Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 vs Polaroid Now Generation 3
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Instant Print Cameras: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Instax Mini 12 is the easiest camera to recommend to almost anyone: cheap, foolproof, and it reliably hands you a real print. The Polaroid Now Generation 3 is the pick if you specifically want big, iconic full-size prints and don't mind paying more per shot.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
Buy itThe point-and-shoot that gets a warm, tangible print in your hand with almost zero effort.
- Genuinely foolproof: twist the lens on and shoot, with reliable auto exposure and flash
- Cheapest real-film camera here, and the film is sold almost everywhere
- Built-in close-up mode and selfie mirror make it forgiving for beginners and kids
- Fully automatic with no manual exposure or flash control
- Owners note it can overexpose in bright sun, and the white shell shows grime
Polaroid Now Generation 3
Buy itThe one that delivers big, iconic, full-size Polaroid prints with real physical presence.
- Large classic-format prints that feel more like keepsakes than the mini format
- Sturdy, well-built body with USB-C charging, self-timer, and double-exposure mode
- Autofocus and a light meter aimed at more reliable exposures than the previous generation, per owner reports
- Film is the most expensive per shot of the group
- Owners report the autofocus can be inconsistent
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Our pick | Polaroid Now Generation 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | First-time buyers, kids, and anyone who just wants a real print without fiddling. | Buyers who want the definitive full-size Polaroid look and will shoot deliberately. |
| Price tier | $ · budget | $$$ · premium |
| Print technology | Instax Mini analog film | Full-size Polaroid i-Type film |
| Print size & look | Credit-card mini, warm and soft | Large classic square, iconic |
| Image quality | Good for the format | Best physical print here |
| Ease of use | Effortless, fully auto | Simple with a few modes |
| Creative control | None (auto only) | Self-timer, double exposure |
| Running cost per shot | Low | Highest |
| Portability | Compact | Bulkier, needs a bag |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 if
first-time buyers, kids, and anyone who just wants a real print without fiddling.
Know before buying: fully automatic with no manual exposure or flash control.
Pick the Polaroid Now Generation 3 if
buyers who want the definitive full-size Polaroid look and will shoot deliberately.
Know before buying: film is the most expensive per shot of the group.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 - The point-and-shoot that gets a warm, tangible print in your hand with almost zero effort. Choose the Polaroid Now Generation 3 instead if buyers who want the definitive full-size Polaroid look and will shoot deliberately.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Instant Print Cameras: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).