Verdict published

Fujifilm Instax Mini 13

Fujifilm · Instant cameras · Model mini 13 (instax mini 13) · 2026 model; successor to the 2023 Instax Mini 12 and the third generation of the one-button Instax Mini line · Variant: One hardware variant in five colours: Candy Pink, Clay White, Dreamy Purple, Frost Blue, Lagoon Green · Markets: US, GB, DE, BE, CA, AU

Fujifilm's cheapest instant camera, as 7 qualifying reviews from 5 editorial groups saw it: the easiest way into instant film, with a new self-timer, overexposure in bright sun and film that costs more than the camera.

By Adwilson Fernandes, for ReviewQuorum · Updated

86 /100
ReviewQuorum verdict · derived from the sources

Verdict

Reviewers agree the Instax Mini 13 is the easiest and most affordable way into instant photography, and that the 2026 update is a small one: a 2-second and 10-second self-timer, a sculpted body and a strap wedge, on the same 60 mm f/12.7 lens, always-on flash and automatic exposure as the Mini 12. PCMag scores it 4.0/5 and names it an Editors' Choice for value shoppers, TechRadar and Digital Camera World give 4.5/5 each, Expert Reviews 4/5 and Amateur Photographer 4.5/5; BGR calls it the best entry-level instant camera. The criticisms repeat across every source: overexposure in bright sun, a flash that cannot be switched off, soft detail, no tripod socket and film that costs more over time than the camera.

Quorum Score
86/100
Source Quorum
5 independent
3 publish a score
Quorum Confidence
Medium
Score range
80–90
Last updated
Research cut-off
Oct 9, 2026

Why medium confidence: 5 independent editorial groups. Score spread (standard deviation) of 4.2 points. Open alerts indicate the evidence may change soon. Only 3 of 5 independent groups publish a numeric score.

Where to buy
Amazon US · In stock
Check price at Amazon *

* Affiliate link: we may earn a commission. It does not affect our scores. Compare all 4 offers

Review Consensus · calculated by ReviewQuorum

What reviewers agree on

  • Ease of use · praised by 4 of 5 sources
    Which sources said this
    • Amateur Photographer — positive: Designed to be as simple to use as possible, even my toddler can figure out how to shoot with this. All you need to do is rotate the lens barrel from the 'off' to the 'on' position.
    • PCMag UK — positive: The Mini 13 is as easy to use as a camera gets. Just pick up the camera and twist the ring around the lens until you hear a click to turn it on... there's nothing else to worry about.
    • BGR — positive: Instax Mini cameras have some of the easiest controls of any modern camera. You can give it to your kids or parents, explain the controls once, and not get bombarded with questions afterward.
    • TechRadar — positive: The biggest selling point of the Instax Mini 13 is the fact that it's so straightforward and easy to use. Simply load up Instax's credit card-sized Mini Film pack of 10 and spin the lens dial to turn it on.
  • Value · praised by 4 of 5 sources
    Which sources said this
    • Amateur Photographer — positive: Amateur Photographer awards it 4.5/5: at under $100/GBP 80, arguably the Instax Mini 13 is a novelty or gift purchase, and the verdict calls it a great way to get into analogue photography.
    • PCMag UK — positive: PCMag rates it 4.0/5 Excellent and names it our Editors' Choice for value shoppers: the Mini 13 is still a fantastic entry point into instant photography at $93.95.
    • BGR — positive: Similar to the Mini 12, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 is among the best entry-level instant cameras you can buy for $93.95. Yes, the Mini 13 is worth your money.
    • TechRadar — positive: TechRadar gives it 4.5/5 (Recommended): the Mini 13 was priced at GBP 79, the same as the Instax Mini 12 at launch, although US buyers saw an 18% increase to $94.
    • IMTEST — mixed: Fazit: Charmant, aber kostspielig - die Instax mini 13 ist eine gute Sofortbildkamera, die ihrem Vorgänger in nichts nachsteht, aber auch wenig Neues mit an den Tisch bringt.
Review Consensus · calculated by ReviewQuorum

