Polaroid Now+ Gen 3

The Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 is an instant camera. It was introduced in March 2025 and is a revised version of the Now+ Gen 2 from 2023. The new price was listed as $139.99 / €149.99 / £149.99.

The new model offers an improved light meter position, an optimized rangefinder, and a further developed autofocus system. The camera’s feature set remains the same, but it’s only a limited upgrade from an earlier edition.

Optimized exposure

Design and Housing

The Polaroid Now+ is based on the established design of previous Polaroid cameras and features a distinctive shape with rounded edges. The housing is typically made of a combination of polycarbonate and ABS plastics.

The camera is available in several color variants, including standard colors such as black and white, as well as special colors such as Arctic Blue or Coral.

The design includes a prominently placed shutter button on the front and an optical viewfinder for image composition. Controls such as the power button and indicators for the film counter and battery status are located on the back. A USB-C port is used to charge the built-in battery.

Photographic Features

The Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 is equipped with an autofocus system that automatically switches between two fixed focal lengths or focus settings. One lens is optimized for close-up photography (portraits, 0.4 m – 1.3 m), the other for standard distances (from 1 m to infinity). The goal of this system is to adjust image focus depending on the subject distance.

A built-in flash illuminates subjects in low-light conditions; this can usually be triggered automatically or deactivated manually. Basic creative functions such as a self-timer and a double exposure function, which allows you to capture two subjects in one image, are available directly on the camera.

Compatible Films

This camera uses Polaroid i-Type or Type 600 film. Both film types expose the square image format of 79 mm x 79 mm, surrounded by the typical wide frame (total format approximately 88 mm x 107 mm). Polaroid manufactures these films itself and offers them in color and black-and-white versions, as well as often in limited editions with colored or patterned frames.

A film cassette contains eight standard images. The main difference between i-Type and Type 600 is that Type 600 film cartridges contain a built-in battery, which powered older Polaroid 600 cameras.

For the Now+, which has its own battery, this battery isn’t necessary, but the films are still compatible. I-Type films are generally slightly cheaper because they don’t contain a battery.

The current color film for the camera is Polaroid Color Film for i-Type*.

App Connectivity and Advanced Control

A key feature of the Now+ is the Bluetooth interface for connecting to the Polaroid app (available for iOS and Android). This app significantly expands the camera’s functionality. Various additional shooting modes can be controlled via the app:

• Remote Shutter: Trigger the camera using your smartphone.
• Self-Timer: Advanced timer options.
• Double Exposure: More precise control of the double exposure function.
• Manual Mode: Allows manual adjustment of aperture and exposure time within the camera’s technical limitations.
• Aperture Priority: Selects the aperture, with the camera automatically adjusting the exposure time.
• Tripod Mode: Optimized for long exposures when using a tripod.
• Light Painting: Mode for long exposures to create light paintings.
• Noise Trigger: Triggers the camera with a loud noise.

The app also enables firmware updates for the camera and may offer features for organizing captured images. (digitally scanned) images.

Power Supply

The camera is powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery, which is charged via the USB-C port. Battery life is often stated by the manufacturer as being sufficient for approximately 15 film packs (approximately 120 photos) per charge, but this can vary depending on usage (especially flash use and app connectivity).