Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 Review: Best Instant Camera 2025

It’s not easy to write a review of a Polaroid camera. Many tech reviews criticize Polaroid. The whole point is the dreamlike colors and old-fashioned feel. You don’t pick a Polaroid for sharpness. You like it because it’s art and it brings back memories. If you want a perfect copy of reality, use a digital camera.

There is a difference, though, between artistic imperfection and technical failure. Some new Polaroid cameras have been hard to recommend for years. They had real problems with exposure and focus. The Polaroid Now series had a lot of trouble. This was a big problem. New Polaroid cameras don’t just go up against the powerful Fuji Instax camera. They also go up against classic Polaroid models that people love and trust.

So, the main question is: Does the new Polaroid Now+ (Plus) Gen 3 fix these issues? We tested it to see if it’s one of the best instant cameras you can buy right now.

What Exactly is the Polaroid Now+ Gen 3?

The Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 is the best instant camera that Polaroid makes right now. The “+” in its name means that it can connect to Bluetooth. This option links your phone to the camera. It can also use old 600 film, which comes with a battery. This flexibility is a great plus for people who have been fans of Polaroid for a long time.

A Modern Classic in Design and Feel

The Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 looks and feels like a real Polaroid camera. It has that well-known, chunky shape that everyone knows. This is not a Fuji Instax Mini or other instant camera that fits in your pocket. It is a big piece of equipment. To make those big, classic square Polaroid photos, this is the right size. A tripod mount on the bottom is a nice touch, especially for using the app’s creative features.

Main Features: What the “+” Means

The Now+ Gen 3 stands out from other instant cameras because of its features. These tools turn it from a toy into a serious creative tool.

The App Gives You Full Creative Control

The Bluetooth app is the best part. It lets you use your phone as a remote control for the Polaroid camera. In the app, you can find:

• Full Manual Mode: You can finally change the shutter speed and aperture. For anyone who knows how to use exposure, this is a game-changer.
• Double Exposure: Create layered, artistic images.
• Light Painting: Drag light sources through a long exposure.
• Self-Timer: You need this to get yourself in the picture.
• Portrait Mode: Tells the camera to focus on closer subjects.

Some people might say that the Now+ Gen 3 is the best instant film camera for artists because it has this much control.

Lens Filter Kit Included

You get a pouch with five real lens filters in the box. These snap onto the lens of the camera. The kit has:

• Color filters in red, yellow, and blue.
• A filter with a starburst shape.
• A filter with a red vignette.

Better Autofocus and Exposure

This is the most important change. A lot of the time, earlier Now models had trouble focusing. They also often made bright scenes too bright. The two-zone autofocus system on the Gen 3 model is much better. It does a better job of finding your subject and keeping it clear.

The exposure system is also more dependable. It’s not perfect—bright skies can still get blown out—but it’s a big improvement. You’ll be able to use a lot more shots from each pack of film. This makes using a Polaroid camera much less annoying and more fun.

The Polaroid Look and the Instax Look: Which One Is Better?

What do the pictures look like? They look like pictures from a Polaroid camera. And that’s a lovely thing.

Polaroid Aesthetic: The pictures have a soft, dreamy look to them. The colors are deep and change in interesting ways. Deep blues and bright cyans are both beautiful. They are big, well-known, and feel heavy.

Instax Aesthetic: In contrast, Instax photos are generally sharper, with more contrast and more accurate, vibrant colors. They look more like modern photos.

Polaroid is the best choice if you want a big, artistic, and old-fashioned picture. The Now+ Gen 3 gives you that classic look more consistently than ever.

Is This the Best Instant Camera for You?

It all depends on what you need when it comes to picking the best instant camera. Let’s talk about who the Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 is meant for.

• Yes, for the creative artist: There are endless possibilities with the manual mode, app controls, and lens filters.
• For the Casual Party-Goer: Maybe. A basic Polaroid Now or Instax camera might be a better, cheaper choice if you just want a simple point-and-shoot for parties. You might not use all of the extra features on the Now+.
• If you’re on a tight budget: Probably not. The camera itself costs money. Polaroid i-Type film costs a lot more per shot than Instax film, which is even more important.

The Good and the Bad

Pros

• Great app for having full creative control
• The lens filter kit that comes with it adds value.
• Autofocus and exposure are much better now.
• The classic, big Polaroid photo size
• 40% of the plastics used to make it are recycled.

Cons

• Film costs a lot of money.
• Too big and not easy to carry in your pocket
• Not as foolproof as an Instax camera yet
• The battery needs to be charged often.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some answers to the most common questions about Polaroid cameras.

Getting Started: The First Photos You Take with the Polaroid Now+

So, you’ve made up your mind that the Now+ is the best camera for you. It’s fun to open up your new Polaroid camera. This is how to get your first picture in just a few minutes.

