The Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is the brand's latest take on the camera that made instant photography famous: drop in a film pack, point, press the shutter, and a physical square print slides out and develops in your hand over the next few minutes. This review is editorial and spec based. It is written from the Amazon listing and Polaroid's published specifications rather than from any hands on use, so every performance point here is framed as a listing claim or a reasonable expectation on paper, not a field result. The goal is to help you decide whether this third generation model fits how you actually want to shoot before you commit to a camera and its film.
What it is
The Polaroid Now is a point and shoot instant film camera. It is the modern, autofocus successor to the original Polaroid cameras, and this is the third generation of the Now line. According to the listing it prints on both Polaroid I-Type film and the classic 600 film, giving you the familiar square image with the wide white border that people associate with the Polaroid name. Unlike a digital camera or a phone, there is no screen and no editing step. What the lens sees is what prints, which is a large part of the appeal and also the main thing to understand before buying.
This particular package is the Now Black camera bundled with film. The product title lists sixteen color photos, which on paper corresponds to two packs of film, since Polaroid film is sold in packs of eight shots. Bundles can change, so the film quantity and type should always be confirmed on the live listing at the moment you order.
Key features based on the listing
The specifications below come from the product listing and Polaroid's published material for the Now 3rd Generation. They describe what the camera is designed to do, not results from testing.
- Autofocus two lens system: the listing describes an autofocus system that uses two lenses and automatically selects the right one based on your distance to the subject, which is meant to keep both close up and standard shots sharp.
- Self timer: a built in self timer so you can include yourself in group shots without a second person pressing the shutter.
- Double exposure: a double exposure mode that layers two shots onto a single frame for a creative, blended print.
- Built in flash: an integrated flash to help in dimmer indoor settings, which matters because instant film generally needs plenty of light.
- USB-C charging: the 3rd generation uses USB-C for charging its internal rechargeable battery, a welcome modern connector compared with older micro USB cameras.
- I-Type and 600 film compatibility: it accepts Polaroid I-Type film, which is made for cameras with a built in battery, as well as the classic 600 film.
- Film bundle: this listing pairs the camera with film for color photos, so you can start shooting without a separate first film order, subject to confirming the bundle contents.
Polaroid Now 3rd Generation I-Type Instant Camera, Now Black, with Film Bundle
Point and shoot instant camera with a two lens autofocus system, self timer, double exposure, built in flash and USB-C charging, listed here with a film bundle for color photos according to the product page.
Check price on AmazonWho it is for
On paper this camera is aimed squarely at people who want a physical, tangible photo rather than another file on a phone. If you love the ritual of instant prints, the Now 3rd Generation fits that use well. It is a natural choice for parties and events, where a camera that spits out a shareable print on the spot becomes part of the fun. It also makes an easy, recognisable gift, both because the Polaroid name is so familiar and because the point and shoot operation has a short learning curve. Finally, it suits analog photography fans who enjoy the deliberate, one frame at a time pace and the slightly unpredictable, characterful look that instant film is known for. If you mainly want perfectly sharp, free, endlessly reshootable images, a phone will serve you better, and that is worth being honest about up front.
Strengths on paper
Judged by its specifications, the Now 3rd Generation has a clear set of strengths. The autofocus two lens system is designed to remove the guesswork from focusing, which is the sort of thing that trips up fixed focus instant cameras. The move to USB-C charging is a practical, future friendly change that means one common cable can top up the camera. Dual compatibility with I-Type and 600 film gives you flexibility in which film you buy. Creative controls such as double exposure and the self timer add room to experiment beyond straight snapshots. And because it is a genuine Polaroid using the larger classic format, the prints themselves are bigger and more iconic than the credit card sized prints from some rival instant formats. None of these points require hands on testing to state, since they follow directly from the published design.
Things to check before you buy
Instant photography has real trade offs, and this is where a spec based view has to be candid. First and most important, film is an ongoing cost. The camera is only the start; every print you make consumes a sheet of film, and film is sold in packs, typically eight shots per pack, so the cost per photo is meaningfully higher than digital. Budget for film the way you would budget for ink in a printer. Second, low light is demanding for all instant film, so even with the built in flash you should expect the best results in bright or well lit conditions, and darker scenes can come out underexposed. Third, prints develop over several minutes rather than appearing instantly, so patience is part of the experience. Fourth, film is not always bundled, and bundle contents change, so confirm on the listing whether film is included, how many shots, and whether it is I-Type or 600 before you order. Treat all of the performance related points as listing claims to verify against your own needs, not as tested outcomes.
How it compares
The two most common alternatives are a Fujifilm Instax camera and simply printing from your phone. Compared with an Instax Mini, the Polaroid Now prints a noticeably larger, square image in the classic Polaroid style, which many people prefer for display and for that signature look. The trade off is cost: Polaroid film is generally more expensive per shot than Instax Mini film, so the larger print comes at a higher running cost. Instax also tends to be very beginner friendly and forgiving, while Polaroid leans into a more analog, character rich result. Against phone printing, where you shoot digitally and send images to a pocket photo printer or a lab, the phone route is cheaper per image, lets you pick the best frame, and allows edits, but it loses the immediacy and the one shot commitment that make an instant camera feel special. In short, choose the Now for the experience, the format and the look, and lean toward Instax or phone printing if lower cost per photo and flexibility matter more to you.
Verdict
Taken purely on its specifications and the listing, the Polaroid Now 3rd Generation is a well rounded, modern instant camera that keeps what people love about Polaroid while adding sensible updates like autofocus and USB-C charging. It is not the camera for someone chasing the cheapest or sharpest possible images, and it asks you to accept the ongoing cost and the light hungry nature of instant film. But for the right buyer, the party host, the gift giver, the analog photography enthusiast, it delivers something a phone cannot: a real, physical print you can hand to someone seconds after the shot. If that is what you are after, and the film bundle checks out on the day you order, this is an easy camera to recommend considering. You can review the current configuration, bundle and availability by checking the Polaroid Now 3rd Gen on Amazon.
Disclosure: this is an editorial, spec based review built from the Amazon product listing and Polaroid's published specifications, not from hands on testing. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Specifications, bundle contents and availability can change, so always confirm the details on the live listing before buying.