Instant film, man — you just can’t beat it, and for me, Polaroid is top of the pile. Since the brand’s rejuvenation in 2017, I’ve been a huge admirer of the range of cameras it has come out with, catering to all different stripes of users. I’ve reviewed, owned and used several of them — but there’s one in particular that has caught my eye this Prime Day, and that's coming with me on my World Cup watch parties.
I just finished up my Polaroid Go Gen 3 review, and I came away really impressed. This palm-sized instant camera packs in everything that I’ve loved about the diminutive Go series in a smaller-than-ever body, with a better lens and more powerful flash.
But my Prime Day recommendation is going to be the previous model, the Polaroid Go Gen 2. Why? Well, because while the Gen 3 is an improvement on the Gen 2, it’s not a radical upgrade, and the discounts on the Gen 2 are looking very tempting.
In the US, there's over $30 off for the Go 2 (black) with a pack of film, now just $78.99 at Amazon, while in the UK there's £20 off for the white version of the Go 2, again with a pack of film for just £74.99 at Amazon. There are currently no such discounts for the Go 3.
• See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon UK
Today's best Polaroid Go Gen 2 deal (US)
Today's best Polaroid Go Gen 2 deal (UK)
Considering that the Go Gen 2 and Gen 3 use the exact same film, and so are both capable of producing images with that gorgeous Polaroid lo-fi look, that’s a tough bargain to argue with. I wouldn’t expect to see similar discounts on the Gen 3 any time soon, considering it has only just been released.
I think for most instant photography newbies, something from the Go series is going to be the best choice. These cameras produce much smaller prints than the larger models, taking dedicated ‘Go’ film rather than full-size I-Type. It makes the film much cheaper, meaning you can be more relaxed about your shots, and the tiny dimensions give it a similar ‘cuteness’ factor to the mega-popular Fujifilm Instax film.
And I know that sales figures don’t agree with me here, but having tried both brands extensively, I think Polaroid film and cameras are much better than Instax! The tonality is better, and the lo-fi look has much more retro charm.
Sure, the Gen 3 is a little smaller, and its selfie game has definitely been raised. But the Go Gen 2 still has that Polaroid charm. It’s still got the selfie mirror, the simple point-and-shoot operation, and even the double-exposure mode.
Thanks to that cheaper Go film, it’s a much more sensible choice for fun events like World Cup watch parties — if a few frames come out badly, it’s not the end of the world. And I speak from experience when I say that instant cameras always go down well at gatherings. Making tangible instant prints is just so much more interesting and fun than capturing yet more wide-angle selfies to disappear forever down your phone’s camera roll.
So, if you’re looking for an instant-film hit to document your adventures or summer parties, the Polaroid Go Gen 2 is my recommendation to jump on over the next few days. But I’d pounce sooner rather than later, as those discounts won’t hang around forever.
More Prime Day deals in the US
- Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
- Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
- Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
- Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
- Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
- Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
- Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
- Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
- Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
- Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
- Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
- Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34
More Prime Day deals in the UK
- Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
- Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
- Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
- Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
- Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
- Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
- Essentials: household goods from under £10
- Fashion: up to 50% off
- Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
- Headphones: up to 50% off
- Laptops: from £149.99
- Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
- Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
- TVs: from £129.99
- Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
- Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99