The Mini 13 is Fujifilm's 2026 successor to the Mini 12, with the same lens, film and always-on flash plus a self-timer. Buy the Mini 13: at the October price check it was $2.99 cheaper.
Fujifilm launched the Instax Mini 12 in 2023 and the Mini 13 in 2026 as its successor. The Mini 12 was still on sale at the October 2026 price check, so for now you can pick either. What matters is whether the newer camera changes anything you would notice.
What is actually different
Very little inside. Both cameras use the same 60 mm f/12.7 lens, two components in two elements. Both set exposure themselves between Lv 5.0 and 14.5 at ISO 800, and both run a 1/2 to 1/250 second shutter with a slow synchro mode for low light. Each has a selfie mirror and a close-up mode that works from 0.3 to 0.5 m with parallax correction, so close shots land where you framed them. Two AA batteries run either camera for about 100 shots. Both work with the instax UP! app. Neither has double exposure, bulb mode, a tripod socket or any manual control, and on both the flash fires on every frame.
The new part is the self-timer. The Mini 13 has a 2 second and a 10 second timer, set with the ring around the shutter button: twist it once for 2 seconds, twist and hold for 10. The wrist strap doubles as a wedge-shaped stand that tilts the camera upward for timer shots. The Mini 12 has no self-timer at all, so group shots with the photographer in them mean handing the camera to someone else.
Fujifilm quotes the Mini 13’s flash in more detail: a recycle time of 7 seconds or less and an effective range of 0.3 to 2.2 m, with automatic light adjustment. We do not have the same figures for the Mini 12, so we cannot say whether the flash itself changed.
The Mini 13 is slightly heavier at 327 g, 21 g more than the Mini 12’s 306 g, and it comes in new colours. The Mini 12 comes in Pastel Blue, Blossom Pink, Mint Green, Lilac Purple and Clay White. The Mini 13 comes in Dreamy Purple, Frost Blue, Candy Pink, Lagoon Green and Clay White.
Chris Niccolls at PetaPixel called it a simple continuation of the Instax Mini line, adorable for the same reasons the previous models were. Jim Fisher at PCMag scored it 4 out of 5 and called it the quintessential entry-level instant camera. Harish Jonnalagadda at Android Central said it is easy to use, does not cost much and is a great choice if you need an instant camera in 2026. On the Mini 12, Digital Camera World said it is still the best bang-for-buck instant camera you can buy, and Dan Finnen called it the best Instax camera for jumping into instant film, despite a battery door that fits terribly.
Price and film cost
At the price check on October 5, 2026, the Mini 13 was $79.95 and the Mini 12 was $82.94, so the newer camera was $2.99 cheaper. That is unusual. The list prices run the other way: $93.95 for the Mini 13 and $79.95 for the Mini 12. The Mini 13 was selling $14 under its list price on that date, and street prices move, so check both before you buy.
Film costs the same on either camera. Both take Instax Mini film, which prints 86 x 54 mm with a 62 x 46 mm image. A twin pack of 20 shots was $18.17 at Amazon on the same date, which works out at about $0.91 a shot. Five twin packs, 100 shots, come to $90.85, more than either camera, so film is the bill that keeps coming whichever one you buy.
Which one to buy
Buy the Mini 13. It takes the same picture as the Mini 12, adds a self-timer and a stand for group shots, and at the October price check it cost $2.99 less.
The Mini 12 still has a far longer track record with buyers. Amazon shoppers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 1,554 ratings. The Mini 13 is rated 4.5 out of 5, but across only 19 ratings so far, which is too few to read much into. Buy the Mini 12 if you find it clearly cheaper than the Mini 13 and you do not care about the self-timer, or if you want one of its colours.
If you already own a Mini 12, keep it. The Mini 13 will not take a better picture, and the only thing you would gain is the timer. And if the always-on flash is what bothers you, neither camera fixes it.
Where to buy
Instax Mini 12$82.94 (list $79.95)Check price on Amazon
Instax Mini 13$79.95 (list $93.95)Check price on Amazon
Specs side by side
Same on both: Analog instant camera · Current · Instax Mini film · 86 x 54 mm print · 62 x 46 mm image · $0.91 a shot · Lens: 60 mm f/12.7, 2 components 2 elements · Exposure: automatic, Lv 5.0 to 14.5 (ISO 800) · selfie mirror · close-up mode · no double exposure · no bulb mode · no tripod socket · Shots per battery / prints per charge: 100 · App: instax UP!.
