instax Pal™ vs instax Pal 2™ digital cameras: what's different

Your 'fit's sorted, your bag's packed and you're halfway out the door for a gig, a club night or a mate's birthday. There's room in that bag for one more thing, and it's small enough to sit in your palm.

That's been the instax Pal™ idea from day one. Now there's a sequel, with a few new tricks.

The instax Pal 2™ moves a photo to your phone in about 0.7 seconds over USB-C.

For comparison, the instax Pal™ needs roughly 10 to 20 seconds per image over Bluetooth, depending on format, so speeding that up was top of the list for the instax Pal 2™.

Transfer speed: under a second per photo

Pair the instax Pal 2™ with the app over Bluetooth once, then plug the camera straight into your phone's USB-C port. Photos move across in under a second each. A whole night's worth is on your phone before your ride home turns up.

Bluetooth's still there if you'd rather go wireless, at around 15 seconds a photo. Perfect for sending one pic while you're in the queue for the cloakroom. For a full clear-out at the end of the night, the cable wins every time. The cable route works with phones that have a USB-C port. The same port charges the built-in battery in around two to three hours, easy to sort while you get ready.

Why the screen sits on top

The instax Pal™ never had a screen. You framed with the detachable ring clipped on as a viewfinder, or used your phone as a live view through the app. Either way, you only saw how a photo turned out once it had landed on your phone.

The instax Pal 2™ adds a small colour LCD, and it sits on the top of the camera rather than the back. You still frame through the built-in viewfinder, eye to the camera like a classic compact. The screen is for afterwards: a quick glance down to check the photo, then straight back to the moment.

If you want the full feature rundown, the instax Pal 2™ product page has it all in one place.

Hands-on controls you can feel

The instax Pal™ leans on its app for most settings. The instax Pal 2™ moves the fun stuff onto the body, so you can change things up without reaching for your phone.

A lever lets you pick your format before you press the shutter: instax™ mini, SQUARE, WIDE or No Frame. Flick it and the frame changes on the spot, so you're lining up your photo for the print shape you want from the start. Planning a WIDE print of the whole crew? Set it before the group squeezes in.

Then there's the command dial for effects. Browse 30 effects in the app, load six favourites onto the camera and turn the dial to switch between them. Y2K Lo-Fi brings grainy, flash-lit dance floor energy, while a cleaner look suits the outfit pic by the mirror before you leave. Swapping's done in a second, then you're back to the night.

A couple of favourite features have stayed put. Both cameras still let you use your phone as a remote shutter through the app, and both have a self-timer. Prop the camera on a table, step into the group and let the timer do its thing.

Sharper files and double the space

Resolution jumps from 5MP on the instax Pal™ to 10MP on the instax Pal 2™. More detail gives you more room to crop and sharper results when you zoom in on your phone.

There's a 1MP mode too, for a softer, grainier lo-fi look.

Storage doubles as well. The instax Pal 2™ holds around 100 photos in its internal memory, against around 50 on the instax Pal™. Add a microSD card (up to 2TB) and there's room for thousands more.

Made for going out

The instax Pal™ arrived in five colours, from Gem Black to Pistachio Green, with a ring you could slide onto your finger. It was playful, a tiny sidekick with a lot of personality.

The instax Pal 2™ comes in Black or White, with a retro shape that looks like a classic film camera shrunk down to pocket size. It's designed to be part of the outfit, sitting in its matching case (sold separately) on your bag next to your keys and lip oil.

Heading to a K-pop night? Black keeps it sleek. Reggaeton night with gold hoops and a bright going-out top? White pops against all that colour. Techno night in head-to-toe black? Either works. It's a camera that fits with you.

Whichever colour you pick, it's light enough to pass around the group, so everyone gets a turn at making photos.

instax Pal™ vs instax Pal 2™ at a glance

Here are the key specs side by side.

Can the instax Pal 2™ print photos on its own?

No, and neither can the instax Pal™. Both are digital cameras, so to turn a favourite into an instax™ print you'll need a smartphone printer or a hybrid camera, plus a pack of instax™ film (sold separately).

The easiest route is an instax™ Link printer. In preview, turn the lever and send the photo straight to a paired printer. Pick one to match your format. The instax mini Link 3™ prints on instax™ mini film, perfect for handing out prints to everyone on the spot. The instax SQUARE Link™ prints on instax™ SQUARE film, and the new instax Link WIDE 2™ makes WIDE prints with room to fit the whole group in.

Already got an instax mini Evo™, instax mini LiPlay+™ or instax WIDE Evo™? Those hybrid cameras can print photos from the instax Pal 2™ too, whenever you choose to print. Browse the full printer range to find your match.

Should you upgrade from the instax Pal™?

If you love the instax Pal™ for being tiny, light and easy, it still does all of that, and it pairs with an instax™ Link printer. There's no rush to swap.

If you'd like quicker transfers, a viewfinder and more storage, the instax Pal 2™ has all three. It still sits comfortably in your palm and slips into a mini bag.

New to the instax Pal™ range? Start with the instax Pal 2™ if you want a digital camera that feels like a proper little compact, with prints whenever you fancy them. You can also check out our full cameras range to see how it sits alongside our instant and hybrid options.

The instax Pal 2™ is out now in Black and White, with an SRP of £129.99. You'll find it at selected UK retailers, and our store locator shows where you can see one in person before you decide. Add an instax™ Link printer and a couple of film packs and you're set for whatever's next.

Wherever your next night out lands, make plenty and save the best one for someone who deserves a print. Get to know the instax Pal 2™, then head to instax.co.uk for more inspo.

FUJIFILM, instax, instax Pal, instax Pal 2, instax mini Link 3, instax SQUARE Link, instax Link WIDE 2, instax mini Evo, instax mini LiPlay+ and instax WIDE Evo are registered trademarks or trademarks of FUJIFILM Corporation.