1. Put power in the camera: First things first, make sure your camera is fully charged. It comes with a standard USB-C cable. A tiny LED light next to the port will let you know when it’s fully charged. You won’t have to do this very often because one charge lasts for about 15 packs of film.
2. Put the film in: Take the foil off a new pack of Polaroid i-Type film. Be careful not to touch the middle. Put the film cassette into the camera. The dark side of the plastic should be facing up. Close the door to the film tightly.
3. Take out the Darkslide: The camera will whir and spit out a black card as soon as you close the door. This is the darkslide. Before you use it, it keeps the film safe from light. Your camera is now full and ready to go. Now, the small screen on the back will show an “8.” This means you have eight pictures left.
4. Take your first photo: Make a frame for your shot. Push the red button to close the shutter. The flash will fire automatically unless you turn it off. The camera will make its usual noise. Your picture will come out of the front slot.
5. Protect It! This is the most important rule. As soon as the picture is taken, keep it out of the light. There is a “film shield” built into the camera that is a black tongue that covers the picture. Put the photo under this shield for a few seconds. After that, carefully take it off and put it face down on a flat surface. Don’t give in to the urge to watch it develop in the light. This protection is very important for bright colors and good contrast.

Polaroid Film: i-Type vs. 600

A lot of people ask, “How do I know what Polaroid film to buy?” It’s great that your Polaroid Now+ can use two different kinds of film.

• I-Type Film: This is the film that all new Polaroid cameras use. The “i” stands for “incredible” (and “impossible,” which is a nod to the company that saved Polaroid). The main difference is that i-Type film packs don’t have batteries in them. This makes i-Type film a little less expensive and less wasteful because modern cameras have their batteries that can be recharged. This is the film you should use for the Now+.

• 600 Film: This is the classic film made for old Polaroid cameras from the 1980s and 1990s. Those old cameras didn’t have their batteries. Each pack of 600 film comes with a small battery that powers the camera. This film works perfectly with the Now+, but it will cost a little more because you have to buy a battery that you don’t need. It’s a good choice if the store is out of i-Type or if you want to try a special edition 600 film.

The pictures from both types of film are the same size and quality. Stick with i-Type for the Now+ for your wallet and the environment.

The decision comes down to philosophy. The Polaroid Now+ is a real instant film camera. When you press the button, a one-of-a-kind picture is made. It’s about the magic of the now. The Instax Mini Evo is a digital camera that uses Instax film to print pictures. You can take 100 pictures, look at them on a screen, and only print the ones you like best. It costs less and is safer, but it loses the “one-of-a-kind” magic.

How to Take the Best Polaroid Pictures

You need to know how to use a Polaroid camera. With just a few simple tips, you can make your photos look a lot better and make this one of the best instant cameras you have.

• Polaroids love light, so watch the light: For the best results, take pictures outside on a day that is bright but a little cloudy. Press the flash-override button to turn on the flash if the subject is backlit (the sun is behind them).
• Get the Right Distance: The Now+ has a good autofocus, but it can’t do everything. If you get closer than 2 feet (0.6 meters) to your subject, the picture will be blurry. The app’s Portrait Mode tells the camera that you’re focusing on something close.
• Control the flash: The flash is helpful when you’re inside or when the light is behind you. But if your subject is too close, it can wash out details or reflect badly in mirrors and windows. Press the button with the lightning bolt symbol to turn off the flash.
• Take care of your film: It’s a delicate chemical product. Put your film packs in the fridge flat, but never in the freezer. Before you shoot with a pack, let it sit at room temperature for about an hour. Don’t ever leave your film or instant camera in a hot car.
• Be patient while it develops: After you’ve covered your photo for the first 30 seconds, let it continue to develop for 10 to 15 minutes on a flat surface. The colors will fully come out and get darker during this time. Being patient pays off.

You will get more keepers from each pack if you follow these tips. You will learn how to work with the film’s character instead of against it. This makes using a camera that prints pictures very rewarding. You’re not just snapping a picture; you’re making something real and one-of-a-kind.

The Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Polaroid Now+ Gen 3?

Yes, with great excitement. The Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 is a great success. It pays tribute to Polaroid’s artistic, unpredictable spirit while fixing the technical problems that its most recent models had. You don’t waste as much of that expensive film because the autofocus and exposure system are better.

This is the most flexible instant camera Polaroid has ever made because it has both easy point-and-shoot features and a lot of creative control through the app. It connects the past and the future of instant photography.

This is the best Polaroid instant camera you can buy right now. This is the best Polaroid camera for both beginners who want to improve and experienced artists who want to have more control. It shows that even in a world full of digital copies, a one-of-a-kind instant print can still be very magical.