The Polaroid Go 2 ($79.99) is one of the smallest, cutest instant cameras available, but that's about where the good news ends. The bad news is that compatible film is quite small, prone to wildly unpredictable color and exposure, and pricier than competing formats. Add a plastic lens that struggles against a backlight, a weak flash that doesn't illuminate scenes properly, and a relatively disappointing battery life, and you have a camera that's nice to look at but no fun to use. It's not much of an upgrade over the original Polaroid Go, though it at least costs a bit less. If you're shopping for an affordable instant camera, you are much better off with our Editors' Choice, the $79.95 Fujifilm Instax Mini 12, thanks to its superior print quality and lower operating costs.

The Playful Design Is the Best Feature

The Go Generation 2 looks a lot like the original, enough that you won't be able to tell them apart without checking the USB charging port on the side. The original Go has a micro USB connector, while the Go 2 uses USB-C. At 3.3 by 4.1 by 2.4 inches (HWD) and 8.4 ounces, the Go 2 is around the same size as its predecessor.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Its '90s-style aesthetic works together with the palm-sized design to add to the visual appeal. I received the Go 2 in blue for evaluation, but you can also get it in white, red, or black. All variations include the iconic Polaroid rainbow stripe logo along with a bright red shutter button. The flash toggle is just to the left, while the power button is on the angled back next to the film counter display. The film door is on the bottom of the camera and includes a set of arrows that help you load film cartridges correctly.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

The Go 2 promises simple operation and largely delivers. The lens covers a moderately wide angle (around 34mm in full-frame terms) with fixed focus and fully automatic exposure. It's a true point-and-shoot camera since there are no exposure settings to adjust. I don't count this as an entirely good thing, however. In testing, the Go 2's ambient light meter often misread a scene, netting an exposure that was either too dark or too bright. The Fuji Instax Mini 12 also omits exposure control but generally does a better job of judging light. Feature-rich models like the Instax Mini 99 include exposure adjustment, so you can get quality pictures of backlit and mixed-lighting scenes that are hard for cameras to gauge themselves.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

You have the option to turn the flash off, but that's only a good idea in very bright light since the lens has a dim f/9 aperture. That said, when I tried the camera in early morning light, the built-in flash did a poor job anyway. I also noticed that it struggled to provide ample fill for a backlit scene of an orchid wall at a local conservatory. The Instax Mini 99 had no problems capturing the latter scene with proper illumination.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

An eye-level optical viewfinder helps you frame photos. The finder is decently large and bright, so you should be able to get a good idea of your frame. Its exterior has a two-way mirror finish so you can see your reflection on its surface when you snap selfies, too. On the downside, the finder can catch and show reflections as reversed ghosts when you're behind the lens. I don't see this as a huge issue, however, since I noticed them only when I tried the camera on a bright day in an enclosed deck with loads of windows. Still, it's an issue Polaroid could have avoided by opting for a dedicated selfie mirror.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

The Go 2 offers a self-timer for group shots, though you need to find a flat surface to set down the camera for such scenarios since it lacks a tripod socket. It also supports double exposures; lightly tap the Flash button and the film counter LED flashes a "1" to indicate it's in double mode. In this mode, the camera ejects and develops film after every other photo, so you can creatively use it to snap two images on one frame. If you want to get really creative, you can go for three or more photos in one go. Simply turn the power off after the first shot and restart the double exposure process when you turn the camera back on. This is one advantage it has over the Fuji Instax Mini 12, which can't take double exposures at all.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

The built-in battery charges via USB-C. Polaroid promises 120 shots per charge, but I didn't get that many during my time with the camera. The battery charge light turns red when power is low, and I started seeing that warning after snapping four film packs (32 pictures).

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Go Film Is Tiny and Unpredictable

The Go 2's charming, compact looks might entice you, but that design has image quality implications for Go format prints. They measure 2.6 by 2.1 inches (HW) in size, but a white border (which is particularly thick at the bottom) results in just a 1.8-inch-square image area.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

There's a reason for the thick border, and it's not just so you can write a note at the bottom: Polaroid (and other) instant films must accommodate where the cameras store the chemicals for developing the shot. When the film ejects from the camera, rollers squeeze the chemicals onto the picture area to create a photo.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

The original Go and Go Generation 2 are the only cameras that work with this film. Each Go cartridge holds eight photos, and Polaroid sells the packs of two cartridges for $20. That works out to $1.25 per photo. Instant cameras in Polaroid's other lineup, including the Now+ and i-2, use the I-Type film with the classic, oversized 3.0-inch square picture format, for comparison. I-Type Polaroid film is even more expensive (around $2.12 per image), but its significantly larger image area justifies the cost.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Both the Go and I-Type Polaroid films are finicky to use and deliver inconsistent results. Color shift is a real problem on cold and hot days, and you've got to shield the film from light during the early stages of its 20-minute development time. Otherwise, pictures will lose contrast. The Go 2 includes an opaque plastic film to cover the picture after it comes out of the camera, but it's still a pain to shield the film as you move it to a pocket, bag, or other dark spot while it develops. The need to shield film is unique to modern-day Polaroid films, which were reformulated to comply with RoHS regulations. There's no need for similar handling with Fujifilm Instax materials.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Instax film delivers more accurate colors than Go film in most situations and doesn't cost as much. The aforementioned Instax Mini 12, for instance, uses a Mini format with a 1.8-by-2.4-inch picture area and costs just $0.70 per picture. If you prefer the square format, the Fuji Instax SQ1 creates 2.4-inch square pictures at around $1.00 per frame. Instax Mini and Square film is also available in color or black-and-white, meaning you have more creative freedom. Polaroid makes one of my favorite black-and-white emulsions for its full-size format, so it's a shame not to have it in the Go size.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

It's tough to tell if the Go 2's picture problems are because of the small print image area, so-so color fidelity, weak flash, or dim plastic lens. I see it as a combination of all of the above. The small image area reduces the impact of photos, the frequent color shift and cast make for ugly exposures, the weak flash means pictures are dimmer than you might expect, and the plastic lens nets soft details and tends to draw unappealing flare against a backlight. It's far too difficult to get a good photo out of this camera, which shouldn't be the case for an entry-level, one-button instant that costs money every time you tap the shutter button.

(Credit: Jim Fisher)

Cute and Cheap, But Not Worth Your Money

Our buying advice for the Polaroid Go 2 hasn't changed from the original: Don't waste your money. The camera's design might be appealing, but its pictures simply aren't. Snapshots are small, finicky, and often show scenes in an unattractive light. Go film is also far more expensive than it should be. We highly recommend entry-level buyers get the Instax Mini 12 instead, which makes it easier to capture better photos. Meanwhile, if you want to snap square format images or take greater control over the exposure, the Instax SQ1 and Mini 99 are also Editors' Choice winners.