Polaroid Lab

Last updated: 5 October 2026

What the Polaroid Lab printer is

Polaroid announced the Lab in September 2019. It is not an inkjet or a thermal printer. Instead, Polaroid describes it as a device that exposes the image on your phone using light from the phone's own display.

In practice, you pick a photo in the free Polaroid app and place the phone on the Lab. The app then opens a shutter under the lens, and the light from your screen exposes the film. Finally, the print rolls out through the rollers and develops in your hand over a few minutes, just like a shot from a Polaroid camera.

What it does

• Prints on real Polaroid film: it takes i-Type and 600 film in the classic full-size Polaroid format.
• Split frame collages: the Polaroid app can divide one print into several smaller photos.
• Exposure control: the app sets the exposure time, while the Lab handles the shutter.
• Rechargeable battery: a built-in lithium-ion battery charges over USB-C.

Key facts

• Price: £119.99 from Polaroid UK, £99 on Amazon UK on 5 October 2026
• Film: Polaroid i-Type and 600
• Optics: three optical-grade acrylic lenses, fixed aperture, variable-speed shutter
• Battery: 1100mAh lithium-ion, charged by USB-C
• Size: 150 x 115.6 x 149.7mm closed, 177mm tall when open
• Weight: 655g without a film pack
• Phones: iPhone on iOS 15 or later, and most Android 7 phones with screens over 4.7 inches

Who it suits

• Phone photographers who miss prints: it gives your favourite shots a physical life without buying a new camera.
• Gift givers: a Polaroid of a holiday snap makes an easy card or present.
• Existing Polaroid owners: it uses the same i-Type and 600 film as their cameras.

If you would rather shoot on film from the start, our page on the Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 camera covers Polaroid's app-connected instant camera.

The limits of the Polaroid Lab printer

Film is the real running cost. On 5 October 2026, Polaroid UK charged £16.99 for one pack of colour i-Type film, which holds 8 photos. That works out at just over £2 a print, or about £1.88 if you buy five packs at £15 each.

Because the Lab photographs your screen, the result looks like a Polaroid, not a lab print. Expect softer detail and the usual instant-film colour shifts.

It is also bulky for a printer, at 655g before you add film. Polaroid does not list how many prints you get per charge.

Where to buy it in the UK

Amazon UK sells the white model, sold and dispatched by Amazon, and had it at £99 on 5 October 2026, against £119.99 direct. The full specification and phone compatibility list are on the Polaroid UK product page.

If you mainly want cheap prints on paper, the Polaroid Hi-Print pocket printer is the smaller, cheaper alternative.

Polaroid Lab on Amazon UK

FAQs

How much is the Polaroid Lab in the UK?

£119.99 from Polaroid UK, and £99 on Amazon UK, checked on 5 October 2026.

What film does the Polaroid Lab use?

It takes Polaroid i-Type and 600 film. Both give the classic square Polaroid format.

How does the Polaroid Lab work?

Your phone sits face down on the Lab. Then three lenses project the screen onto the film, and the app controls the exposure.

How much does each Polaroid Lab print cost?

Around £2. A pack of colour i-Type film costs £16.99 for 8 photos from Polaroid UK, and multi-pack buys bring that down.

Does the Polaroid Lab work with Android?

Yes. It works with Android 7 and newer on most phones with a screen over 4.7 inches, as well as iPhones on iOS 15 or later.

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