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The Polaroid Now+ 3rd Generation is Polaroid’s most feature-rich instant camera to date, combining classic analog photography with Bluetooth-connected creative controls. Whether you just received one as a gift or treated yourself, the first few minutes with a new instant camera can be surprisingly tricky — load the film wrong and you waste an entire pack, skip the app pairing and you miss half the camera’s capabilities. This guide walks you through every step from opening the box to snapping your first perfectly exposed instant photo, drawing on Polaroid’s official documentation and verified user guidance.
Best for: First-time instant camera owners and creative photographers who want app-controlled manual settings
What’s in the Box
Before diving into setup, let’s confirm you have everything. The Polaroid Now+ 3rd Generation + Film Bundle (ASIN: B0DTTPGBLC) ships with:
- Polaroid Now+ 3rd Generation camera body (black)
- USB-C charging cable
- Neck strap
- Quick-start guide
- Two packs of Polaroid i-Type Color Film (16 shots total — 8 per pack)
If you purchased the camera body alone (without the bundle), you’ll need to buy i-Type or 600-type film separately. The camera is compatible with both, though i-Type film is designed specifically for it and doesn’t include a battery — the camera’s internal rechargeable battery handles power.
Tip: Check the film’s expiration date printed on the side of each pack. Expired film can still produce images, but colors may shift and development times can increase.
Step 1: Charge the Camera
The Polaroid Now+ 3rd Generation uses an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery — a significant upgrade from older Polaroid cameras that relied on a battery embedded in each film pack. According to Polaroid’s official specs, a full charge powers approximately 15 packs of film (roughly 120 shots).
1. Locate the USB-C port on the back of the camera, beneath a small rubber flap. 2. Connect the included USB-C cable to the camera and plug the other end into any USB power source (wall adapter, laptop, power bank). 3. Watch the LED indicator next to the port. It glows red while charging and turns off (or green on some units, per user reports) when fully charged. 4. Allow approximately 2 hours for a full charge from empty.
You can use the camera while it charges, but Polaroid recommends a full initial charge before your first session to calibrate the battery gauge.
Step 2: Load the Film
This is the step where most first-time users make mistakes. Instant film is light-sensitive, so speed and orientation matter.
1. Open the film door. On the front of the camera, slide the latch to pop open the film compartment. The door swings open from the bottom. 2. Remove one film pack from its foil wrapper. Only open the foil when you’re ready to load — exposure to light will ruin the top sheet. Work in normal indoor lighting; you don’t need a darkroom, but avoid direct sunlight. 3. Orient the film pack correctly. The pack has a yellow or colored stripe on one edge and a small tab. The stripe faces up, and the tab should point toward the film ejection slot at the top of the camera. 4. Drop the pack in. It should sit flat with no forcing required. If it doesn’t fit, you likely have it rotated 180°. 5. Close the film door firmly until it clicks. 6. The camera will automatically eject the dark slide — the black protective card on top of the film pack. You’ll hear the motor whir and the dark slide will emerge from the slot. This is normal and expected; don’t pull it out manually. 7. Check the shot counter on the back of the camera. It should read 8, indicating eight exposures remaining.
Important: Never open the film door once film is loaded unless you’re replacing an empty pack. Opening it exposes the top frame to light and ruins it.
If you’re curious about how other gadgets handle their initial setup process, our guide to setting up the Loona Robot Pet Dog covers a similarly detailed unboxing-to-first-use walkthrough.
Step 3: Download and Pair the Polaroid App
The “Plus” in Now+ refers to the Bluetooth-connected Polaroid app, which unlocks manual controls, creative tools, and remote shutter functionality. Without the app, the camera still works as a fully automatic point-and-shoot — but you’ll miss features like double exposure, light painting, tripod mode, aperture priority, and manual mode.
Download the App
- iOS: Search “Polaroid” in the App Store (requires iOS 15 or later, per Polaroid’s documentation).
