Polaroid is once again asking whether you’d want all your smartphone photos to take on that glossy, over-exposed look of old-school instant cameras. The sequel to the 2022 Hi-Print costs $20 more than it did before, but what you get in return is a miniature photo frame to display your cat pics with more vintage vibes than ever.
The new Hi-Print is here to compete against Fujifilm with the Instax line of smartphone-connected printers. There are two versions of Polaroid’s printer, though the one you want prints the larger 3 x 3 photos. These pictures will come out looking different than the ones you may see out of a camera like last year’s Polaroid Flip. For one, they are printed on Polaroid’s proprietary print paper, rather than Polaroid’s instant film. They’re also smaller than the 4.23 x 3.48-inch photos you’ll get from the company’s instant cameras. The benefit of this device is its versatility. This $120 printer connects to your smartphone and the Polaroid Hi-Print app, where you can add stickers or templates to photos before you bring them into the real world.
The printer’s main standout feature is the flip-out frame that lets you show off your latest dog shot on your shelf. It will save you from having to buy a separate frame, but the number of photos you’ll likely be printing will quickly eclipse what the Hi-Print can hold. The package comes with one of Polaroid’s Hi-Print 3 x 3 paper cartridges, allowing you to print just 10 photos. As per usual, the classic camera maker claims only its own Hi-Print cartridges are compatible with its new printer. A cartridge with 30 photos costs an extra $25.
No frame for the smaller and bigger Hi-Print printers
Meanwhile, the Hi-Print 2 x 3 Generation 2 Pocket Photo Printer was created to compete directly with Instax and its smaller, wallet-friendly photos. This printer costs $110, though it surprisingly lacks the flip-out frame to show off your smaller photos in your bedroom. If you want 20 more sheets of 2 x 3 photos, you’ll need to spend an extra $17. Finally, Polaroid is bringing back its $150 4 x 6 printer for larger postcard-sized photos. This version doesn’t include the frame. It costs another $40 for 80 more sheets of photo stock to print on.
Compared to the Instax Mini Link 3 or the larger Instax Link Wide, Polaroid’s Hi-Print 3 x 3 printer will likely be more presentable on a shelf, rather than stuffed into an unseen corner on your desk. The big difference is that while Instax prints on film, the Hi-Print uses its own paper cartridges. If it can nail the same distinct Polaroid look from users’ phone pics, the new Hi-Print could offer utility and looks all in one.
It just so happens that Instax recently launched the latest update to its popular line of pastel-colored instant cameras with its Mini 13. Fuji’s new camera is supposed to launch in June this year and cost around $94. As for Polaroid, we’ll have to see what next cameras they may debut in 2026.
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