These days most of us have smartphones with near unlimited capacity to take and store photos and the internet to share them on.

So what’s the point in a Polaroid?

By being able to instantly print, Polaroid cameras were spontaneous and fun. It’s not about getting a great photo, it’s more about getting a great memory. It feels like you’re capturing the emotion of a picture as much as an image.

And the Polaroid’s new Zip printer brings that back by bridging the gap between the old-school instant camera and the smartphone.


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It is designed to fit in a pocket - at about the size of a chunky phone - and links wirelessly via an app to print small, wallet-sized photos instantly without any ink.

You don’t even have to shake them.

Polaroid’s chief executive and president, Scott W Hardy said: “Whether it’s a graduation, wedding, summer road trip or just a backyard family barbecue, the summer months are filled with memorable moments just waiting to be shared with friends and family.

“Smartphones have become the go-to tool for sharing our favorite memories digitally, but there is something special about sharing a physical photo.

“The Polaroid Zip photoprinter brings the Polaroid experience into the mobile age allowing users to quickly and easily print and share their favorite photos anywhere.”

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For a little white box, this printer looks quite trendy though it is more handbag-sized than pocket-sized.

Downloading the app on Android is even simpler than loading the Google Play store. You just have to pop your phone onto the machine and by magic touch it lets you start downloading.

From there, it’s just a straightforward app and a Bluetooth connection.

Once you’re up and running, it takes about a minute to pick a photo, make a couple of adjustments using the simple tools and print it.

The app lets you zoom, make collages, add stickers and stamps, paint on it and add various filters.

The Polaroid Zip does what it aims to well – you get a portable wireless photo printer that seamlessly prints wallet-sized 2 x 3 inch pictures. It’s just that in the process of choosing and editing a photo, the magic could get lost.

Polaroid’s Zip Photoprinter costs £109.99

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