- Android: Search “Polaroid” in Google Play (requires Android 10 or later).
The app is free. You’ll need to create a Polaroid account or sign in with an existing one.
Pair via Bluetooth
1. Turn on the camera by pressing the power button (the main shutter button on top — press it once; the LED ring around the lens will light up). 2. Open the Polaroid app on your phone. 3. Tap the camera icon or “Connect Camera” prompt in the app. 4. Enable Bluetooth on your phone if prompted. 5. The app will scan for nearby Polaroid devices. Your Now+ 3rd Generation should appear within a few seconds. 6. Tap to pair. The camera’s LED may flash to confirm the connection. 7. Grant permissions the app requests (Bluetooth, and optionally location for geotagging your shots).
Verified users report that pairing is generally quick and reliable, though a few note that the first connection attempt occasionally fails on Android devices. The common fix is to close the app, toggle Bluetooth off and on, and retry. Once paired, the camera reconnects automatically in future sessions.
What the App Unlocks
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Manual Mode | Control shutter speed and aperture independently |
| Double Exposure | Layer two shots on a single frame |
| Light Painting | Long exposure for drawing with light sources |
| Tripod Mode | Optimized settings for stationary shots |
| Remote Shutter | Trigger the camera from your phone |
| Aperture Priority | You set aperture; camera picks shutter speed |
| Self-Timer | Delayed shutter with countdown |
Much like pairing Bluetooth earbuds for the first time, the process is straightforward once you know where to look in the app.
Step 4: Configure Camera Settings
Before your first shot, take a moment to adjust a few settings:
Exposure Compensation (On-Camera)
The camera has a physical exposure switch — a small slider near the lens. It adjusts brightness:
- Slide toward the sun icon to brighten (useful for backlit subjects or overcast days).
- Slide toward the dark icon to darken (useful in very bright conditions or to prevent overexposure).
- Center position is the default automatic exposure.
Flash Settings
The Now+ 3rd Generation has an automatic flash that fires in low light. You can override this:
- Press the flash button on the back of the camera to cycle through modes: Auto Flash → Flash On → Flash Off.
- The current mode is indicated by a small LED icon.
Lens Selection
The camera features a dual-lens system:
- Standard lens for subjects 2 feet (0.6 m) and beyond.
- Portrait lens for closer subjects, toggled by a switch on the front of the camera body.
Make sure you’re on the correct lens before shooting — using the standard lens too close results in blurry images, a common complaint among new users.
Step 5: Take Your First Photo
1. Frame your subject through the viewfinder (optical, top-left of the camera body). Note that the viewfinder has slight parallax — what you see is offset slightly from what the lens captures, especially at close range. 2. Hold the camera steady. Instant cameras have relatively slow shutter speeds in anything but bright light. 3. Press the shutter button fully. You’ll hear the motor eject the photo. 4. Let the photo develop face-down or in a dark place. Polaroid’s official guidance says development takes 15–20 minutes at room temperature. Despite the old myth, do not shake the photo — it doesn’t speed development and can actually damage the image chemistry.
Pro tip from the community: Shield the photo from light for the first 30 seconds after ejection. Some users slip it into a pocket or under a book. The image is most vulnerable to light exposure in those initial moments.
Step 6: Troubleshooting Common First-Use Issues
Based on verified user reports and Polaroid’s support documentation, here are the most frequent issues new owners encounter:
Photos Are Too Dark or Too Light
- Check the exposure compensation slider — it may have shifted during shipping.
- Ensure the flash is set to Auto for indoor shooting.
- In the app, try Manual Mode to dial in exposure for tricky lighting.
Camera Won’t Eject the Dark Slide
- Confirm the battery is charged (the motor needs power to eject).
- Ensure the film pack is seated correctly — open the door and reseat it.
- If the motor sounds but nothing ejects, the dark slide may be jammed. Polaroid support recommends gently pulling it out with tweezers as a last resort.
