Instax vs Polaroid: Which Instant Camera Should You Buy in 2026?

By TwelveTabs · Updated

Illustration: two plain instant cameras, one small and rounded and one boxy, with a few blank square instant photos on a table, drawn as a soft 3D render. Not a real product.

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. Our picks are independently researched, written by TwelveTabs AI and never sponsored.

Our top picks

Most people should get the Instax Mini 12. It costs about $17 less, and its film costs far less per photo. Get the Polaroid Now Generation 2 if you want bigger prints, a self-timer, double exposure and a battery that charges over USB-C.

We compared the best-selling camera from each brand and read one film listing from each, because film is where the cost sits. Neither camera comes with film. Both have newer models, which we did not open.

The method

How this pick was made

Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera, Lilac Purple, automatic exposure with selfie mirror is the top pick. This is the work behind that choice.

  1. 2Amazon search results read, across 1 search
  2. 4finalist pages read in full
  3. 32shopper reviews read
  4. 1expert source cross-checked: Amateur Photographer

Run on October 15, 2026. AI read the listings and what shoppers say, then wrote this guide. Full method and limits

Our picks in detail

Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera, Lilac Purple, automatic exposure with selfie mirror

Best overall

Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera, Lilac Purple, automatic exposure with selfie mirror

Best for: Most people: a small, simple camera whose film costs far less per photo

  • $82.99
  • Pros Film costs about $0.91 a photo on the Instax Mini twin pack page
  • Cons It has no film in the box, and the film page asks for a minimum of two packs
View on Amazon

Prices and ratings as of October 15, 2026.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Film costs about $0.91 a photo on the Instax Mini twin pack page
  • About $17 less than the Polaroid
  • A selfie mirror and a close-up mode with parallax correction
  • 2 AA batteries and a hand strap are in the box, and it has a 1-year warranty
  • Amazon's summary calls it easy to use and fun

Cons

  • It has no film in the box, and the film page asks for a minimum of two packs
  • It is sold by a third-party seller, Homegoods Shop, and Amazon lists a newer Mini 13
  • Amazon's summary says image quality and reliability are mixed, and some owners say it stops taking photos
  • The flash is automatic and the page names no self-timer
Polaroid Now 2nd Generation I-Type Instant Film Camera, Black (9095)

Best Anyone who wants bigger prints, a self-timer, double exposure and a rechargeable battery

Polaroid Now 2nd Generation I-Type Instant Film Camera, Black (9095)

  • $99.88
  • Pros Double exposure and a self-timer
  • Cons Film runs about $2.37 a photo on the i-Type film page
View on Amazon

Prices and ratings as of October 15, 2026.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Double exposure and a self-timer
  • A built-in battery that charges over USB-C, so no AA cells to buy
  • Takes both i-Type and 600 film
  • Dual-lens autofocus and a built-in flash
  • A neck strap and charging cable included, and sold by Amazon

Cons

  • Film runs about $2.37 a photo on the i-Type film page
  • Amazon's summary says picture quality is consistently poor, with dark and pale images
  • Owners say photos can take a long time to develop and need plenty of light
  • The listing gives no warranty, and Amazon lists a newer 3rd generation

Compare the picks

Prices and ratings as of October 15, 2026. They change often, so check today's price on Amazon.

Our picks, side by side
PictureProductOutcome
1Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera, Lilac Purple, automatic exposure with selfie mirrorFujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera, Lilac Purple, automatic exposure with selfie mirrorFilm: Instax Mini, 20 photos for $18.17 on the film page · Cost per photo: $0.91 · Power: 2 AA batteries, included · Extras: Selfie mirror, close-up modePrice $82.99Not listedRating Not listedNot listedWinner. Best for: Most people: a small, simple camera whose film costs far less per photo
2Polaroid Now 2nd Generation I-Type Instant Film Camera, Black (9095)Polaroid Now 2nd Generation I-Type Instant Film Camera, Black (9095)Film: i-Type or 600, 8 photos for $18.99 on the film page · Cost per photo: $2.37 · Power: Built-in battery, charges by USB-C · Extras: Self-timer, double exposure, built-in flashPrice $99.88Not listedRating Not listedNot listedBest for: Anyone who wants bigger prints, a self-timer, double exposure and a rechargeable battery

The short version

  • Want the lowest running cost? The Instax Mini 12. Its film page shows about $0.91 a photo, against $2.37 for Polaroid’s.
  • Want bigger prints? The Polaroid. Amateur Photographer lists Polaroid prints at about twice the area of Instax Mini’s.
  • Want a self-timer or double exposure? The Polaroid Now Generation 2 lists both. The Instax page lists neither.
  • Take selfies? The Instax has a built-in selfie mirror. The Polaroid page lists none.
  • Hate buying batteries? The Polaroid charges over USB-C. The Instax uses 2 AA batteries, included.