Common criticisms

  • Exposure and flash · criticized by 4 of 5 sources
    Which sources said this
    • Amateur Photographer — negative: I find it slightly annoying that you can't turn off the flash... Lower light conditions, where the subject is far away from the lens, should be avoided.
    • PCMag UK — negative: Instax film has a high sensitivity rating (around ISO 800), so you're more likely to get overexposed images in bright sunlight than underexposed ones in dim light. The flash fires automatically.
    • BGR — negative: I don't necessarily have a problem with the lack of manual controls, except the fact that you cannot turn off the flash. This does mess up the exposure sometimes.
    • TechRadar — negative: With a shutter speed range between 1/2 a second and 1/250 a second, and a film sensitivity rating of ISO 800, it's best used in well-lit spaces, as you'll run the risk of overexposing a shot in direct, bright sunlight.
    • IMTEST — mixed: Der Blitz ist dauerhaft an und wird über Sensoren an die Helligkeit angepasst. Im Test klappte das meist zuverlässig. Die Aufladezeit des Blitzes liegt bei bis zu sieben Sekunden. (Flash always on.)
  • Film cost and ecosystem · criticized by 5 of 5 sources
    Which sources said this
    • Amateur Photographer — negative: You have to factor in the cost of Instax film (about $10-$12 a pack depending on the design) too... Thanks to that cost-per-picture factor, it's not a camera you'll use for every shot.
    • PCMag UK — negative: Color film is sold in a two-pack (20 photos) for around $17, while a single pack of Monochrome film costs $12. Special edition films with printed designs cost more.
    • BGR — negative: In the U.S., a pack of 20 film costs $18 on Amazon, which equates to about $0.9 per photo. Fujifilm also debuted a new pack of Pastel Galaxy film for $12 (10-pack), and no film is bundled.
    • TechRadar — negative: The reviewer went through two packs of Instax Mini film over two months and warns buyers to frame the shot carefully and 'pray that you don't waste one of your precious prints'.
    • IMTEST — negative: Das Mini-Format im Fujifilm Instax Mini Standard Twin Pack kostet gut 18 Euro für 20 Fotos. Ein Schnappschuss liegt umgerechnet also bei gut 90 Cent. Sondereditionen kosten noch einmal mehr.
Split Verdict · calculated by ReviewQuorum

Where reviewers disagree

  • Power and battery · 2 positive, 1 negative, 1 mixed
    Which sources said this
    • Amateur Photographer — positive: The Instax Mini 13 uses 2x AA batteries, which Fujifilm claims should be good for 10 packs of Instax Mini film, so that's 100 pictures before you'll need to change those out again.
    • PCMag UK — positive: The Mini 13 uses a pair of AA batteries (included), a good choice since they are readily available, though not as economical as the rechargeable power pack that runs the Mini 99.
    • BGR — mixed: Fujifilm says two AA batteries should be enough for 100 shots before needing a replacement. AA batteries are not my favorite solution... I couldn't test the full battery life of the Mini 13.
    • Digital Camera World — negative: The camera uses replaceable AA batteries rather than rechargeable ones, so there's a cost to keeping the camera running alongside the price of Instant film.
    • IMTEST — neutral: Zusammen mit eingelegten Batterien (AA) und Schlaufe bringt die Kamera gut 400 Gramm auf die Waage. (With AA batteries and strap the camera weighs a good 400 grams.)
Consensus by attribute · calculated by ReviewQuorum

Attribute by attribute

Image quality · decisive
5 sources
Ease of use · decisive
4 sources
Exposure and flash · decisive
5 sources
Selfie and close-up features
5 sources
Print quality and film · decisive
3 sources
Film cost and ecosystem · decisive
5 sources
Power and battery
4 sources
Build and design
4 sources
Value · decisive
87/100 · scored by 3

Bars show how many independent sources were positive, mixed or negative. A number appears only when sources published a score for that attribute — we never invent one.

