Fujifilm has revealed an updated version of its hybrid instant camera, the Instax Mini LiPlay, a model that first captured attention upon its debut in 2019. This next-generation device, appropriately titled the Instax Mini LiPlay Plus, retains much of the charm and multifunctionality that made the original a success, while introducing a range of design and usability improvements. Like its predecessor, the LiPlay Plus combines the digital convenience of taking quick snapshots with the delight of producing tangible photos printed instantly on Fujifilm’s signature Mini instant film. In addition to still images, users may pair each photograph with an accompanying audio clip, blending the visual with the auditory to achieve a more immersive and personal memory-capturing experience.
The updated model distinguishes itself through a reimagined aesthetic and functional refinement. The camera now embraces a boxier, slightly more structured silhouette that feels contemporary and complements modern design sensibilities. A noteworthy new inclusion is the second rear-facing wide-angle camera—an addition that simplifies the process of composing self-portraits and group selfies. By using the built-in LCD screen, photographers can more effortlessly adjust framing, ensuring everyone fits within the image without the awkward guesswork typical of earlier models.
According to Fujifilm, the Instax Mini LiPlay Plus will arrive in the market in late October 2025, offered in two sophisticated color finishes: sand beige and midnight blue. The product will carry a retail price of $234.95. To accompany this launch, the company has also introduced a complementary innovation in its film line—the Soft Glitter Mini instant film. This new variant adds a subtle yet eye-catching shimmer, incorporating delicate gold accents along the frame. A single pack of film, containing ten exposures, will be sold for $17.99, giving users an additional creative dimension for their prints.
From a technical perspective, Fujifilm’s redesign includes several small yet meaningful improvements aimed at enhancing user experience. The most noticeable of these is a slightly enlarged 3-inch LCD display situated on the camera’s back, offering better visibility for reviewing and editing images on the go. Despite this increase in size, both front and rear cameras continue to share the same image resolution as the original model—2,560 x 1,920 pixels—ensuring continuity in visual quality, as reported by Digital Camera World.
An intriguing new function named the layered photo mode expands creative potential by allowing users to merge images taken from the front and rear cameras into one combined picture. Unlike traditional double exposure techniques, which merge two photos into a single hybrid image, this feature instead stacks two discrete shots one atop the other within one of four available templates. The result is a playful collage-like effect that maintains clarity while offering new artistic possibilities.
Audio functionality, a defining hallmark of the LiPlay series, remains central to the Plus model. Users can still record short voice messages or sound bites to accompany their images. These audio clips can be replayed either directly from the camera or through the Instax Mini LiPlay mobile application. Each printed photo features an embedded QR code that, when scanned, grants access to its linked audio recording. Fujifilm guarantees that these recordings will be stored online and remain accessible for up to two years, thus giving users an extended period to revisit their captured moments. However, one notable change lies in recording length: while the original LiPlay permitted 10-second audio clips, the upgraded Plus restricts recordings to 3 seconds, possibly as a design measure to streamline playback and memory management.
Through the mobile companion app, users are provided with a robust set of editing and connectivity options. Images can be refined directly within the app using filters, digital stickers, and customizable frames, allowing for both playful expression and polished presentation. Photos taken with the LiPlay Plus can be seamlessly transferred to a smartphone for sharing on social media, or conversely, pictures captured using a phone’s camera can be printed through the LiPlay Plus for an instant physical keepsake. Additionally, when connected via Bluetooth, a smartphone may serve as a remote shutter release, enabling effortless group photos or self-portraits from a distance without the need to physically hold the camera. Together, these interconnected functions position the Instax Mini LiPlay Plus as an ideal hybrid system for the modern photography enthusiast—a device that merges the spontaneity of digital convenience with the charm of analog instant prints, offering a new standard for how memories are created, shared, and preserved.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/801098/fujifilm-instax-mini-liplay-plus-instant-camera-selfies
