Polaroid Go Generation 3 Review: New Lens, Flash & Colors — Is It Worth It?
Published June 2026 | Instant Cameras | Gear
The Polaroid Go just got its biggest upgrade yet. The Polaroid Go Generation 3 launched on June 2, 2026 — and if you've been on the fence about picking up the world's smallest instant analog camera, this is the version to buy.
Here's what changed, what stayed, and whether it's worth your money.
What Is the Polaroid Go Generation 3?
The Polaroid Go Generation 3 is the world's smallest instant analog camera, designed to go anywhere — travel, parties, festivals, everyday shooting. It uses Polaroid's compact Go film format, with a 47 × 46mm image area on a film sheet measuring 53.9 × 66.6mm.
Three things got upgraded this time around: the lens, the flash, and the colours. All three matter.
New Lens
Polaroid fitted a new 63.75mm polycarbonate lens with two apertures — f/14.4 and f/32. The camera handles exposure automatically, so you just frame and shoot. Polaroid tuned the optics specifically for close range, meaning sharper, better-framed selfies than the older Go.
The lens also sits deeper in the camera body now, which helps reduce glare in bright light — so if you're shooting golden hour, your shots have a better chance of coming out crisp and full of character.
New Flash
The Go Gen 3 uses a built-in Xenon flash rather than the LED units common on cheaper instant cameras — giving you that classic Polaroid on-camera flash look rather than flat, drab results.
Polaroid recommends using the flash in most lighting situations, and the stronger output should produce cleaner, brighter photos in challenging conditions. For an instant camera, that's a meaningful improvement.
New Colors
Five colours at launch: light blue, purple, teal, black, and white. More variety than previous generations, and the new teal and purple are genuinely good-looking in person.
What Stays the Same
The selfie mirror, self-timer, and double exposure mode all carry over — along with compatibility with existing Polaroid Go film. Power comes from a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery via USB-C, and the camera works with the Polaroid app for scanning and sharing your prints digitally.
At 106.5 × 83.8 × 64.6mm and 251.9g without film, it fits comfortably in one hand. Slightly larger than Gen 2, but you'd never notice it in a pocket.
Polaroid Go Gen 3 Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lens | 63.75mm polycarbonate, f/14.4 / f/32 |
| Flash | Xenon built-in |
| Dimensions | 106.5 × 83.8 × 64.6mm |
| Weight | 251.9g (without film) |
| Film | Polaroid Go Film only |
| Battery | USB-C rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Colors | Black, White, Teal, Purple, Light Blue |
| Price | $89.99 |
Is the Polaroid Go Gen 3 Worth Buying?
If you already own a Go Gen 2, the upgrade is solid but not urgent — mainly worth it if the flash performance frustrated you. If you're new to instant photography or looking for a pocketable analog camera that actually takes decent shots, this is the best Go yet and a strong entry point.
At $89.99 with film running around $22 for a 16-shot double pack, it stays at the accessible end of Polaroid's range — a long way from the $600 I-2 the company launched back in 2023.
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