Just click and print: The best instant cameras of 2024

This one will certainly tick the nostalgia box for anyone who remembers the classic Polaroid Spectra from the mid-eighties, as they both share the looks of the latter which had a classic pop-up mechanism. The lens and flash don't need to pop-up any more, but they'll still deliver the goods.

Of all the cameras on our list, this one is another contender for most retro. Holding this as you would a doorstep sandwich is both satisfying and unique. Again here we have sticky-backed prints, and a good size too. But where this camera really shines is in the app support. You can use it as a remote shutter control, and also use the photo studio app to add effects and more. before printing. It'll even save your 16MP shots to a MicroSD card. It's 1986 all over again - but better.

Think children and cameras and you'll probably have visions of your expensive DSLR being dropped on holiday. But we love the fun and robust design of this Instant Camera for Kids from Hangrui. It's clearly been designed from the ground up to stand up to some punishment, while still looking exciting. And that's just the beginning. Yes, this is an instant camera, but before you imagine your little ones spending a whole cartridge of expensive photo paper on shots of their sandals, think again. The printer paper comes on a roll, so this is easy to load and there's plenty of capacity. It's thermal paper too, so it prints in black and white - all a child needs to have fun with photography.

Adding to the package is an array of extras, from stickers and pens to colour-in their photographic creations, to extra rolls of photo paper and more. To top it off, this will save their shots and also take 1080p video and time-lapses. They can even add effects and frames, and play some basic games on it. Unless want a more traditional camera for your child, if you're looking for something to keep your kids occupied and creative on holiday, you've found it.

Kodak features again in our recommendations with another palm-sized slice of camera simplicity. The aptly-named Mini Shot 3 Retro again harks back to the small 35mm cameras of old, with this one sporting the classic Kodak brand colours. It'll churn out a very practically-sized 3 x 6-inch print too – and we absolutely love the option to print borderless images, which really makes the most of your paper cartridges.

Extras include a rear colour screen to help you sort out any corrections and easily add effects easily before printing. But, we think that the star here is the sheer image quality. We all remember the slightly soft, if charming, 'Polaroid look' we grew up with - but here things have gone up a notch, Kodak uses its 4Pass technology to activate real ink contained in the layers of the paper. The result is superior image quality all around. They're even laminated and protected against fingerprints and water as they arrive. Stunning, especially for an instant camera.

There are cameras here that offer larger prints and different features, but this one takes first prize because, for us, it combines the major features of an instant camera with an iconic design. Think 'instant camera' and you'll probably think 'Polaroid' - and then something that looks a lot like this Now+ will come to mind.

Apart from being an excellent tactile shape to hold, this instant camera will also mount onto a standard tripod. It uses Polaroid i-Type and 600 film which come in various pack sizes. A unique feature here is the ability to attach five included effect filters to the lens. That means you'll be getting seriously creative, and then instantly printing your masterpiece out for all to see as handy 7.9cm square prints. There is a Polaroid Now+ Gen II version of this camera that came out more recently, but some users report issues with it, so we think the original is still the best. Polaroid has definitely catered for nostalgia fans with this modern update to retro photography.

Our list of snappy little cameras would be incomplete without Kodak. Famed for its 35mm film stock and associated cameras, the company is back with its modern spin on cameras of old. Loosely resembling the palm-sized Kodac your parents probably clicked away with on holiday back in the day. We love that the Kodak Printomatic has been beautifully designed with simplicity in mind. The name itself is brilliantly retro too.

So, what you'll find here is a no-frills point-and-click budget camera with some surprising extras. Firstly, it prints in colour onto water and tear-resistant sticker paper. Secondly, we really appreciate its nice wide-angle lens, so you'll have plenty of flexibility with framing. Last but not least, the photos are also saved onto a MicroSD card - so this camera is ideal for both saving and sharing. Plus, for an instant camera by Kodak, we think it's an absolute steal.