Buyer Signal · not part of the Quorum Score

What buyers report

Amazon UK (GB): 4.5/5 average from 200 ratings · collected Oct 9, 2026
instax mini 13 instant camera with self timer, Dreamy Purple (ASIN B0H3CF2N5J, model mini13, MPN 16963242). Amazon prints 4.5/5 from 200 global ratings and ranks it 2nd in Instant Digital Cameras.
Amazon UK printed no price and no delivery or stock line for this ASIN during collection (the price appears only inside a customer review quoting 'around GBP 80'), so no offer was taken from this page.
Amazon US (US): 4.6/5 average from 68 ratings · collected Oct 9, 2026
Standalone colour listings on the Amazon US search page: Frost Blue 4.7/5 from 18 ratings and Candy Pink 4.7/5 from 19, both USD 79.95 (list USD 89.95) with 500+ bought in past month; Dreamy Purple 4.5/5 from 31 ratings, 1K+ bought.
Ratings are not pooled by Amazon here: each colour is a separate listing with its own count (18, 19, 31), so the 4.6 average and 68 count above are the reviewer's own aggregation of three listings read on the search page, not an Amazon figure.
Target (US): 3.7/5 average from 7 ratings · collected Oct 9, 2026
Fujifilm instax Mini 13 Camera, Candy Pink (TCIN 95004877, UPC 074101212990); page shows 3.72 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews and marks the item 'New at target'.
Only 7 ratings, and the page marks the product as new, so 3.72/5 is a very small sample; Target also lists a separate 'instax Mini 13 ED Bundle' at 3.2/5 from 5 ratings, which is a different SKU.

Buyer comments frequently mention:

  • One buyer review complains that for around GBP 80 the picture quality is disappointing and the photos come out very small
  • The 80% five-star share is consistent with reviewers calling the camera easy to use and fun rather than a picture-quality tool
  • All three standalone colour listings carry a 'Limited time deal' badge at USD 79.95 against a USD 89.95 list price
  • A third-party bundle listing on the same search page shows 5.0/5 from 12 ratings and sold-by-FABBLE fulfilment, so bundle ratings should not be read as camera ratings
  • Target's own Q&A answers confirm the camera is analogue and does not transfer photos to a phone, which is a recurring buyer question
  • Target staff answer confirms film is sold separately in the standard camera package, while specific bundles include it
Creator Signal · not part of the Quorum Score

What creators showed

Dan Finnen · YouTube · Long-term · 13:26 · Sep 7, 2026
Positive on ease of use: Reviews batteries, film choice and the new timer modes, and calls the Mini 13 one of his favourite recommendations for travel, weddings and parties. 9,792 views.
Ei Retro · YouTube · Long-term · 3:28 · Sep 3, 2026
Not substantive enough to inform the signal.
Mixed on value: Portuguese-language 'don't buy the Mini 13 before watching this' video that weighs the price, the new functions and the differences from the previous generation. 1,706 views.
Jim O Brien Tech (techbuzzireland) · YouTube · Long-term · 6:39 · Jul 22, 2026
Positive on ease of use: Calls the mini 13 'a fun simple to use camera for days out or family occasions'. 2,570 views at the cut-off.
NDTV · YouTube · Long-term · 2:40 · Apr 11, 2026
Negative on film cost: Says the camera is not about specifications or image quality but about the experience, and that 'the real cost comes from the film'. 7,676 views at the cut-off.
TheCameraStoreTV · YouTube · Long-term · 6:10 · Mar 31, 2026
Positive on value: Calls it 'the ultimate beginner camera', an excellent option for teens and tweens combining ease of use with immediate fun. 57,254 views at the cut-off.
MinistryTech · YouTube · Comparison · 5:02 · Mar 30, 2026
Not substantive enough to inform the signal.
Mixed on value: Asks whether the upgrade is worth it in a five-minute Mini 13 versus Mini 12 comparison. 18,286 views at the cut-off.
pal2tech · YouTube · Long-term · 10:16 · Mar 17, 2026
Mixed on exposure flash: Hands-on review and setup guide that says it covers 'what you need to know about the auto exposure + flash behavior before you buy'. 63,142 views at the cut-off.
PetaPixel · YouTube · Long-term · 12:15 · Mar 16, 2026
Sponsored
Positive on ease of use: Titled 'Instax Mini 13 Review: It Has ONE New Feature!', framing the self-timer as the single meaningful change. 44,206 views at the cut-off.
Editorial recommendation · derived from the sources

