Verdict
Head-to-head · Best Instant Cameras

Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay Hybrid vs Polaroid Go Generation 2

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay Hybrid comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.1 vs 3.5). The gap is mostly about creative hybrid users — read the strengths below before deciding.

Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay Hybrid
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Instant Cameras
Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay Hybrid
4 sources$175as of Sep 25

The Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is a hybrid of instant film and digital: it saves shots to internal memory or a microSD card so you choose which to print, and it doubles as a printer for photos sent from a smartphone. Reviewers liked its compact body and its many filters and frames, and it can record sound and print it as a QR code on the photo, though Tom's Guide found that feature a hassle and low-light performance subpar. Ease of use is the priority, with creative photo modes and audio built around it.

Strengths
  • — Selfie mirror on the front for framing self-portraits
  • — Records sound and prints it as a QR code that plays back from the photo
  • — Supports printing images from smartphone via Bluetooth and QR code audio clips
Watch-outs
  • — Filters can't be added after shooting
  • — Subpar low-light performance
Polaroid Go Generation 2
Ranked #10 in Best Instant Cameras
Polaroid Go Generation 2
3 sources1 derived$77as of Oct 2

The Polaroid Go Generation 2 is the world's smallest instant camera at 105mm × 84mm × 62mm and 273g with film loaded. Analog.Cafe's review covers the 51mm fixed-focus lens with an f9-f42 aperture range and an electronically-controlled shutter. Double-exposure mode, a 9-second delay timer, and a built-in flash with 2m range round it out. Reviewers like the portability and the fun of using it, but note the film costs more than Instax alternatives and the bundled USB-C cable is uncomfortably short. Casual photographers who want something compact and addictive will enjoy it; anyone watching film costs won't.

Strengths
  • — World's smallest instant camera with compact 105mm × 84mm × 62mm dimensions
  • — Built-in rechargeable battery lasts for approximately 15 packs of film
  • — Includes wrist strap and comes in attractive cerulean blue color option
Watch-outs
  • — Film is more expensive than competing Instax brand at 1.4x the cost
  • — Charging cable is described as uncomfortably short
  • — Camera is not quite pocketable due to its size

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay Hybrid

Compared to the Mini 12, it offers more digital connectivity and smartphone app integration, though it's more complex and less straightforward. Unlike the SQ1, it's more feature-rich and offers hybrid functionality, but it's more expensive and less user-friendly.

Polaroid Go Generation 2

The Polaroid Go is the smallest camera in the lineup, but it's more expensive than the Instax Mini 12 and lacks the automatic exposure system. Compared to the Evo, it's less feature-rich and doesn't offer digital connectivity, though it's more portable. Unlike the SQ1, it's less user-friendly and more expensive for similar functionality.

Specs side-by-side

SpecFujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay HybridPolaroid Go Generation 2
Film FormatInstax Mini FilmPolaroid Go Film
Lens28mm equivalent f/251mm polycarbonate resin
Shutter Speed1/4 to 1/8000 second1s to 1/300s
Battery TypeRechargeable li-ion batteryRechargeable, lasts 15 packs
FlashAuto, forced and suppressed flashBuilt-in automatic flash
Dimensions82.5 mm × 122.9 mm × 36.7 mm105mm × 84mm × 62mm
WeightApproximately 255 g242 g without film (273 g with film and strap)
ConnectivityBluetooth—
Image Sensor1/5-inch CMOS, 2560 x 1920—
Screen2.7-inch LCD—
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