I love instant cameras because they help me slow down and be creative without the distractions of a phone. Owning a real print also makes you feel rooted in an era dominated by screens, which is why I think a lot of people these days are drawn to them – and why designs with old-school vibes like the Polaroid Flip make such lovely gifts. It’s usually expensive, but today you can buy the Flip for $184.99 ($35 off) directly from Polaroid, which is its best price yet. Amazon is also selling the camera with two film packs for $212.49 ($37 off), which also marks a new low.
Polaroid cameras offer the most charming, old-fashioned instant film experience of any I’ve tested, and the Flip is no exception. It features a classic, retro-inspired design with a flip cover and prints vintage-style square I-type photos with Polaroid’s iconic white frame. Yet at the same time, it packs in the perfect amount of subtle, modern conveniences, like Bluetooth, USB-C charging, and a beginner-friendly companion app that lets you adjust saturation and exposure.
But what really sets it apart is its image quality, which outperforms other Polaroid models in this price range. The Flip has the most powerful flash of any Polaroid camera, and combined with its unique sonar autofocus and four-lens hyperfocal system, it produces sharper, more consistent images than any Polaroid model offered at this price. You can also manually change the exposure, and the camera even sends you warnings when a photo might be overexposed or underexposed. These are all features that go a long way toward reducing the number of wasted shots, which is helpful considering I-Type film costs a whopping $18.99 for just eight prints.
That said, the instant camera isn’t for everyone. Fujifilm’s cheaper Instax Mini 12 develops prints much faster and looks more true to life while having less difficulty in low light. Still, the Flip’s dreamy, vintage aesthetic has its own appeal, especially if you prefer a more artsy, old-fashioned look.