How to choose between them

Amateur Photographer compared a more advanced camera from each brand. It found Instax prints small and punchy, with strong colors and bright highlights, and Polaroid prints larger, softer and more detailed. It also gave film prices: about $17 for 20 Instax Mini shots and about $18 for 8 Polaroid shots. Those cameras are not these two, so read it as a guide to the film.

  • Camera price. The Instax Mini 12 is $82.99 and the Polaroid Now Generation 2 $99.88 today.
  • Film price. Instax Mini twin pack: $18.17 for 20 photos, with a minimum order of two. Polaroid i-Type color film: $18.99 for 8 photos.
  • Print. Instax Mini is 2 by 3 inches by the listing. The Polaroid page gives no print size.
  • Power. The Instax takes 2 AA batteries. The Polaroid has a built-in battery.
  • Seller. The Polaroid is sold by Amazon. The Instax is sold by a third-party seller, and ships from Amazon.
  • Warranty. The Instax lists one year. The Polaroid page gives none.

What owners complain about

  • On the Instax Mini 12: photos that look blurry or tiny, a camera that stops taking pictures for some, film that costs more than expected, and a camera that arrived without film.
  • On the Polaroid Now Generation 2: dark, pale or under-exposed prints, film that is costly and a poor result from old film, slow development, and a camera that arrived without film.
  • On both: a camera that arrives with no film in the box, and image quality that Amazon’s summaries call mixed or poor.

What we left out, and why

We read four listings and 32 reviews.

  • Instax Mini 13. Amazon’s newer model, at $79.95 with few ratings. We did not open it.
  • Polaroid Now 3rd Generation. The newer Polaroid, at $129.99 for the camera alone. We did not open it.
  • Instax Mini 99, Polaroid Flip and Polaroid Go. More advanced or smaller cameras. We did not open them.
  • Digital instant cameras. A different kind of product.

How we researched

On October 15, 2026 we read the Amazon listing pages for the Instax Mini 12, the Polaroid Now 2nd Generation, and one film listing for each: Instax Mini film and Polaroid i-Type color film. We read each page's bullets and specs, Amazon's review summaries and the reviews we could see. We also read Amateur Photographer's Instax vs Polaroid comparison and checked Google's top results for this question. AI wrote this guide from that research.

Neither camera page showed a 1 to 3 star US review among the eight we could see, except one on the Polaroid page, so most complaints come from critical lines inside 4 and 5 star reviews, Amazon's summaries and a few non-US reviews. The Polaroid page gives no print size, warranty length or selfie mirror, and the Instax page gives no self-timer. Newer models of both cameras exist and we did not open them. Amateur Photographer compared two other cameras, the Instax Mini 99 and the Polaroid Flip, so we use it for how the two film formats differ.

Prices, ratings and review counts come from Amazon and were read on October 15, 2026.

Sources

Why trust TwelveTabs

  • What this guide rests on: 2 Amazon search results, 32 shopper reviews and 1 expert source.
  • No brand paid for a place on this list.
  • Dated, not timeless: the research was read and this page updated on October 15, 2026.
  • The limits of the research are written down, in how we researched.

How TwelveTabs researches its guides

Frequently asked questions

Is Instax or Polaroid better?

Instax suits most people because the camera and the film cost less. Polaroid suits shoppers who want bigger prints and more controls.

Which film is cheaper, Instax or Polaroid?

Instax Mini. Its twin pack page shows about $0.91 a photo, against $2.37 on the Polaroid i-Type page.

Do these cameras come with film?

No. Both listings say film is sold separately, and owners of each report buying without realizing it.

How did TwelveTabs choose between them?

We read the Amazon listings for one Instax and one Polaroid camera and one film pack from each, their spec lists, Amazon’s review summaries and the reviews we could see, plus Amateur Photographer’s comparison. We put the facts side by side and checked each against its listing.

For more cameras, see our best instant cameras.

All Tech guides