The best instant cameras you can buy right now

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There is something magical about the old-school instant camera, even with the ability to take great photos with our phones and instantly share them across the world. With a click of a button, you can take a photo that you can see instantly. Images captured by an instant camera aren't as pristine or perfect as modern digital cameras, but their soft images and flaws are a big part of the appeal.

Some instant cameras are better suited for different needs than others. Some of the most popular instant cameras on the market were tested by us.

The models featured in our best instant camera guide are enjoyable to use, but each has a different set of features at different prices. Some are more appropriate for a child or budding photographer, while others are more advanced and give added control. Print quality, ease of use, and affordability are hallmarks of a quality shooter. The best instant camera for most people is thefujino's mini 11

If you want to have more control over your photos, but don't want to spend a lot of money, we recommend the Instax Mini Evo, it has great image quality and allows you to choose which photos you want to print. Polaroid's Now Plus and Kodak's Mini Retro 3 offer advanced creative modes for those who want more.

The best instant camera picks are listed below.

The sticker price of the camera isn't the true price because it requires a different type of film. The cost of film can quickly add up if you don't take into account this before purchasing. You may have to pay between $0.50 and $2 per shot.

Films of varying quality can be found in a range of styles. Black and white frames are decorated with colorful frames. There are different shapes and sizes of prints, from small rectangular ones to square-shaped ones. You can buy larger prints and even use the film to make stickers.

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Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11

The best instant camera for most people

If you only want to get a decent print for a reasonable price, we recommend the Instax Mini11. It's a basic instant camera that's easy to set up and use, which makes it a good choice for kids or those new to photography It took us less than five minutes to insert the batteries, read the instructions and take a picture. It took less than a minute for the image to appear.

The Instax Mini 11 uses credit card-sized film that costs around 99 cents a sheet and comes in packs, some of which offer up to 20 prints for around $19.99. The film required for Kodak's Mini Shot 3 Square Retro can be purchased at most major retailers.

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

The image quality of an instant camera is better than most of the other cameras. Most of the cameras I tested struggled to capture low-light conditions, and this one is no exception, but the camera's built-in flash helps. The flash can be overpowering in some instances, which can result in a few over exposed images.

The Mini 11 is one of the lightest instant cameras I've tested, which makes it easy to carry around and keep a steady grip while taking pictures. It comes in a variety of fun colors, from pink to blue to white. The included selfie feature, which is just a small mirror mounted on the front of the camera, is simple but effective, even if the flash was still overpowering and didn't capture my features or skin color well.

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

There are a lot of niceties in the Mini 11. I liked the larger-than-average viewfinder and the fact that the camera has a small counter that shows the remaining number of shots, which is a feature many of the other instant cameras lacked. While out for drinks with friends or on a vacation, it is easy to misplace your photos. It is important to be aware of the number of shots you have left.

The Instax Mini 11 is a basic camera that caters to all ages and experience levels and does a good job. It doesn't offer advanced features like filters, lens options, or portrait modes, nor does it have a pair with a companion app. This is the instant camera that you need if you want a traditional analog experience.

It is the best instant camera for most people. The simple instant camera takes good quality shots and has a built-in selfie mode.

• $77 at B&H Photo
• $77 at Target

Becca Farsace / The Verge

Instax Mini Evo

The best premium instant camera

My colleague, Becca Farcase, is a big fan of the new instant camera from Fuji. A hybrid camera that bears a resemblance to Fujifilm's more expensive X 100 line of cameras, it looks good and boasts vintage dials and buttons that caught the attention of passersby as I walked around Los Angeles taking photos.

If you plan on using it a lot, this camera offers a level of flexibility that could save you money over time. It is possible to avoid wasting film on unwanted shots with the help of the full-color screen that comes with the mini eo. I wasn't worried about running out of film as the added flexibility gave me more room for creativity. The app allowed me to print photos from my phone. It is not battery-powered. The fact that the Evo is rechargeable means you don't have to buy new batteries.

Becca Farsace / The Verge

The camera takes less than 5 minutes to set up and use the film. You can turn off the flash on the Mini Evo, as well as the large screen you can use as a viewfinder, which helped me take better photos. The menu can be used to change how bright the film is. The Mini 11 is not particularly good at capturing dark environments, so that was helpful.

You can use the dial to apply various lens options and filters, ranging from retro to monochrome shades, as well as a mirror lens, and more. An extra element of photographic control that can help you take better selfies than the selfies mirror in the front can be added to app-based remote shots.

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

It isn't a perfect device and there are some drawbacks to consider outside the price. Although you can add some filters and make a few edits using the companion app, it isn't as feature-rich as some of the other digital and hybrid instant cameras. It took me a while to figure out how to turn on and off the flash in the menu system. You can only take 45 images before the device is full if you rely on internal storage alone. I was very happy with how portable the camera is, as well as how easy it is to take good photos, despite the minor issues. It can be hard to find this instant camera in stock at the moment. You will have to wait for Moment to replenish before they can ship it.

Becca Farsace / The Verge

The best instant camera is the one from Fuji. It allows you to choose which photos you want to print.

• $200 at Moment
• $200 at B&H Photo

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro

The best instant camera for social occasions

Kodak's hybrid Mini Shot 3 Retro is all about having fun. The camera's accompanying mobile app allows you to apply frames, stickers, filters, and a plethora of customization options to photos. There is a beauty feature within the app to hide blemish, as well as a set of filters you can use to add, say, dog ears, making this a fun instant camera to use at parties.