Best for

  • First-time instant photographers, teenagers and gifts. PCMag names it its Editors' Choice for value shoppers, Expert Reviews calls it the cheapest Instax and Amateur Photographer says it is a great entry point into analogue photography.
  • Selfies and group shots. TechRadar, Digital Camera World, BGR and Expert Reviews all say the new 2-second / 10-second self-timer plus the selfie mirror are what makes this model easier than the Mini 12.
  • Parties, weddings and travel snapshots. BGR and Amateur Photographer both report the camera is at its best indoors and with people, inside the 0.3 m to 2.2 m flash range that Fujifilm specifies.
  • Buyers who want zero settings. Every source read describes twist-and-shoot operation with no exposure dials; TechRadar and BGR both say it can be handed to children or parents after one explanation.
Editorial recommendation · derived from the sources

Skip it if

  • You already own an Instax Mini 12. Expert Reviews headlines its review 'a piddling upgrade', Amateur Photographer says there is not a huge amount to tempt you to upgrade, and PCMag says it makes no major changes from the Mini 12 or Mini 11.
  • You shoot mostly outdoors in bright sun. Expert Reviews, Digital Camera World, TechRadar, BGR and IMTEST all report overexposed prints or blown highlights in bright light, and the flash cannot be turned off to compensate.
  • You want manual control, double exposures or a tripod socket. PCMag, Digital Camera World, BGR and Amateur Photographer all record their absence; PCMag points anyone who wants them to the Instax Mini 99 at USD 234.95.
  • You are worried about running costs. A 20-shot Instax Mini twin pack was read at USD 17-18, GBP 15-17 or about EUR 18 (roughly USD 0.85-0.91 per shot), no film is included in the box, and Amateur Photographer says the cost per picture stops you using it for every shot.
Important caveats.
  • Overexposure in bright light is the single most repeated criticism. Expert Reviews: the Mini 13 'has the tendency to produce overexposed pictures'; Digital Camera World: 'Photos taken outdoors in bright sun are often overexposed'; TechRadar: 'risk of overexposing a shot ... in direct, bright sunlight'; BGR: 'it sometimes overexposes, which blows out the sky'.
  • The flash is always on and cannot be switched off. Expert Reviews, Amateur Photographer, Digital Camera World and BGR each list it as a con, and Digital Camera World notes it 'is always on, even outdoors in bright sun'.
  • US pricing is inconsistent between sources. Reviewers quote USD 93.95 (PCMag, DCW, TechRadar, BGR) while Fujifilm's own US store prints MSRP USD 89.95 and Amazon US and Target showed USD 79.95-79.99 on 2026-10-09; Australian pricing conflicts too (AUD 129 in Digital Camera World against AUD 139 in TechRadar).
  • The film, not the camera, is the recurring cost: a 20-shot instax mini twin pack was read at USD 17-18 (PCMag, BGR, Amazon US film listing at USD 18.17), GBP 15-17 (Expert Reviews) and about EUR 18 (IMTEST), or roughly USD 0.85-0.91 per shot, and IMTEST adds that film carries an expiry date and should be stored cool.
  • This is a small generational update, not a new camera. PCMag, Expert Reviews, Amateur Photographer and IMTEST all say the internals are unchanged from the Mini 12 and that the self-timer is the only functional addition; Expert Reviews' headline verdict is 'A piddling upgrade'.
  • Missing features that rivals and the Mini 99 have: no tripod socket, no double-exposure mode, no manual or EV control and no way to switch the flash off (PCMag, Digital Camera World, BGR, TechRadar). Digital Camera World notes there is no tripod mount and the strap wedge is only a partial substitute.
  • Image quality is limited by the format, not just the camera: PCMag reports 'soft detail and excellent color, with a narrow exposure latitude', Expert Reviews says fine detail 'can get lost in the grain' and BGR warns 'if you're expecting smartphone-level sharpness, the Mini 13 is not for you'.
  • BGR's review prints an 'f/2.3 aperture' for the lens, which contradicts Fujifilm's own specification of f = 60 mm, 1:12.7, repeated by PCMag, Expert Reviews, TechRadar and Amateur Photographer; the f/2.3 figure is NOT CONFIRMED and should not be published.
  • Weight and dimensions are not settled. Fujifilm prints 327 g without batteries, film and strap; TechRadar prints 376 g on the same basis; IMTEST weighed a good 400 g with batteries and strap; PCMag prints 14.5 oz loaded and BGR 11.5 oz. No single weight figure should be published as fact.
  • PetaPixel's review - one of the three sources named by the owner - could not be read at all: https://petapixel.com/2026/03/16/fujifilm-instax-mini-13-review-simple-and-straightforward/ returned HTTP 403 under Chrome, Googlebot and r.jina.ai, and its YouTube version is recorded only as a creator signal.
  • Tom's Guide does not resolve on this machine (DNS failure), Trusted Reviews, Stuff, B&H Photo, Best Buy and Digital Trends were all unreadable (403/405/timeout) and Walmart served a bot interstitial, so the owner's expected Future plc pair (Expert Reviews + Tom's Guide) is represented by Expert Reviews, Digital Camera World and TechRadar instead.
  • Buyer feedback is young and thin, so it should not be over-read: Target shows 3.72/5 from 7 ratings, Amazon UK 4.5/5 from 200 ratings, and Amazon US standalone listings 4.5-4.7/5 from 18-31 ratings while a third-party bundle shows 5.0/5 from 12; Fujifilm's own US product page has no reviews at all ('Be the first to review this product!').
  • Group independence collapses heavily here. Expert Reviews, Digital Camera World and TechRadar are all Future plc, so one publisher supplies three of the five scored titles, and the scored quorum rests on only three independent groups (Future plc, Ziff Davis and Kelsey Media).

