Fujifilm
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
$93.95Cheaper
Released 2023-03
Best Instant Cameras · head-to-head
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 vs Polaroid Now Gen 3
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is cheaper at $93.95. Every spec and price links to its source.
Polaroid
Polaroid Now Gen 3
$119.99
Released 2025-03
Which is better: the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 or Polaroid Now Gen 3?
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is the cheaper at $93.95. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 | Polaroid Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $93.95 MSRP per instaxus.com | $119.99 |
| Brand | Fujifilm | Polaroid |
| Released | 2023-03 | 2025-03 |
| Film format | instax_mini | i_type |
| Hybrid digital | No | No |
| Built in screen | No | No |
| Selfie mirror | Yes | No |
| Self timer | No | Yes |
| Rechargeable battery | No | Yes |
| Weight (oz) | 10.8 | 15.8 |
| Release year | 2023 | 2025 |
Sources — Fujifilm Instax Mini 12: fujifilm.com (verified 2026-06-23). Polaroid Now Gen 3: press.polaroid.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 and Polaroid Now Gen 3?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Film format: Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 instax_mini vs Polaroid Now Gen 3 i_type
- Selfie mirror: Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 true vs Polaroid Now Gen 3 false
- Self timer: Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 false vs Polaroid Now Gen 3 true
- Rechargeable battery: Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 false vs Polaroid Now Gen 3 true
- Weight (oz): Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 10.8 vs Polaroid Now Gen 3 15.8
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
Two whitelisted hands-on testers (TechRadar, Tom's Guide) rate the Instax Mini 12 the best budget instant camera for beginners: dead-simple to use, cheap film, lovely prints. Both flag consistent overexposure in bright sunlight and a slippery, hard-to-grip body. Neither published lab benchmark figures, so there are no measured values. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Extremely easy to use — true point-and-shoot for beginners; Bright, detailed prints with rich, vintage-looking color; Cheap, widely available Instax Mini film — strong value.
Flagged: Overexposes shots in bright sunlight; Slippery, hard-to-grip body; fiddly for selfies; Limited control: always-on flash that can't be turned off.
Polaroid Now Gen 3
Only one whitelisted tester, PCMag, has verified hands-on time with a Now Generation 3 camera. Its review covers the app-connected Now+ Generation 3, which the reviewer calls physically identical to the base Now apart from Bluetooth, and it explicitly declines to review the base Now separately. PCMag praises the large I-Type prints, especially the black-and-white film, but flags unpredictable, pricey color film plus basic lens, autofocus and metering. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Large I-Type square prints, and especially the black-and-white film, deliver excellent contrast and nostalgic appeal; Built-in USB-C battery rated for about 15 packs of film (120 photos) and holds a charge well between uses; Built-in tripod socket plus simple one-button operation.
Flagged: Color I-Type film is unpredictable, shifts color in cold/hot weather, and costs about $2 per shot; Lens, autofocus and metering are basic; no on-body EV compensation, so exposure control requires the phone app; Creative filters are no longer bundled with Gen 3 (sold separately for $19.99).