Buying guide · 6 picks compared

Best instant camera UK 2026

Polaroid Now Generation 3 is the best instant camera for most people, because its upgraded two-lens autofocus sets focus for you, so you can just point and shoot.

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Want creative colour and exposure control? Pick the Fujifilm instax mini 99 for six colour effects, a brightness dial and bulb mode.

By Bez, Editor✓ Updated 26 October 2026

★ Our top pickPolaroid Now Generation 3 Instant Camera, Black (9154)Image: PolaroidSee it on Amazon

Which one is for you?

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Which pick suits which need
Ifyou want an easy Polaroid with autofocus	Polaroid Now Generation 3 Instant Camera, Black (9154)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want creative control over colour, brightness and exposure	Fujifilm instax mini 99 Instant Camera, Black	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want to preview shots and print from your phone	Fujifilm instax mini Evo Hybrid Instant Camera, Black	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want large wide prints for group shots and landscapes	Fujifilm instax WIDE 400 Instant Camera	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want square prints and a selfie mirror	Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40 Instant Camera, Black	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want a Polaroid with sonar autofocus and scene analysis	Polaroid Flip Instant Camera, Black	See it on Amazon

The 6 picks compared

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1★ Top pick
Polaroid
Polaroid Now Generation 3 Instant Camera, Black (9154)Best for easy autofocus Polaroid
Sharper instant prints in bright light, with autofocus doing the work
See it on Amazon
2
Fujifilm
Fujifilm instax mini 99 Instant Camera, BlackBest for creative colour and exposure control
Shape every instant photo with six colour effects and real control
See it on Amazon
3
Fujifilm
Fujifilm instax mini Evo Hybrid Instant Camera, BlackBest for preview and phone printing
Shoot 100 looks, then print straight from camera or phone
See it on Amazon
4
Fujifilm
Fujifilm instax WIDE 400 Instant CameraBest for wide prints for groups
Get wide prints for groups with nothing to set up
See it on Amazon
5
Fujifilm
Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40 Instant Camera, BlackBest for square prints and selfies
Get square prints and easy selfies in one camera
See it on Amazon
6
Polaroid
Polaroid Flip Instant Camera, BlackBest for sonar autofocus and scene analysis
Sonar autofocus and a 4-lens system, as Polaroid describes them, plus scene analysis
See it on Amazon

Side by side

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The picks side by side
Pick	Best for	Price	The fact that sets it apart	Where to buy
Polaroid Now Generation 3 Instant Camera, Black (9154)	easy autofocus Polaroid	£119.99	It has an upgraded two-lens autofocus system, a self-timer and double-exposure mode.	See it on Amazon
Fujifilm instax mini 99 Instant Camera, Black	creative colour and exposure control	£174.99	It has six colour effects: Faded Green, Warm Tone, Light Blue, Soft Magenta, Sepia and Light Leak.	See it on Amazon
Fujifilm instax mini Evo Hybrid Instant Camera, Black	preview and phone printing	£174.99	10 lens effects and 10 film effects combine into 100 different looks.	See it on Amazon
Fujifilm instax WIDE 400 Instant Camera	wide prints for groups	£129.99	It has automatic exposure and flash control, so there is nothing to set up.	See it on Amazon
Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40 Instant Camera, Black	square prints and selfies	£134.99	Rotate the lens to Selfie mode and frame yourself in the selfie mirror.	See it on Amazon
Polaroid Flip Instant Camera, Black	sonar autofocus and scene analysis	£199.99	Polaroid describes sonar autofocusing, a hyperfocal 4-lens system, its most powerful flash and scene analysis.	See it on Amazon

Prices from the maker or retailer named on each pick below, checked 26 October 2026. A dash means the price changes too often to quote: tap through for today's.

Get paper prints on the spot and find the camera that fits your party, trip, gift or hobby. This guide is for busy shoppers who want the right instant camera fast. Three things decide it: the film format, which sets your print size, how easy it is to use, and whether you want digital extras like phone printing.

Our picks in detail

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1★ Top pickBest for easy autofocus Polaroid

Polaroid Now Generation 3 Instant Camera, Black (9154)

Sharper instant prints in bright light, with autofocus doing the work.

What it is: Polaroid Now Generation 3 is an instant camera with autofocus, a self-timer and a double-exposure mode that layers two shots onto one print. It shoots original full-size Polaroid film and works with two film types, Color and B&W i-Type and Color and B&W 600.
Perfect for: This one suits you if you want an easy autofocus Polaroid for simple point-and-shoot snaps.
Why we picked it: Polaroid says Generation 3 adds optimised exposures for sharper pictures in bright lighting. The upgraded two-lens autofocus and 40% recycled materials make it a modern, well-rounded pick.
What's new: Polaroid says Generation 3 adds optimised exposures for sharper pictures in bright lighting and a two-lens autofocus system.
Price: £119.99 (polaroid.com, checked 26 October 2026)

It has an upgraded two-lens autofocus system, a self-timer and double-exposure mode.
It shoots original full-size Polaroid film and is made with 40% recycled materials.
It is compatible with Color and B&W i-Type film and with Color and B&W 600 film.

