Polaroid just launched the worlds smallest instant camera and this
pocketable hit of 1980s nostalgia only has one big drawback

Date:
Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
Right place, right time I think current trends for cute cameras and screen-free experiences are good news for the new Polaroid Go Gen 3.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Polaroid has announced the
third generation of its tiny 'Go' series of instant cameras, the smallest
yet. Like previous models, it uses Polaroid's dedicated 'Go' film, a smaller format producing 2.6" x 2.1" prints With a selfie mirror and self-timer for group shots, the Go 3 is courting a younger user Summer is here, festival season is upon us, and Polaroid has unveiled what it's hoping is the perfect camera for it all. The Polaroid Go Generation 3 is the latest, and smallest, in the rejuvenated firm's line of tiny instant-film cameras, shooting and printing smaller-format photos in the iconic square Polaroid format.

With research indicating that many members of Gen Z are fatigued by modern tech , the Polaroid Go Gen 3 is pitched as a tactile and authentic means of experiencing (and documenting) an 'analog summer'. It's small enough to take to concerts and festivals and on road trips, and Polaroid is betting that its lo-fi aesthetics will charm a screen-weary generation. Preceded by the Polaroid Go 2 in 2024, this new version is apparently somehow even smaller. Polaroid hasn't yet provided precise size and weight specs, though the firm
is calling it 'the world's smallest instant analog camera'. It uses the same dedicated Polaroid Go film, which produces prints measuring 66.6mm x 53.9mm (2.623" x 2.122"), with an image area of 47mm x 46mm (1.851" x 1.811"). This is about four times smaller than the standard I-Type format. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: You may like Insta360 reveals one of the wackiest camera kits for 2026: the Go 3S Retro Polaroid Hi-Print 3x3 review: a kitschy little printer with bags of color Polaroid unveils a new way to print and
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The Go Gen 3 has a selfie mirror, a self-timer for group shots and a double-exposure mode which allows you to expose the same frame twice for creative effects. All this was true of the Go 2 as well, and indeed, it
sounds like the Go Gen 3 is going to be a very similar point-and-shoot
affair, with fixed focus and fully automatic settings. I'll be able to
confirm this once my review sample arrives en route at the time of writing.

It'll be available from today in a choice of five colors white, black, teal blue, ice blue or purple at a starting price of $89.99 / 79.99 (around AU$150). (Image credit: Polaroid) Camera of the summer? It could be! I'm a
big Polaroid fan I love instant photography and I own a Polaroid Flip . Even so, I can admit that the Polaroid Go Gen 3 doesn't look like the most
exciting release, more an iterative update on the Go 2. And far as I can see from inspecting the early release materials, the main iteration seems to be that it's a bit smaller.

Still, I think in many respects it has the makings of a hit. Polaroid is not wrong to point out that many younger people are craving low-tech, lo-fi experiences, as demonstrated by recent hits like the Camp Snap and the RewindPix . And people like cute cameras too, as seen in the huge viral success of the Kodak Charmera keychain camera. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Polaroid) Plus, there's the perennial popularity of Polaroid's key rival in the instant photography
space: Fujifilm Instax cameras , which consistently sell like hot-cakes.

With its cute, pocketable form factor, the Go Gen 3 could quite easily take a big bite out of Fujifilm Instax's lunch. It's priced at about the same level as the Instax mini 12 , and the price of its 'Go' film is comparable to
Instax mini. With Go film you get 16 shots for $21.99 / 18.99, while Instax mini will give you 20 shots for around $20.99 / 14.99.

(This is a sharp contrast to the larger I-Type film as much as I love it, forking out $18.99 / 16.99 for just eight shots is a bitter pill.)

I'll reserve full judgement on the Polaroid Go Gen 3 until I've been hands-on with it for myself, but for now, I think Polaroid is in the right place at
the right time for a storming success. Don't be surprised if you see quite a few of these little cameras at festivals and on beaches this year... (Image credit: Polaroid) Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/instant-cameras/polaroid-just-launched-the-w orlds-smallest-instant-camera-and-this-pocketable-hit-of-1980s-nostalgia-only- has-one-big-drawback


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