(checked 2026-10-10)Lilac Purple listing (1,558 ratings); other colors and bundles have separate listings.
TechRadar's best instant camera overall and Tom's Guide's pick for beginners: twist, point and shoot, on the cheapest common film. It tends to overexpose in bright sun, the flash can't be switched off, and there's no self-timer or double exposure.
Film cost: Instax Mini film: about 75 cents a print (Tom's Guide); about $0.80 for color and $1.25 for black-and-white (PCMag). Every shot is printed.
Top complaints
- Overexposes in bright light; flash always fires
TechRadar says it tends to overexpose in bright sunlight, which the always-on flash doesn't help. Tom's Guide says photos in very bright light may come out overexposed and lists 'can't turn flash off' as a con.
Source: TechRadar, Tom's Guide - Bare-bones features, tiny viewfinder, slippery body
Tom's Guide lists a tiny viewfinder, no digital storage and no self-timer or double exposures. PCMag notes there's no tripod socket or artsy features. TechRadar says the smooth plastic body is slippery and fiddly for selfies.
- Blurry shots and units that stop working
Amazon's review summary says image clarity is mixed, with some owners finding pictures blurry, and reliability is mixed, with some saying it randomly stops taking photos.
What owners love
- As easy as instant gets
TechRadar calls it foolproof: twist the lens to turn it on, then shoot. Tom's Guide says the shutter button is the only thing to learn. PCMag finds the twisting lens collar more intuitive than the Mini 11's. Amazon owners call it easy to use.
- Bright, colorful prints with accurate framing
Tom's Guide says images are bright and detailed with faithful color. TechRadar praises rich vintage party prints and a viewfinder that corrects for parallax.
Source: Tom's Guide, TechRadar - Cheap to run
Prints cost about 75 cents (Tom's Guide), and it runs on easy-to-replace AA batteries (PCMag). TechRadar says affordable Mini film keeps running costs predictable.
- You shoot outdoors in bright sun a lot
- You want creative modes like double exposure
- You want to choose which shots to print
- First instant camera or a gift for kids and teens
- Party snaps with cheap, easy-to-find film
- People who want zero settings
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- TechRadar: Best instant camera overall (updated 2026-07-17). The cons are overexposure in bright light and slippery handling.
- Tom's Guide: Best for beginners (updated 2026-09-25). The cons are that the flash can't be turned off, the viewfinder is tiny, and there's no digital storage or self-timer.
- PCMag: Called the best entry-level instant film camera in its review. PCMag's July 2026 roundup has since replaced it with the newer Instax Mini 13.