Kodak's Mini Shot 3 Retro comes with a small screen that you can use to decide if you want to print a photo. You can use the Kodak Photo Printer app to take photos on your phone, or you can use it to take photos on the go. Kodak's Mini Shot 3 Retro retails for $150 and includes a pack of film, but is often on sale for less. It uses cheaper film and can be purchased on Amazon for about fifteen dollars, which equates to about fifty cents a shot. The film is cheaper, which encourages creativity.

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

There are problems with the Kodak Mini Shot 3. Kodak's film prints larger, 3 x 3-inch square photos on it's film, which feels less-quality and more flimsy than Fujifilm's and Polaroid's Although you can add colorful borders within the app, they are modern looking and might be a turn off for some.

My biggest issue with the Kodak Mini Shot 3 is that it doesn't print photos taken with the camera itself as crisp or clear as pictures taken with a mobile device. For most of the time, photo quality was as good as the Mini 11's, but not always. The photos had a tint that interfered with the quality. You can't decide whether or not you want to print them later, because it doesn't store images the same way.

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

The Mini Shot 3 is not as stylish as the Mini Evolution. It is possible to buy a white and black model that looks better. It took me a while to set up the camera out of the box as there were more instructions to follow than with theFujifilm cameras. I was only able to use the camera for a few minutes before I was able to charge it because it didn't have disposable batteries. It lasted most of the day after it was charged.

The Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro is a good choice if you don't mind compromising on photo quality and want a hybrid camera with a lot of fun app features.

The Mini Shot 3 Retro instant camera has a companion app that you can use to add frames, stickers, filters, and more. This is a good camera for parties if you don't mind the image quality.

• $110 at Amazon
• $130 at Kodak

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Polaroid Now Plus

The best instant camera for retro fans

The Polaroid Now Plus is an instant camera that offers the most old-fashioned instant film experience. The Polaroid Now Plus is similar to the Polaroid 600 in design and features. The square I-Type film prints and Polaroid-style frame give photos a more authentic vintage look.

At the same time, the Polaroid Now Plus comes with the convenience and usefulness of more modern features, such as the ability to charge with a Microusb charging cable. It has a companion app that has a number of creative modes that allow for better photographic control. A remote shutter, self-timer, and a "Polaroid Lab" are included. There are a number of shooting modes to choose from, including a manual option and one for capturing multiple exposures, as well as a set of five colored lens you can snap onto the front of the camera. These were fun to play with and allow for more creativity.

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

The Polaroid Now Plus isn't known for it's ability to be portable. It is not the kind of instant camera you can slip into your purse or carry around. It takes up to 15 minutes for prints to develop and you have to make sure it is not exposed to light. If you are at the beach with friends on a sunny day, that is quite an inconvenient situation.

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

This is not the camera for you if you are looking for an instant camera that can print a good, clear photo without much effort on your part. The Polaroid Now Plus struggles with low-light environments the most, making it hard to get a good shot in darker conditions. Images are not as clear in comparison to the film, and contrast and color saturation levels are not as high. While this gave my pictures more of a vintage, dreamy look that felt artistic, and you can use the Polaroid Lab to adjust saturation and exposure settings, that could prove to be a lot of work for some.

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

I was only able to get the clearest shots when the light was behind me in the morning, but for the majority of the time, I couldn't see anything. It is easy to waste film since the Polaroid Now Plus doesn't have a screen for photos. You only get eight I-Type sheets for $16.49, and that's in addition to the camera price of 1499.99. There is a small counter on the back of the Polaroid Now Plus.

You could argue that many of the drawbacks are typical of a retro, Polaroid-inspired instant camera. The Polaroid Now Plus is the perfect camera for people who don't mind the price.

The Polaroid Now Plus is an instant camera that prints vintage style photos. This is a good choice for artistic photography because of its variety of modes.

• $150 at Amazon
• $150 at Best Buy

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Polaroid Go

The best instant camera for portability

The Polaroid Go is small. I couldn't help but like it when I held it. I am a little over five feet tall and it is easy to fit into my hand. It is the most portable instant camera on our list because it is so small. It even produces the smallest prints of all the instant cameras I tested, which is great if you want to save some space and still get a small print.

The Polaroid Go is the lightest instant camera I have ever held and it can be used with one hand. I used to struggle to take pictures with the heavier Polaroid Now Plus and some of the other instant cameras I tested. If the images produced looked more true-to-life and didn't require you to hide them from light for about 15 minutes while developing, I would call this the best instant camera for travel.

• The front of the small Polaroid Go. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge
• The back of the Polaroid Go. Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

The Polaroid Go is one of the most affordable Polaroid cameras on the market, with film that costs just a little more than the other Polaroid cameras. The low price doesn't affect image quality The Polaroid Now Plus does a better job of capturing low-light environments than the Go does. I didn't waste a lot of film because it was easier to take clearer photos indoors. The Now Plus prints have low contrast and saturation levels, but still have a vintage, almost dreamy look.

Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Double-pressing the flash button gives you double-exposure shots, but it lacks more advanced features. There isn't a fancy app that will allow you to add extra effects, and it's also not supported by the internet. The prints are smaller than the Mini, which could be a problem for people who prefer larger photos. While it produces similar vintage-style shots, design-wise, it doesn't look anything like old-school Polaroid cameras, which could take away from the retro experience.

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