The catch: It is completely analogue, so there is no screen to preview shots and no digital copy.

Check today's price on Amazon

2Best for creative colour and exposure control

Fujifilm instax mini 99 Instant Camera, Black

Shape every instant photo with six colour effects and real control.

What it is: The instax mini 99 gives you six colour effects, from Sepia to Light Leak, so your prints can look like your own style. A brightness dial and a vignette switch for darker, moodier edges let you fine-tune every shot.
Perfect for: Pick this if you are a creative shooter who wants to play with colour and exposure, not just point and shoot.
Why we picked it: Modes include Auto, Indoor, Sports, Double Exposure and Bulb, so you can switch from quick snaps to bold shots. The lens dial picks close-up macro, standard or landscape focus, and macro mode works for selfies. It also has a base grip tripod mount and an NP-70S rechargeable battery that gives approximately 100 prints per charge.
Price: £174.99 (instax.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026)

It has six colour effects: Faded Green, Warm Tone, Light Blue, Soft Magenta, Sepia and Light Leak.
A brightness control dial, a manual vignette switch and Auto, Indoor, Sports, Double Exposure and Bulb modes give more control than a point-and-shoot.
The lens dial selects macro (0.3 m to 0.6 m), standard (0.6 m to 3.0 m) or landscape (3.0 m to infinity) focus, and macro mode works for selfies.
It comes with a base grip tripod mount, and the NP-70S rechargeable battery gives approximately 100 prints per charge.

The catch: It weighs 340 g without batteries, strap and film.

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3Best for preview and phone printing

Fujifilm instax mini Evo Hybrid Instant Camera, Black

Shoot 100 looks, then print straight from camera or phone.

What it is: The instax mini Evo Hybrid mixes 10 lens effects with 10 film effects for 100 different looks. You can print from the camera itself or from your smartphone through the app.
Perfect for: Pick this if your top needs are preview and phone printing, with the phone also working as a remote shutter.
Why we picked it: Fujifilm says its printing resolution is doubled compared with its previous hybrid models. Around 45 shots fit in internal memory, and a microSD card slot lets you add more. A full charge gives about 100 prints, so you can print a lot before you need to recharge.
What's new: Fujifilm says the printing resolution is doubled compared with its previous hybrid models.
Price: £174.99 (instax.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026)

10 lens effects and 10 film effects combine into 100 different looks.
It prints from the camera or from a smartphone through the app, and the smartphone can also act as a remote shutter.
It stores approximately 45 images in internal memory, with a microSD card slot for more.
The built-in lithium-ion battery gives approximately 100 prints from a full charge.

The catch: The lithium-ion battery is built in and not removable.

Check today's price on Amazon

4Best for wide prints for groups

Fujifilm instax WIDE 400 Instant Camera

Get wide prints for groups with nothing to set up.

What it is: The instax WIDE 400 is an instant camera that makes wide 62 x 99 mm pictures on instax WIDE film. The camera handles brightness and flash on its own, so you just point and press.
Perfect for: If you mostly want wide prints for groups, this is the one that suits you best.
Why we picked it: The self-timer lever gives you 4, 6, 8 or 10 second delays, with an LED countdown, so you can get in the picture too. It also comes with a close-up lens and a camera angle adjustment accessory, and it has a tripod mount too.
Price: £129.99 (instax.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026)

It has automatic exposure and flash control, so there is nothing to set up.
The self-timer lever sets 4, 6, 8 or 10 second delays with an LED countdown.
It includes a close-up lens and a camera angle adjustment accessory, and has a tripod mount.
Prints use instax WIDE film with a 62 x 99 mm picture.

The catch: It is large, at 162 x 98 x 123 mm and 616 g without batteries, strap, film and close-up lens.

Check today's price on Amazon

5Best for square prints and selfies

Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40 Instant Camera, Black

Get square prints and easy selfies in one camera.