Sources analyzed

PublicationTypePublishedOriginalNormalizedStatusReview
IMTEST
by Jan Michelsen
Product provided by the brand
 Full review Oct 7, 2026 No score — Counted Read ↗
TechRadar
by Amelia Schwanke
Product provided by the brand
 Full review Sep 12, 2026 4.5/5 90/100 Counted · averaged within its group Read ↗
Expert Reviews
by Gareth Thomas
Product provided by the brand
 Full review Aug 10, 2026 4/5 80/100 Counted · averaged within its group Read ↗
Yahoo Tech
by Hisan Kidwai
 Full review Aug 3, 2026 No score — Republication — counted once Read ↗
BGR
by Hisan Kidwai
Product provided by the brand
 Full review Aug 3, 2026 No score — Counted Read ↗
Amateur Photographer
by Amy Davies
Product provided by the brand
 Full review Jul 23, 2026 4.5/5 90/100 Counted Read ↗
PCMag UK
by Jim Fisher
Product provided by the brand
 Full review Mar 17, 2026 4/5 80/100 Counted Read ↗
Digital Camera World
by Hillary K. Grigonis
Product provided by the brand
 Full review Mar 17, 2026 4.5/5 90/100 Counted · averaged within its group Read ↗

Summaries are ours; read each original review for its full context. Normalized = the original score converted to 0–100.

How we reached this verdict

7 full professional reviews qualified, representing 5 independent editorial groups, published between Mar 2026 and Oct 2026. Each group counts once and weighs the same; when a group has several titles, their scores are averaged into one. Scores were converted linearly to a 0–100 scale, and the number rests on the 3 groups that publish one; reviews without a score inform the consensus but not the number. Buyer and creator signals are shown separately and are not averaged into the Quorum Score. Research cut-off: Oct 9, 2026. Methodology 1.1. Main limitation: only 3 of 5 independent groups publish a numeric score. Read the methodology.

Where to buy

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. This does not affect our scores or editorial conclusions. How we make money.

