Go Gen 2vs GR IIIx HDF
Polaroid
Go Gen 2 (2022)
Starting from £85 new
Best for On-the-go shooting & Polaroid fans who want compact
View Go Gen 2
Ricoh
GR IIIx HDF (2024)
Starting from £999 new
Best for Street & documentary photography with a distinctive aesthetic
View GR IIIx HDF
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
On-The-Go Shooting & Polaroid Fans Who Want Compact — Go Gen 2 (2022): The most pocketable Polaroid ever — genuinely fits in a jacket pocket and produces beautiful prints with that classic white border.
Street & Documentary Photography With A Distinctive Aesthetic — GR IIIx HDF (2024): The GR IIIx with a built-in dream filter — for photographers who want the GR's legendary APS-C quality with an added layer of analogue magic.
Who should buy what
Go Gen 2 (2022)
- Polaroid fans who want classic square prints in the most pocketable body
- Travellers who want an instant camera that genuinely fits in a jacket pocket
- Anyone who finds standard Polaroid cameras too large to carry daily
- A great gift for someone who loves Polaroid but wants something compact
GR IIIx HDF (2024)
- GR IIIx fans who want the HDF bloom effect without using post-processing
- Street photographers who want a distinctive, instantly recognisable aesthetic
- Film photography enthusiasts who want to replicate analogue optical character digitally
- GR III owners ready to upgrade to the 40mm equivalent perspective
Quick take: The go gen 2 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Go Gen 2 (2022) | GR IIIx HDF (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £85 | £999 |
| Sensor | Polaroid Go film (66.6 × 53.9mm / image area 46.4 × 34.7mm) | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 1920 × 1080 / 60fps |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (0.55m–∞) | Phase/contrast hybrid CDAF with Snap Focus |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 3-axis Shake Reduction (SR) — 4 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 4fps continuous |
| Battery Life | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~20 double packs) | ~200 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~211g | 262g body only |
| Dimensions | 104.9 × 83.9 × 56.3mm | 122.5 × 69.5 × 35.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder | None — rear LCD only |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fixed LCD touchscreen, 1.037M dots |
| Mount | Polaroid Go film (16 shots per double pack) | Fixed GR Lens 26.1mm f/2.8 (40mm equivalent) |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (charging) | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Go Gen 2 | GR IIIx HDF |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Go Gen 2
Camera family history