Instax Mini 12vs Now Gen 3
Fujifilm
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Beginners, parties & gifting
View Instax Mini 12
VS
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Beginners, Parties & Gifting — Instax Mini 12 (2023): The perfect starter instant camera — effortless to use, great colours, and comes in beautiful pastel shades.
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
Who should buy what
Instax Mini 12 (2023)
- Complete beginners wanting their first instant camera
- Anyone buying an instant camera as a gift
- Party hosts who want to hand out physical prints on the night
- Kids and teenagers who want a fun, colourful camera
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
Quick take: The instax mini 12 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Instax Mini 12 (2023) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £120 |
| Sensor | Instax Mini film (62 × 46mm image area) | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.3m–∞ standard; 0.3–0.5m in close-up mode) | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | N/A | N/A |
| Burst Rate | N/A | N/A |
| Battery Life | 2× AA alkaline batteries (~100 shots) | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | ~293g (with batteries, without film) | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 107.6 × 121.7 × 67.3mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder (0.37×) | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | N/A | N/A |
| Mount | Instax Mini film pack (10 shots per pack) | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Instax Mini 12 | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Parties & Events | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Everyday | ||
| Low Light | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Creative | — |
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