Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Pastel Blue
Score: 66/100
Polaroid Now 3rd Generation I-Type Instant Camera + Film
Score: 39/100$151.15
Rankings
The Instax Mini 12 in Pastel Blue offers the same automatic shooting experience as its sibling, with a twist-to-power lens, selfie mirror and close-up mode, packaged in a lightweight body. It's well-suited for beginners, but lacks manual controls and modern connectivity.
The Polaroid Now 3rd-Gen delivers classic full-size Polaroid prints with modern upgrades like dual-lens autofocus and USB-C charging. It adds creative modes such as double-exposure but lacks Bluetooth connectivity and can struggle in low-light.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
100 shots | 120 shotsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 306 gbest | 450 g |
| ↓ lower better | 12.7 f | 11 fbest |
| ↓ lower better | 0.004 secondsbest | — |
| ↓ lower better | 90 secondsbest | — |
800best | 640 | |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest | |
6 itemsbest | 4 items |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Physical Specs(1) | ||
Weight (g) | 306 g | 450 g |
Battery & Power(2) | ||
Battery Life (shots) | 100 shots | 120 shots |
Battery Type | AA alkaline | Lithium-ion |
Print(1) | ||
Print Size | 54x86 mm | Full-size |
Camera(5) | ||
Aperture (f) | 12.7 f | 11 f |
ISO Range (max) | 800 | 640 |
Focus Type | Fixed | Autofocus |
Film Format | Instax Mini | i-Type/600 |
Flash Type | Constant firing flash | Flash |
Accessories(1) | ||
Number of Included Accessories (items) | 6 items | 4 items |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
PCMag rates the Mini 12 5.0 stars, praising its intuitive twist-to-power design and selfie features while noting the cheap plastic build and lack of creative modes.
Users rate it highly for ease of use and cute styling, though they note viewfinder parallax, missing Bluetooth, and reliance on AA batteries as drawbacks.
“easy and fun to use.”
“more intuitive to use overall.”
“Great for kids and teens, but wish it had Bluetooth.”
Professional reviewers praise the upgraded autofocus, brighter-day performance and USB-C charging, while noting the absence of Bluetooth/app features and the high cost of film.
Everyday users love the retro look, tactile feel and USB-C charging, but report inconsistent autofocus in low light and the high expense of film.