US
Amazon
In stock · checked Oct 9, 2026
Check price at Amazon *
Target
In stock · checked Oct 9, 2026
$79.99
Sale price
Check price at Target
Fujifilm (instax official US store)
In stock · checked Oct 9, 2026
$89.95
List price
Check price at Fujifilm (instax official US store)
BE
Fujifilm (instax official EU store)
In stock · checked Oct 9, 2026
€89.99
List price
Check price at Fujifilm (instax official EU store)

* Affiliate link. Prices and stock change quickly; the date shows when we last checked.

Product facts · according to the manufacturer

Specifications

A fully analogue instant camera from Fujifilm's Instax Mini line, announced in March 2026 and rolled out region by region: Australia from 31 March 2026, the US and UK from 25 June 2026. It is the successor to the 2023 Mini 12 and keeps the same 60 mm f/12.7 plastic lens, the same automatic exposure (1/2 s to 1/250 s, ISO 800 film) and the same always-on flash; the changes are a new sculpted, quilted body, a wedge on the hand strap and a 2-second / 10-second self-timer that used to be reserved for the pricier Mini 99. Prints are credit-card sized (86 x 54 mm film, 62 x 46 mm image) and take about 90 seconds to develop. Reviewers put it at the top of the entry-level instant class for ease of use and fun, and criticise the same three things: overexposure in bright sunlight, a flash that cannot be switched off, and the recurring cost of film, which at USD 17-18 / GBP 15-17 / about EUR 18 per 20 shots is the real cost of ownership.

Manufacturer specifications
FilmFujifilm instax mini instant film, sold separately; film size 86 x 54 mm, picture size 62 x 46 mm; developing time approximately 90 seconds (Fujifilm's own spec tables on instaxus.com and instax.eu)
Lens2 components, 2 elements, f = 60 mm, 1:12.7; shooting range 0.3 m and beyond, with Close-up mode for 0.3 m to 0.5 m (Fujifilm)
ExposureAutomatic exposure control; sensitivity Lv 5.0 to 14.5 (ISO 800); programmed electronic shutter 1/2 s to 1/250 s with slow synchro for low light (Fujifilm)
FlashConstant firing flash with automatic light adjustment, recycle time 7 seconds or less with new batteries, effective range 0.3 m to 2.2 m; it cannot be switched off (Fujifilm spec plus Expert Reviews, Amateur Photographer, Digital Camera World and BGR)
BatteryTwo AA-size alkaline batteries (LR6); printing capacity about 10 instax mini film packs of 10 exposures each per set of new batteries; auto power off after 5 minutes (Fujifilm)
ViewfinderReal image finder, 0.37x, with target spot and parallax correction in Close-up mode (Fujifilm)
Self-timerTwo options, 2 seconds and 10 seconds, set with a dial around the shutter release; the shutter LED blinks during the countdown (Fujifilm; Expert Reviews, Amateur Photographer, TechRadar and PCMag)
Dimensions105.5 mm x 124.7 mm x 67.6 mm (Fujifilm's own figure on instaxus.com and instax.eu)
WeightFujifilm: approximately 327 g without batteries, film and strap. Reviewer figures differ: TechRadar prints 376 g without batteries, film or strap, IMTEST weighed a good 400 g with AA batteries and strap, PCMag prints 14.5 oz (about 411 g) loaded and BGR 11.5 oz (about 326 g) - the exact weight is NOT CONFIRMED
ColoursCandy Pink, Clay White, Dreamy Purple, Frost Blue, Lagoon Green
In the boxCamera, hand strap with the camera-angle wedge, quick start guide, two AA batteries and a one-year limited warranty (Target's US listing); instax mini film is not included and there is no carrying case
Launch priceUSD 93.95 quoted by reviewers and USD 89.95 as the current MSRP on Fujifilm's own US store; GBP 79-80 in the UK; EUR 89.99 on instax.eu; CAD 109.99 and AUD 129-139 quoted by reviewers
Not included / not supportedNo film, no case, no tripod socket, no double-exposure mode and no manual exposure control; the Mini 99 (USD 234.95) has the tripod thread, the flash switch, EV adjustment and double exposures

Manufacturer page ↗

Update history

  1. · Verdict published — Verdict published: 7 qualifying reviews from 5 independent groups.