| Spec | Instax Mini 12 | Instax Mini 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2023 | 2026 |
| Focus | fixed; 0.3 m to infinity; close-up (selfie) mode 0.3 to 0.5 m with parallax correction | fixed; 0.3 m and beyond; Close-up Mode 0.3 to 0.5 m with parallax correction |
| Shutter | 1/2 to 1/250 s, slow synchro for low light | programmed electronic shutter, 1/2 to 1/250 s, slow synchro for low light |
| Flash | auto, always fires | constant firing flash with automatic light adjustment; recycle time 7 s or less; effective range 0.3 to 2.2 m |
| Self timer | No | Yes |
| Power | 2 x AA alkaline | 2 x AA alkaline (LR6) |
| Dimensions | 104 x 66 x 122 mm | 105.5 x 124.7 x 67.6 mm |
| Weight | 306 g | 327 g |
| Colours | 5 (Pastel Blue, Blossom Pink, Mint Green, plus 2 more) | 5 (Dreamy Purple, Frost Blue, Candy Pink, plus 2 more) |
| Street price | $82.94 (checked October 5, 2026) | $79.95 (checked October 5, 2026) |
| Amazon rating | 4.6 (1,554 ratings) | 4.5 (19 ratings) |
| Buy | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
Specs from manufacturer pages; prices and ratings checked October 5, 2026.
What reviewers and buyers say
Instax Mini 12
Published reviews of the Instax Mini 12:
- “The Mini 12's upgrades over the Mini 11 are worth the extra money if you mostly photograph people, though bright daylight can still cause over-exposure.” (Cameralabs, 2023)
- “The Mini 12 is easier to shoot with than the Mini 8 and delivers the joy and fun that's at the heart of Instax cameras without missing the older camera's extra modes.” (Amateur Photographer, 2023)
- “The Instax Mini 12 is still the best bang-for-buck instant camera you can buy.” (Digital Camera World, 2023)
- “The Mini 12 is an iterative update that keeps what works about the Mini 11 but makes it even better, and is the best Instax camera for jumping into instant film, despite a battery door that fits terribly.” (Dan Finnen, 2024-01)
Amazon buyers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 1,554 ratings.
Praised for: easy enough for kids and first-timers, reliable auto-exposure in daylight, fun color options. Criticised for: flash always fires and cannot be turned off, feels plastic and toy-like, battery door fits poorly.
Instax Mini 13
Published reviews of the Instax Mini 13:
- “This is a simple continuation of the insanely popular Fujifilm Instax Mini line of cameras and is adorable for the same reasons that the previous models were.” (Chris Niccolls, PetaPixel, 2026-03)
- “The Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 is the quintessential entry-level instant camera, making it easy to snap wallet-size instant pictures thanks to its one-button operation, selfie mirror, and convenient AA battery power.” (Jim Fisher, PCMag, 2026-03)
- “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 choice.” (Harish Jonnalagadda, Android Central, 2026-05)
Amazon buyers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 19 ratings.
Praised for: twist-the-lens operation is easy for kids and first-timers, new 2 s and 10 s self-timer plus the wedge stand make group shots practical, close-up mode framing matches the selfie mirror closely. Criticised for: flash fires on every shot and cannot be switched off, no tripod socket and no double-exposure mode, nothing new for anyone who already owns a Mini 11 or Mini 12.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Instax Mini 12 and Mini 13?
The self-timer, the colours and a little weight. Both use a 60 mm f/12.7 lens, automatic exposure from Lv 5.0 to 14.5, a 1/2 to 1/250 second shutter with slow synchro, a close-up mode from 0.3 to 0.5 m with parallax correction, two AA batteries and about 100 shots per set. The Mini 13, launched in 2026, adds a 2 second and 10 second self-timer and weighs 327 g against 306 g for the Mini 12.
Should I upgrade from the Mini 12 to the Mini 13?
No. The lens, exposure, shutter and film are the same, so your pictures will not change. The self-timer is the only new feature. Buyer and reviewer feedback on the Mini 13 lists 'nothing new for anyone who already owns a Mini 11 or Mini 12' as a recurring complaint. Spend the money on film instead.
Can you turn off the flash on the Instax Mini 13?
No. The flash fires on every shot on both the Mini 12 and the Mini 13. The Mini 13 adjusts the flash output automatically and Fujifilm quotes an effective range of 0.3 to 2.2 m, but there is no way to switch it off.
Do the Mini 12 and Mini 13 use the same film?
Yes. Both take Instax Mini film, which prints 86 x 54 mm with a 62 x 46 mm image. A twin pack of 20 shots was $18.17 at Amazon on October 5, 2026, about $0.91 a shot.