Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay vs Instax Mini 11: Which Instant Camera Should You Buy

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay camera is quite popular because of its quirky features. It is one of the few digital cameras that supports both external memory and film. Another instant camera is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11, a traditional camera that uses film to develop small credit card-sized photos.

So, which instant camera should you pick? Well, that’s what we will explore as we compare the Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay with the Instax Mini 11 to see which is the better camera for you. Let’s jump straight in, shall we?

Design & Connectivity

The Mini Liplay is small and measures about 4.8 x 3.3 x 1.4 inches. Its compact body gives the impression of a digital camera, which is a big plus. The small form factor is due to the built-in digital lens. If you must know, instant cameras like the Mini 9 or the Mini 11 use analog lenses, which makes the camera body a bit bulky.

Like any digital camera, it has an LCD screen at the rear. While it’s not the most sophisticated screen, it gets the work done. However, you may need to hold your hand over the screen on bright sunny days to see the content properly. That said, the sleek design means that the camera is easy to hold, both for adults and young children.

This Mini Liplay camera connects to your phone via Bluetooth. So, if you have photos in your phone’s gallery that you want to print, you can do so with this camera. Moreover, you can transfer the shots via the microSD card to your phone/laptop.

While the Instax Mini 11 shares a similar look with the Mini 9, it’s much slimmer than its predecessor. However, as far as design is concerned, the latter wins hands-down.

It’s a film camera, and this time, Fujifilm has upgraded it with automatic exposure functionality. As such, you do not have to worry about setting the correct exposure manually. It doesn’t support external memory, and every photo you capture will be printed right away.

That said, it packs a few nifty add-ons. For example, the flash fires automatically each time you hit the shutter button, ensuring you do not get under-exposure shots. Secondly, the built-in selfie mode lets you click instant selfies. Just pull out the lens barrel, frame your shot, and smile!

Battery

One significant difference between the two instant cameras is their battery type. The Mini Liplay takes the clever route and bundles a rechargeable internal battery. Here, the battery charges via micro USB. With USB-C being the popular cable type presently, you’ll have to remember to take the charging cable everywhere you go.

On the other hand, the Mini 11 charges via two AA batteries, just like the good old film cameras of yesteryears. A new set of batteries should be good enough to give you around 80-100 shots.

The portable battery allows you to buy the batteries from just about anywhere — whether it’s a beach outing or a summer holiday. That being said, you’ll have to discard the batteries with care. At the same time, it’s best if you could get hold of some rechargeable batteries.

Camera and In-app Features

Since the Instax Mini Liplay combines elements from different worlds, this small camera has some exciting features. As mentioned earlier, you can access both digital prints and real film photos. You can also print other photos since it can connect to your phone via Bluetooth. Furthermore, the companion app lets you add several filters and frames to the photos.

That said, the app leaves a little to be desired. There’s no option to edit images. If you want Instagram-like photos in print, you’ll have to edit them via third-party apps. However, you can switch between three filters — Sepia, B&W, and Vivid. Last but not least, the Mini Liplay app also lets you record little audio snippets.

Unlike it, the Instax Mini 11 solely relies on the built-in camera features. The good news is that it has a few tricks up its sleeves. For instance, you can click quick selfies by pulling the barrel towards you. That said, a selfie timer would have been a great addition. You can also use the same mechanism to capture close-focus shots.

It’s a film-based camera, and as such, you’ll have to rely solely on film types. If you want B&W photos, you will have to get a monochrome film pack. And when you do get a film pack, you’ll have to shoot all the 10 photos in B&W. Yep, there’s no way to change in between.

Photo Quality

So which camera captures better photos — Instax Mini Liplay or the Instax Mini 11?

When it comes to the Instax Mini Liplay, the 5MP lens manages to capture great shots. The colors are mostly accurate, and the photos have no visible bars. Though the 5MP resolution seems a tad less in this age of smartphones, let us tell you that the low resolution doesn’t make its presence felt in the 1.8 x 2.4-inch photos.

The camera quickly focuses in normal daylight conditions. However, as PC Mag has pointed out, the Instax Mini Liplay struggles slightly in low-light settings. Despite this, it churns out pretty detailed and sharp images.

On the other hand, the Instax Mini 11 delivers natural and pleasing images. Compared to ZINK-based cameras, the photos are bright and vivid. There are minimal chances of over-exposure or dark backgrounds. If you must know, the Mini 9 was notorious for delivering dark backgrounds in photos.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay vs. Instax Mini 11: Old vs. New

Which instant camera is better for you? The Instax Mini 11 is more of a fun camera. The point-and-shoot mechanism makes it extremely easy to capture images, and you get a small credit card-shaped photo in your hands within minutes. Agreed that it’s not easy to hold, but trust us, it is the perfect accompaniment for parties, get-togethers, and photo-booth events. And the photo quality is not bad either.

On the other hand, the Mini Liplay is more than a simple instant camera. Perhaps, the most economical thing is that the control is on your hands when printing photos. You can choose which photos to print, saving you both paper and money in the long run. The microSD card always gives you a backup of all your captured images.