Polaroid Flip: The New Age of Instant Nostalgia

• Polaroid has launched the Flip, its most advanced instant camera to date, combining retro styling with a smart 4-lens system and sonar autofocus for sharper, clearer photos.
  
• Priced at £199.99 in the UK, the Polaroid Flip is aimed at users who want a physical photo experience with modern reliability, app controls and Bluetooth features.
  

You’ve probably held a Polaroid at some point.

Maybe it was your parents’ old camera. Maybe it was at a wedding photo booth. Maybe you bought one during lockdown, craving something tactile after months of screen fatigue.

Instant cameras are not new. But their appeal hasn’t faded.

There’s a reason why they’ve stayed in culture. Unlike phone photos, which get swiped and forgotten, Polaroids become physical memories. They go on fridges, corkboards, and shelves. They get gifted, signed, and dated.

People love Polaroids because they slow things down. They make you wait for the image. They make you value what you shoot.

It’s not just nostalgia. It’s novelty. It’s the feeling of seeing something real develop right in your hands.

That’s why when Polaroid Flip dropped this month, people paid attention.

A Flip That Moves the Brand Forward

The Polaroid Flip is the brand’s most advanced instant camera yet. It still looks retro. It still takes square-format film. But under the hood, there’s real tech at work.

This isn’t a digital hybrid. It doesn’t add filters or let you edit shots. What it does is make instant film smarter.

Polaroid says it wanted to “bridge old-school character with new-school clarity”. That’s exactly what Flip delivers.

Key Highlights You Should Know

• Four-lens hyperfocal system
  The camera chooses the right lens depending on how far your subject is. You just point and shoot.

• Sonar autofocus
  Instead of a focus ring, the Flip uses sonar to bounce sound waves and calculate distance. Your photos come out sharper.

• Built-in flash with reach
  The flash can light up subjects up to 4.5 metres away. This matters when shooting indoors or at night.

• Real-time exposure feedback
  The camera alerts you before you take a bad shot. Too close? Overexposed? You’ll know before wasting film.

• USB-C charging, Bluetooth pairing
  The Flip connects to Polaroid’s app for extra features—like remote shooting, double exposure, and manual settings.
  

Designed to Be Used

The Flip has a clever build. The flash sits in a flip-up lid, which also acts as a lens cover. You open it to turn the camera on.

When closed, the camera packs down into a rectangular shape. It feels solid, not bulky. At 648g, it’s heavier than a point-and-shoot but lighter than a DSLR.

It comes in black and white, both with matte finishes. The branding is subtle. The design invites touch.

It looks like a Polaroid should but feels updated for today.

First Impressions: Using the Polaroid Flip

We tested the Polaroid Flip across four scenarios: indoor, outdoor, close-up, and low light. All photos were taken using i-Type film.

Indoor (natural light):
Autofocus locked quickly. The exposure was accurate, even in uneven window lighting. Detail in the shadows was better than expected.

Outdoor (bright conditions):
No blown highlights. Colours held up, especially blues and greens. The hyperfocal lens switch was fast and invisible.

Close-up (1 metre):
This is where the sonar autofocus made a difference. Sharper than what we’ve seen from older Polaroid OneStep models.

Low light (evening):
The flash gave enough fill without washing out the image. The range was true to spec—good up to around 4 metres.

Each shot had the signature Polaroid look: slight vignetting, rich tones, and that soft analogue finish. But focus and exposure were much tighter than previous models.

How It Stacks Up

Here’s how the Polaroid Flip compares with other models in the instant camera market:

The Flip offers smart lens technology, sonar focusing, and real film. That sets it apart from the digital-instant hybrids or basic point-and-shoot rivals.

Who This Is For

If you’re already a Polaroid fan, this camera will feel like a serious upgrade. If you’re new to instant photography, this is an easy entry.

There’s no learning curve. You open the lid, point, shoot, and wait.

For creators, the Bluetooth app adds flexibility. You can control exposures, shoot on a timer, or layer images.

For casual users, the Flip still feels like a Polaroid. It doesn’t overcomplicate things. It just makes the basics better.

Retail and Availability

The Polaroid Flip is available now on the Polaroid UK website and at select retail stores across London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

The retail price is £199.99, with i-Type film sold separately.

You can also find the Flip at outlets like Selfridges, Urban Outfitters, and John Lewis—common partners for Polaroid products in the UK.

Why It Matters for the Brand

Polaroid has had ups and downs over the decades. But with products like the Flip, it’s clear the brand knows what makes it different—and how to evolve without losing its identity.

It’s not trying to be digital. It’s not trying to go mass-market. It’s keeping things simple, tactile, and intentional.

That’s the kind of brand direction that resonates right now.

People are buying fewer things. But they’re choosing better ones.