Polaroid unveils the Flip: a tech-packed instant camera made for an analog life

This week, Polaroid announced its Flip point-and-shoot instant camera. In a world overrun by smartphones, digital addiction, and instant gratification in the form of endless online oversharing, the company is attempting to make a case for slowing down, being intentional, and enjoying something more tangible in photography. At its core, the Flip gives you a red button, eight exposures per film pack, and a flippable lid.

The Flip combines several of Polaroid's legacy technologies with a few modern updates. Its camera is built around a four-lens system that automatically adjusts to one of four preset focus points, depending on the subject's distance. It measures that distance using sonar, which should provide accurate results — even in low light. This lessens the likelihood of blurry shots and eliminates the need to fiddle with manual settings.

The last few sentences in the above paragraph are what Polaroid's press release claims. However, we'd be remiss at DPReview not to attempt to explain how this system works. The Flip uses a sonar sensor to estimate how far away your subject is and then selects one of four fixed lenses preset to specific distances: 0.65m, 0.85m, 1.2m, or 2.5m.

It's a simplified take on autofocus — rather than continuously adjusting focus for a single lens like most autofocus systems, the camera switches between all the lenses. It works, but it doesn't mean focus is infinitely flexible. You'll get clarity across shooting distances, but not the same nuance you'd find in a manual-focus system or smartphone camera.

Precision isn't necessarily a top priority for casual use, which this camera is geared toward. Its target audience is likely to use it for in-the-moment experiences. That said, the Flip comes with some cool technical perks. An LED inside the viewfinder acts as a 'scene analysis' and lights up when a photo is under or overexposed. The built-in flash adapts based on subject distance and can illuminate a scene up to 4.5 meters away, making it handy in low-light settings.

The Polaroid Flip will be available on April 29th on the company's main website. It is priced at $199.99. Members get early access starting April 15th. Other retailers will begin selling the camera on May 13th. The Flip is compatible with Polaroid's i-Type and 600 film. It connects to the Polaroid app via Bluetooth and offers additional manual settings along with remote control of the camera. Bonus features users may appreciate include a Self-Timer mode and the ability to create double exposures.

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Press Release:

Introducing the Polaroid Flip: The ultimate point-and-shoot instant camera for an analog life

• High quality shots every time thanks to a hyperfocal 4-lens system, sonar autofocus, Polaroid’s most powerful flash and new ‘scene analysis’ feature that warns when photos will be over or underexposed.
• Packed with iconic innovations from Polaroid’s 80-year photography legacy, all in one easy-to-use, point-and-shoot instant camera.

Tech-packed instant camera for sharper shots.

With a flippable lid for ultimate protection, the Polaroid Flip embodies 80 years of Polaroid innovation and iconic features. Flip is the best camera for everyone who wants to get great shots with ease.

• Hyperfocal 4-Lens System for beautifully sharp shots: Four automatically selected sweet spots, depending on the distance to the subject (0.65m, 0.85m, 1.2m, 2.5m) that ensure sharper focus across photography styles.
• Sonar Autofocus ensures your subject is always in focus: Sonar waves to determine subject distance and select the right lens, for maximum focal clarity, delivering crisp focus – even in the dark.
• Polaroid’s most powerful flash for any lighting condition: Located in the Flip’s ‘lid,’ this adaptive flash adjusts power based on subject distance, illuminating up to 4.5m away.
• Scene Analysis for well-exposed pictures, more often: Photographers receive an alert when the photo might be over or underexposed through the viewfinder LED, or when the subject is too close on the ‘lid’ display.

Instant photography over instant gratification.

Polaroid Flip is more than just a camera—it’s an invitation to embrace real-life moments. In this hyper-digitized, constantly doomscrolling, high-anxiety age, the Polaroid Flip offers a way to connect with life’s best moments – the real, tangible, analog ones; with eight pictures in a pack that will connect to life far more than 800 digital ones. Polaroid delivers a true analog experience: photos you can hold forever, not pixels lost in the cloud or forgotten on a phone. The Flip invites creators to simply live a life worth capturing, then click the Flip’s iconic red shutter button.

Available from April 29

The Polaroid Flip will be available for €219 / $199,99 / £199,99 / CNY 1699, with early access for members starting April 15. It launches on polaroid.com on April 29 and in retailers from May 13. Compatible with Polaroid i-Type & 600 film, the Flip is USB-C rechargeable and comes with a neck strap. It connects to the Polaroid app via Bluetooth®, offering newly optimized manual settings through the app, allowing full remote control. Additional features include Double Exposure and a Self-Timer mode, giving creators even more creative freedom.

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