The best instant cameras of 2026

Wireless connection: Bluetooth | Camera weight: 436g (excluding batteries, strap, and film)

The best instant camera is the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40. It looks great thanks to the leatherette details and retro design, while offering small controls for easy use. It takes a 3.39 x 2.83-inch Instax Square print that fully delivers on the retro vibes. You also get a flash, a selfie mirror, a front shutter and a hand strap, and it’s light and easy to carry. The camera alone costs $150, but you’ll also need a film budget.

Wireless connection: Bluetooth | Camera weight: 306g (excluding batteries, strap, and film)

If you’d like to spend less money on both the camera and the film, check out the Instax Mini 12 by Fujifilm. A quick entry-level camera that lets you start shooting in minutes. The controls couldn’t be easier either, as you just need to twist the lens to the “on” or “off” position. It’s also small and thin, so it can slip into a pocket and fit well in the small hands of budding photographers.

Wireless connection: Bluetooth | Camera weight: 12 ounces (excluding batteries, strap, and film)

Where the Instax Mini 12 is cheap and cheerful, the Instax Mini 99 offers more control and features. The best feature is that the four color LEDs inside the camera can be enabled to produce “looks” inside the camera, such as “Dim Green” and “Light Leak,” which produce a light that mimics a broken camera. At the same time, unlike other models, you can turn off the flash completely for a natural look. Other good things are the rear display and the sports mode, the other downside is the lack of a selfie mirror.

Wireless connection: Bluetooth | Camera weight: 240g (without batteries and film)

The Polaroid Go may be basic and cheap, but it offers a lot. You get a self-timer and dual exposure modes, as well as Polaroid’s square Go film format that delivers that nostalgic feel. It’s also very small and light, so it’s an easy choice to bring to any occasion. The main drawback is the autofocus, which delivers spotty results unless you’re a good way from the subject.

Wireless connection: Bluetooth | Camera weight: 451.5g (without film)

Polaroid is synonymous with fast cameras, and its Now+ model is the best choice for great film. Although the prints are slightly smaller than those produced by Fujifilm’s Instax Wide 400, I prefer the square format that evokes old-school Polaroid photos. It also offers a host of features such as an updated app with creative shooting modes including manual modes, timer, double exposure, light painting and an option to unlock key depth of field.

While the second-generation model suffered from occasional exposure issues, the new model has fixed that and added three mounts to boot, as well as new colors. The main disadvantage is the very high price of Polaroid i-Type film.

Wireless connection: Bluetooth | Camera weight: 616g (excluding battery, strap, film cartridge, and close-up lens)

For the largest possible print (as long as you don’t mind the rectangular format), Fujifilm’s new Instax Wide 400 is your best bet. It offers easy one-button operation, fully automatic shooting and a new close-up option to add sharp images to your music. The main downside is the lack of hybrid options, but the fact that it’s basic helps keep the price down. Film is also much cheaper than Polaroid’s i-Type.

Wireless connection: Bluetooth | Camera weight: 30.4 ounces (without batteries and film)

In 2025, Polaroid introduced the Flip, its most advanced modern instant camera to date. Although it is more expensive compared to other models, it has some serious photography features. That includes sonar autofocus and a four-lens hyperfocal system that improves sharpness, as well as a high-power flash that can change the light depending on the definition of the nails. It has a (very) colorful, compact retro design that folds up to store and protect the lens. It uses Kodak’s larger (but more expensive) i-Type film, so it produces beautiful, distinguishable prints.

Wireless connection: Bluetooth | Camera weight: it’s 285g

For the next full-featured instant camera, look no further than Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Evo. It marries the classic charm of instant photography with digital photography, giving you the ability to preview shots on the three-inch rear display and print only the ones you want. Another great trick is that it can act as a photo printer for your smartphone.

Design-wise, it matches the aesthetics of Fujifilm’s iconic digital cameras like the X100 VI, and is more compact than other Instax models. And like the X series cameras, you have the ability to apply multiple simulations and effects to prints. The downside is that it is more complicated to operate than other fast cameras, but that flexibility will attract many buyers.

Wireless connection: No | Camera weight: 725.7g

If you’re serious about taking your instant photos, Lomographic’s Lomo’Instant Wide Glass is the model to get. It has probably the best lenses of any fast camera with a 90 mm multi-frame glass model that delivers extremely sharp images. It also comes with many advanced features, including exposure compensation control, built-in flash, multiple exposure capabilities, manual focus lens, external flash sync socket, selfie mirror and the ability to add wide-angle and macro conversion lenses. The main disadvantage is its large size and very high price.

Wireless connection: Bluetooth | Camera weight: 320g (without batteries and film)

If the canape table at your regular gathering consists of caviar blinis and quail egg tartines, your instant camera of choice would be Leica’s Sofort 2. A point-and-shoot model with a 28mm f/2.0-equivalent lens that shoots compact Sofort film (or Fuji’s Instax film). While the details aren’t great for a $400 instant camera, Leica has taken the social aspect seriously with the ability to capture digital photos to a MicroSD card, view them on the three-inch LCD display and share them with friends using Leica’s FOTOS app. It doesn’t take the best pictures of any fast camera, but it offers good battery life and portability. However, the main reason to get this model is the Leica brand and the red dot. That lets others know that you may be taking simple pictures, but you know exactly what you’re doing.

If you have a fast camera that can save photos to a memory card, a fast printer allows you to share your favorite photos with friends and family. The best of those is Fujifilm’s Instax Link Wide printer. It’s portable and prints quickly in true-to-life colors, and photos last forever. It is also very affordable.

Canon has a fun take on photo printers with the Ivy 2 printer. It uses special photo paper (that’s a sticker too!) so it doesn’t need ink and lets you print photos with fun graphics and borders. At the same time, it is easy to set up, reliable, very portable and affordable.