Which Instax Camera Should I Buy? A Complete Guide

Fujifilm Instax cameras are the world's best-selling instant cameras. It's easy to see why. You take a photo, and within seconds you're holding a real, physical print. No apps, no printing costs, no scrolling through a camera roll. Just instant memories you can actually touch.

But with over a dozen Instax models available, each designed for a different type of photographer, picking the right one takes a little thought. This guide covers every model Maplin stocks — from the fun, affordable Mini 12 to the premium Wide Evo hybrid — so you can find your perfect match.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is the best-selling instant camera in the world, and it's not hard to see why. It's lightweight, brilliantly simple to use, and produces vivid credit-card-sized prints every time — with zero setup required.

The Mini 12 features automatic exposure control, adjusting to the available light without any input from you. There's a built-in selfie mirror and a Close-up Mode for shots taken within 35–50cm, ideal for detail shots or selfies. Twist to turn on, twist further for Close-up mode, press the shutter. That's genuinely all there is to it.

It comes in five colours — Blossom Pink, Pastel Blue, Lilac Purple, Clay White, and Mint Green — making it one of the most popular gifts for teens, students, and anyone heading off to uni or travelling.

Buy this if: you want your first instant camera, you're buying a gift, or you just want maximum fun with zero fuss.

Shop the Instax Mini 12 →

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 41 is for anyone who wants a slightly more grown-up aesthetic. Where the Mini 12 leans into bright, playful colours, the Mini 41 has a sleek, timeless design that looks more like a classic camera from the 1970s — matte finish, clean lines, understated style.

Functionality is similar to the Mini 12: fully automatic exposure, selfie mirror, and simple controls. But the look is distinctly more premium for not much more money.

Buy this if: you want the simplicity of the Mini 12 but prefer a more stylish, understated design.

Shop the Instax Mini 41 →

The standard Instax Mini print is credit-card sized (46mm × 62mm). If you want something with more presence — a format that feels closer to a classic Polaroid — the Square range gives you a 62mm × 62mm square print that looks great on walls, in frames, and in albums.

The Instax Square SQ1 (£119.99) is the entry-level Square model — fully automatic, easy to use, available in Terracotta Orange, Glacier Blue, and White. The Instax Square SQ40 (£134.99) is the upgraded version with a more refined retro design and slightly improved image quality — it's one of the most critically acclaimed Instax models available.

Buy the SQ1 if: you want square prints at the most affordable price.

Buy the SQ40 if: you want the best-looking, best-performing analogue Square camera in the range.

Shop the Instax Square SQ40 →

The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 shoots on Wide film — prints roughly the size of a postcard (99mm × 62mm), about twice the width of the standard Mini format. If you've ever taken a Mini print and wished there was just a bit more room in the frame, this is your camera.

It's a fully automatic point-and-shoot, simple to operate, but the larger frame makes it ideal for group shots, outdoor scenes, events, and occasions where you want your prints to make a real impression. Wide film costs slightly more per shot, but the impact is worth it.

Buy this if: you regularly photograph groups or wider scenes, or you want prints that really stand out.

Shop the Instax Wide 400 →

The LiPlay range is where Instax gets smart. These cameras shoot digitally and let you preview your shot on a small screen before deciding whether to print — so you're never wasting expensive film on a photo you're not happy with. They also connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, so you can print photos straight from your camera roll.

The Instax Mini LiPlay (from £139.99) is the original hybrid model — compact, capable, and great value. The Instax Mini LiPlay+ (£189.99) is the upgraded version, adding a second wide-angle selfie camera, a larger 3-inch screen, and enhanced audio features that let you embed a sound clip into prints that can be replayed via the app.

Buy the LiPlay if: you want a hybrid camera that lets you preview shots and print from your phone, without spending too much.

Buy the LiPlay+ if: you want the most feature-packed hybrid in the Mini range.

Shop the Instax Mini LiPlay+ →

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo looks like a miniature vintage rangefinder — all metal dials and retro styling — but it's a fully digital hybrid underneath. Like the LiPlay, you shoot digitally and choose when to print. But the Mini Evo goes further: it has 10 lens effects and 10 film effects, giving you 100 creative combinations for your prints, plus Bluetooth for printing from your phone.

It's the most creatively expressive Instax camera in the Mini range, and one of the best-looking gadgets Fujifilm has ever made.

Buy this if: you care about how your prints look and want to experiment with creative effects, not just point and shoot.

Shop the Instax Mini Evo →

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 99 is the most feature-rich fully analogue Instax camera available. It has a zone focus system, manual exposure compensation, and — uniquely in the Instax range — the ability to turn the flash off completely, letting you shoot in ambient light for a more natural, film-like result. It also has four built-in coloured LED lights that cast warm, cool, or tinted light onto your subject in-camera.

If you've outgrown automatic Instax cameras and want proper creative control over analogue prints, this is the step up to take.

Buy this if: you're an experienced photographer who wants full analogue control and the most creative flexibility without going hybrid.

Shop the Instax Mini 99 →

The Fujifilm Instax Wide Evo is the flagship of the entire Instax range. It combines the large-format Wide print with the creative hybrid shooting of the Mini Evo — digital preview, 100 creative effect combinations, Bluetooth phone printing — but in the Wide format that fits everyone in the frame.

It's a significant investment, but if you want the biggest, most creative, most versatile Instax experience, nothing else comes close.

Buy this if: you want the very best Instax has to offer and wide-format prints are important to you.

Shop the Instax Wide Evo →

• Buying for a child: → Praktica Snap & Stick (£49.99)
• First instant camera / best gift: → Instax Mini 12 (from £74.99)
• Stylish, classic look: → Instax Mini 41 (£94.99)
• Best-looking square prints: → Instax Square SQ40 (£134.99)
• Group shots and big prints: → Instax Wide 400 (£129.99)
• Print from your phone too: → Instax Mini LiPlay (from £139.99)
• Creative effects and retro style: → Instax Mini Evo (£174.99)
• Full analogue control: → Instax Mini 99 (£174.99)
• Best of everything: → Instax Wide Evo (£319.99)

Browse all instant cameras at Maplin →