App Won’t Find the Camera
- Make sure the camera is powered on (LED ring lit).
- Restart Bluetooth on your phone.
- Check that no other phone is already paired to the camera — the Now+ connects to one device at a time.
- Update the app to the latest version.
Film Counter Shows Wrong Number
- This usually means a frame was exposed to light. The counter reflects remaining usable frames. If you opened the film door accidentally, the top frame is likely ruined — the counter adjusts accordingly.
Film Storage and Handling Tips
- Store unused film in the refrigerator (not the freezer) to extend shelf life. Let it warm to room temperature for 1–2 hours before loading.
- Keep film packs in their foil wrappers until you’re ready to load.
- Avoid leaving loaded film in the camera for extended periods in hot environments (cars, direct sun). Heat degrades the chemistry.
- Each pack contains 8 frames. The bundle includes two packs, giving you 16 total shots to start.
Product Review: Polaroid Now+ 3rd Generation I-Type Camera + Film Bundle
The Polaroid Now+ 3rd Generation + Film Bundle packages the camera with two packs of i-Type color film, making it a true out-of-the-box experience. The camera itself represents a meaningful evolution in Polaroid’s lineup: the internal rechargeable battery eliminates the old dependency on film-pack batteries, the dual-lens system improves close-up shots, and the Bluetooth app integration transforms what would otherwise be a simple point-and-shoot into a surprisingly versatile creative tool.
Pros: Verified reviewers consistently praise the build quality, the satisfying tactile experience of shooting instant film, and the app’s creative modes — particularly double exposure and manual mode. The USB-C charging is a welcome modernization, and the inclusion of 16 shots in the bundle means you can start experimenting immediately. The autofocus system is reported as reliable in good lighting conditions.
Cons: The most common complaints center on the cost per shot (i-Type film isn’t cheap), occasional Bluetooth connectivity hiccups on Android, and the fact that image quality is inherently limited by the instant film format — don’t expect smartphone-level sharpness. Some users also note that the viewfinder parallax takes getting used to, and low-light performance without flash can produce very dark images.
Who should buy this: First-time instant camera owners who want more than a basic point-and-shoot, creative photographers looking for analog experimentation, and anyone who values the tangible, shareable nature of physical prints. The bundle is the smartest entry point since it includes film to get started.
Quick-Reference Setup Checklist
For those who want the condensed version:
1. ✅ Charge camera via USB-C (~2 hours) 2. ✅ Open film door, insert i-Type film pack (yellow stripe up, tab toward ejection slot) 3. ✅ Close door — dark slide ejects automatically 4. ✅ Download Polaroid app (iOS/Android) 5. ✅ Power on camera, open app, pair via Bluetooth 6. ✅ Set exposure compensation to center, flash to Auto, lens to Standard 7. ✅ Frame, shoot, shield photo from light for 30 seconds 8. ✅ Wait 15–20 minutes for full development
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 600-type film in the Now+ 3rd Generation? Yes. The camera is compatible with both i-Type and 600-type film. However, 600-type film includes a built-in battery that goes unused in this camera, so you’re paying for a component you don’t need. Stick with i-Type for better value.
Does the camera work without the app? Absolutely. Without the app, it functions as a fully automatic instant camera with flash control and exposure compensation. You only need the app for manual modes, double exposure, light painting, and remote shutter.
How many shots does a full battery charge support? Polaroid states approximately 15 packs, or about 120 shots, per full charge.
Can I use the camera while it’s charging? Yes, though Polaroid recommends a full initial charge before first use.
How We Research
This guide was compiled by synthesizing Polaroid’s official product documentation, the camera’s quick-start guide, manufacturer specifications, and verified customer reviews from multiple retail platforms. We have not personally tested or owned this camera. All claims about features, performance, and common issues are attributed to official sources or the consensus of verified user reports. Our goal is to provide the most accurate and helpful setup walkthrough possible based on publicly available information.
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