I used to take a dedicated camera when I travel, but not in the last five years. Phone cameras have improved so much that I don’t see the need to bring a mirrorless camera, and this was proven on a recent vacation to Thailand. I took it Find the X9 Ultra and my wife bought it Vivo X300 Ultraand we managed to get a lot of great photos between these two devices. There’s also the added versatility of external lenses, and the 200mm lens on the X300 Ultra in particular is a pleasure to use.
All that said, I don’t see the value in picking up another camera. However, the same is not true of instant cameras; I have a few old Instax cameras at home and they are fun to use and a new way to take photos when guests show up.
This is what makes the Instax Mini 13 even more interesting; the overall design of the camera hasn’t changed, but it’s available in fresh colors and has a few new features that make it a pretty solid choice if you’re looking to own an instant camera in 2026. Instax Mini 13 It only costs $95 in the USand it is Available in India at ₹8,499 ($88) and price make this a great starter camera if you haven’t used one before.
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A major new addition to the Instax Mini 13 is the timer; there’s a two-second timer and a 10-second timer, and while I don’t really see the point of the two-second timer, the latter is very useful. We recently made good use of the timer to get everyone in the frame when relatives came over, and the vertical orientation works in its favor.
I also like that there’s a selfie mirror that makes it easy to frame subjects; if you’re in the mirror, you’re visible in the photo, making group selfies hassle-free. Another plus is that you don’t have to fiddle with any settings; Like most instant cameras, the Instax Mini 13 has automatic exposure and flash control, so you get well-lit photos even in low-light conditions.
While I tend to shoot using the viewfinder most of the time, the Instax Mini 13 is designed as a selfie camera and is easy enough to use as a camera. The image quality itself is decent and the resulting prints look good.
The whole point of an instant camera is its ability to print photos in real-time, and the Instax Mini 13 does a great job in that area. Fujifilm has built its instant camera offerings over the past decade and now you have a decent choice of options – whether you want to shoot wide-angle or need extra control – and it’s good to see the category doing well. Along with the cameras, Fuji has a good selection of film styles, which adds to the overall appeal of the Instax Mini 13.
The Instax Mini 13 has a vibrant design, is easy to use and doesn’t cost much. If you need an instant camera in 2026, this is a great option.