What it is: The instax SQUARE is an instant camera that prints photos on instax SQUARE film, each picture 62 x 62 mm. Turn the lens to Selfie mode and frame yourself in the selfie mirror.
Perfect for: This one suits you best if square prints and selfies are what you want most.
Why we picked it: Automatic exposure and an automatic flash handle the settings, so you can just point and shoot. The flash covers 0.3 to 2.2 metres, a clear range you can plan your shots around.
Price: £134.99 (instax.co.uk, checked 26 October 2026)

Rotate the lens to Selfie mode and frame yourself in the selfie mirror.
Automatic exposure and an automatic flash with a 0.3 to 2.2 m range handle the settings.
Prints use instax SQUARE film, 86 x 72 mm with a 62 x 62 mm picture.
The body measures 134.2 x 120.2 x 60.5 mm and weighs 453 g without batteries, strap and film.

The catch: It uses two CR2 lithium batteries instead of a rechargeable battery.

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6Best for sonar autofocus and scene analysis

Polaroid Flip Instant Camera, Black

Sonar autofocus and a 4-lens system, as Polaroid describes them, plus scene analysis.

What it is: The Polaroid Flip is an instant camera that prints your shots straight away. Polaroid describes sonar autofocusing, a hyperfocal 4-lens system that keeps near and far in focus, and its most powerful flash.
Perfect for: This suits you if you want sonar autofocus and scene analysis doing the hard work on sharp, well-exposed shots.
Why we picked it: Scene analysis is an over/underexposure checker, so it looks out for shots that come out too bright or too dark. Together with focus that does the work for you, that is why it earns its place here.
Price: £199.99 (polaroid.com, checked 26 October 2026)

Polaroid describes sonar autofocusing, a hyperfocal 4-lens system, its most powerful flash and scene analysis.
Scene analysis is an over/underexposure checker.

The catch: The camera is sold on its own without film, and Polaroid lists Starter and Travel Sets as separate products.

Check today's price on Amazon

What we left out, and why

Fujifilm instax mini 12: The simplest, lowest-priced instax, but it has none of the colour effects, exposure control or phone printing our two instax mini picks add.
instax mini Evo Cinema: It adds video clips of up to 15 seconds in total, but the standard mini Evo already covers the hybrid reader.
Polaroid Go Generation 3: Polaroid describes the Go range as its smallest analogue instant cameras, with a built-in selfie mirror, but they use Go Film rather than the larger Polaroid i-Type and 600 film.

How we chose

Our buying criteria

To make this list, a camera had to be easy to use and give you a clear reason to pick it. Start with film format, because it sets your print size. instax WIDE film has a 62 x 99 mm picture, and instax SQUARE film is 86 x 72 mm with a 62 x 62 mm picture. Polaroid cameras use full-size Polaroid film. Next, we looked at how much the camera does for you, such as automatic exposure or two-lens autofocus, plus creative extras and digital features like phone printing. Each camera's specs come from its maker's UK page and its live UK listing, and each pick shows its catch.

Film format and running cost: every shot uses one sheet of film, so price a pack of the right film before you choose.
Ease of use: choose automatic settings or manual control.
Power: check whether a camera has a rechargeable battery, such as the mini 99 and mini Evo, or uses CR2 batteries, like the SQUARE SQ40.
Size and weight: the mini 99 weighs 340 g, the SQUARE SQ40 weighs 453 g and the WIDE 400 weighs 616 g (all without batteries, strap and film), so check they fit your bag.

How we choose every pick

Your questions, answered

What size are instax prints?

instax mini prints a credit-card-sized 46 x 62 mm picture, used by the mini 99 and mini Evo. instax WIDE prints 62 x 99 mm, made for groups, and instax SQUARE 62 x 62 mm, great for selfies. Polaroid's full-size film gives a 79 x 79 mm picture.

Can I print photos from my phone with an instant camera?

The instax mini Evo prints straight from your smartphone, so you can turn your phone photos into prints. It can also use your phone as a remote shutter. The Polaroid Now Generation 3 is completely analogue, so choose the Evo for phone printing.

Does an instant camera come with film?

Not always. The Polaroid Flip is sold on its own, with Starter and Travel Sets sold separately, so add a pack of film to your basket.

What batteries do these cameras use?

The instax mini 99 uses a rechargeable NP-70S battery, with a quoted capacity of approximately 100 prints. The instax mini Evo has a built-in lithium-ion battery that is not removable. The instax SQUARE takes two CR2 lithium batteries.

Which Polaroid film does the Now Generation 3 use?

The Polaroid Now Generation 3 uses Color and B&W i-Type film, and Color and B&W 600 film.

Which one is for you?

The 6 picks compared

Side by side

Our picks in detail

Polaroid Now Generation 3 Instant Camera, Black (9154)

Fujifilm instax mini 99 Instant Camera, Black

Fujifilm instax mini Evo Hybrid Instant Camera, Black

Fujifilm instax WIDE 400 Instant Camera

Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40 Instant Camera, Black

Polaroid Flip Instant Camera, Black

What we left out, and why

Our buying criteria

Your questions, answered

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