USB-C charging, easier firmware updates and three new color options are key changes for the 2024 Instax Mini Liplay
(Image credit: Instax)
As well as announcing the new Instax Wide 400, Fujifilm has today launched a refresh of its Instax Mini LiPlay hybrid camera, which combines the fun of instant photography with the convenience of digital imaging in one camera.
The 2024 editions of the Mini LiPlay not only come in three new colors with fresh textured finishes, but they also add valuable new features to the original specification of this five-year-old model.
The addition of a USB-B charging socket means that the camera can be kept powered up by the same lead you probably use for your mobile phone - or from a power bank. The rechargeable battery is good for around 100 shots.
At the same time, the firmware update process has been simplified, with owners now able to update the camera via the dedicated Instax mini LiPlay they already use with it. The original model forced users to download updates from a website, save them to a microSD memory card, and then insert them into the camera.
The three new colorways are Matcha Green, Misty White and Deep Bronze.
(Image credit: Instax)
The key features of the original model are retained. The LiPlay is much more than its parts. It can not only give you an Instax Mini print, but you also get a digital version of your image to archive or share on social media. What's more, you can choose which image you print out - so you only have to pay for hard copies of the best images, and you can make multiple copies. Additionally, you can use this as a portable printer - creating miniprints of any image you have on your smartphone.
The digital camera uses a 5-megapixel 1/5-inch sensor and can save images to the built-in memory or a microSD card. You can also review your photos on the 2.7-inch 230k dot LCD screen at the rear. The lens is a fixed-focus wide-angle with an equivalent focal length of around 28mm.
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The new Instax mini LiPlay instant digital cameras will go on sale from July 19 for a recommended retail price of $169.95 / £149.99.
Chris George has worked on Digital Camera World since its launch in 2017. He has been writing about photography, mobile phones, video making and technology for over 30 years – and has edited numerous magazines including PhotoPlus, N-Photo, Digital Camera, Video Camera, and Professional Photography.
His first serious camera was the iconic Olympus OM10, with which he won the title of Young Photographer of the Year - long before the advent of autofocus and memory cards. Today he uses a Nikon D800, a Fujifilm X-T1, a Sony A7, and his iPhone 15 Pro Max.
He has written about technology for countless publications and websites including The Sunday Times Magazine, The Daily Telegraph, Dorling Kindersley, What Cellphone, T3 and Techradar.