We love this neat little gem of a camera. It produces instant credit card-sized photos and as a result, it's nice and compact too – we think it's perfect for taking on holiday. Even better, this bundle comes with two packs of instax MINI film for plenty of hassle-free shots while out and about. Again, there's no colour screen or in-camera saving to be found here, but we like that instax has focussed on simplicity and reliability. This is the sort of camera you grab just as you leave for the beach. Point, click and enjoy instant results.

It's not all down to you, though. When we wrote our article on the best instax cameras the previous Mini 11 version took the ' Good for Selfies' crown - and you can see why. There's a selfie lens and mirror to help you get things framed up, and built-in auto exposure. Best of all, these prints are perfect for sharing as they're the right size for sliding into a purse or wallet for safekeeping while you're out and about. All in all, we think that the instax Mini 12 is probably the perfect stress-free instant camera for your next holiday.

At first glance, the Instax Mini 99 from FujiFilm might resemble a compact, modern digital camera. Yes, it's small but what we really love about this is that it's packed with features designed for creative photographers. This camera produces handy credit card-sized prints from the side-facing slot. It also boasts a retractable 60mm lens with multiple focus zones. A quick turn of the dial lets you switch between close-ups, distant landscapes and an excellent macro mode for super-detailed close-ups that we don't often see on instant cameras

Despite being a fully manual instant camera (without digital storage or a screen), it offers advanced features like automatic brightness and exposure control. One small but lovely detail that we think will suit creative snappers everywhere is the manual Vignette switch that lets you add that subtle dark edge to your shots. Five colour effect filters also give a wide range of creative choices, with classics like Sepia, to vintage Light Leaks and more.

A step up from the humble Mini 9, the Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ6 produces to contain 62 x 62 mm prints on 86 x 72mm paper. Its print paper cartridges, referred to as instax 'Film' cartridges by the company, allow for larger, more satisfying prints than many others. Its retractable lens enhances portability, making it easier to handle and store. We love what instax has done here too, providing several seriously good feature enhancements over the previous iteration – the instax Square SQ1. This one can do double exposures, has a landscape mode for wider scenes and has modes for controlling the lightness and darkness.

The SQ6 includes a selfie mirror for easy framing and a built-in flash. It operates on two CR2 lithium batteries too, providing enough power for approximately 30 film packs. There's no app control here or digital photo saving, but we particularly like the wide range of features on offer; including automatic exposure for bright and clear shots, selfie mode, and the self-timer – perfect for group photos. We think that this camera delivers everything you need from an instant camera inside a modern yet familiar design​

This is an upgraded version of the Canon Zoemini C, and we love some of the upgrades on offer – such as its ability to connect to the Canon Mini Print App for printing from smartphones and a remote shutter function. It also benefits from 8MP resolution (up from 5MP). So, why is this ideal for parties? Well, this one includes a built-in ring light to really make sure your guests are in the spotlight. Plus, unlike many of the cameras here, this one is very clearly designed to slip into your pocket - much like any normal compact digital camera. It's inkless too, using KODAK's ZKINK photo paper. And that's just what you need at a party, particularly if you['re going to pass this around - no one is going to be bamboozled by the controls or settings.

That said, they might be amazed to snap that embarrassing shot of someone a little worse for wear, only to see the photo itself eject from the camera for all to see. Even better, they're sticky-backed - so you can put them up anywhere for maximum fun. Lastly, it also supports MicroSD cards up to 256GB for saving your shots.

For us, this dominates the vintage design category for obvious reasons. Without pretending to be a replica of a specific long-extinct model from yesteryear, the instax mini 40 instant film camera makes its own mark. In many ways, it harks back to the Brownie Folding Film Camera by Kodak. But here the silver and black design accents the retractable 60mm lens and classy-looking controls.

Much like the instax Mini 12 above this will produce credit card-sized prints - but somehow seeing them pop out of a vintage-style instant camera is more satisfying. Staying true to the mid-20th-century aesthetic, we really appreciate that there's no colour screen on the back to break the illusion – but plenty of manual buttons instead. There's a self-timer, plus one of the largest collection of in-camera modes on our list. There's lots of potential here, particularly for fans of photography who want the instant gratification of printing on demand.