastScore 90 / 100Typically $200–$240 on Amazon (checked October 15, 2026)The Mini Evo fixes the biggest problem with instant cameras: wasted film. It is a hybrid, so you shoot digitally, check the photo, and only print the ones you want. The listing lists 10 lens and 10 film effects for 100 combinations, dual shutter buttons for portrait and landscape, and a selfie mirror. Photos save to a microSD card (not included), and the free app lets you shoot remotely and print photos from your phone over Bluetooth, so it doubles as a mini printer. Owners love the retro look and print quality. It costs more than twice the Mini 13, and some listings ship from third-party sellers.
Pros- Preview before printing, so no wasted film
- Doubles as a Bluetooth phone printer
- Lots of fun lens and film effects
Cons- More than twice the price of the Mini 13
- microSD card not included
- Less of the surprise that makes pure instant cameras fun
- 3. Best Polaroid
Polaroid Now+ Gen 3
BeastScore 87 / 100Typically $130–$150 on Amazon (checked October 15, 2026)If “instant camera” means the big white-frame Polaroid to you, this is the one. The Now+ shoots full-size i-Type and 600 film, and the listing describes upgraded two-lens autofocus and a built-in tripod mount. Connect it to the Polaroid app over Bluetooth and you unlock manual mode, aperture priority, remote shooting and more. The USB-C battery lasts over 15 film packs, so no AA batteries. Owners love the iconic look and the extra control. The catch is film: Polaroid packs cost much more per shot than Instax, and the results are softer and moodier, which some love and some don’t.
Pros- Big, iconic Polaroid prints
- App unlocks manual mode and aperture priority
- USB-C rechargeable battery
Cons- Polaroid film costs far more per photo than Instax
- Prints are softer and less predictable
- Camera only, film sold separately
- 4. Best for Groups
Fujifilm Instax Wide 400
BeastScore 85 / 100Typically $140–$170 on Amazon (checked October 15, 2026)When the photo is a whole table of friends, a Mini print is too small. The Wide 400 prints on Instax Wide film, about twice as wide as a Mini, so groups and landscapes fit without squeezing. The listing lists automatic exposure and flash control, a self-timer with an LED countdown, a camera angle accessory, and three focus modes: normal, landscape and macro with the included close-up lens. It comes with a shoulder strap and a one-year warranty. Owners like the big prints for weddings and parties. It is bulky, and this black version is newer on Amazon, so it has fewer reviews than the green one.
Pros- Wide prints for groups and scenery
- LED countdown self-timer
- Close-up lens and angle accessory included
Cons- Bulky, not a pocket camera
- Wide film costs more per shot than Mini
- No manual controls
- 5. Most Portable
Polaroid Go Gen 2
BeastScore 83 / 100Typically $70–$90 on Amazon (checked October 15, 2026)The Go Gen 2 is a real Polaroid shrunk down to fit almost any bag or big pocket. The listing calls it Polaroid’s smallest instant camera, and says Gen 2 improves image quality with a wider aperture range, a more precise light sensor and better exposure. You get a selfie mirror in the viewfinder, a double-exposure mode and a self-timer, and one charge shoots about 15 film packs. Owners love how easy it is to bring everywhere. Just know it only takes Polaroid Go film, which is smaller than regular Polaroid film and pricey per shot, and the tiny prints are best for keepsakes, not walls.
Pros- Small enough to bring everywhere
- Double exposure and self-timer built in
- Rechargeable battery, about 15 packs per charge
Cons- Only works with Polaroid Go film
- Small prints and higher film cost per shot
All 5 compared, in one look
See every pick on one chart, or tap one to put it head to head with Fujifilm Instax Mini 13. Ratings out of 10 are our estimates from published specs and Amazon owner reviews, not hands-on tests. Bigger shape = better.
- Ease of useFujifilm Instax Mini 13 · 9.8/10
- Print qualityFujifilm Instax Mini Evo · 9.2/10
- Print sizeFujifilm Instax Wide 400 · 9.6/10
- Creative controlPolaroid Now+ Gen 3 · 9.4/10
- Film costFujifilm Instax Mini Evo · 9.6/10
- ValueFujifilm Instax Mini 13 · 9.6/10
Fujifilm Instax Mini 13
The easiest, cheapest-to-run instant camera, and the best gift pick.
- Twist-to-shoot
- Self-timer
- Instax Mini film
Quick tips before you buy
Mini prints are wallet size, Square is about 1.5x bigger, Wide fits groups and Polaroid i-Type is the big classic print.
Film is the real cost. Instax Mini is the cheapest per shot; Polaroid and Polaroid Go cost much more.
Store film away from heat and use it before the expiry date. Hot cars ruin packs fast.
Instax Mini cameras use AA batteries; Polaroids and the Mini Evo charge over USB. Pack spares for a trip.
Quick answers
Instax or Polaroid: which is better?+
Instax is better for most people: cheaper film, sharper and brighter prints, and very easy cameras. Polaroid is better if you want the big classic square print and its soft, vintage look, and you don’t mind paying more per photo.
Instax Mini 13 vs Mini 12: what changed?+
The Mini 13 keeps the Mini 12’s twist-to-shoot lens, auto exposure, selfie mirror and close-up mode, and adds a 2 and 10 second self-timer plus a camera angle accessory on the strap. Both use the same Instax Mini film. If you find a Mini 12 much cheaper, it is still a great camera.
What is the best instant camera for teens?+
The Instax Mini 13. It is cheap, fully automatic, comes in fun colors and uses the least expensive film, so it is easy to keep shooting. The Polaroid Go Gen 2 is a good pick if they want a real Polaroid.
Is the Instax Mini Evo worth it?+
Yes if you hate wasting film. You see each photo on a screen first and only print the good ones, and it also prints from your phone. If you love the surprise of a pure instant shot and want to spend less, get the Mini 13.
Does instant film work in every camera?+
No. Instax Mini, Square and Wide are three different sizes, and Polaroid uses i-Type, 600 and Go film. Always buy the film made for your camera: the Now+ takes i-Type and 600, and the Go only takes Go film.
How long do instant photos take to develop?+
Instax prints come out in about five seconds and develop in about 90 seconds, per Fujifilm. Polaroid prints take longer, several minutes for full color, and should be kept shielded from bright light while they develop.
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