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When I initially reviewed the original Mini LiPlay in 2019, I was a bit dismissive of the audio recordings, but I really liked these little snippets of ambient sound. I have about twenty of them that I’ve downloaded over the years, and even though I’ve lost most of the Instax printouts that came with them, I can still remember the image just by listening to the audio. The Audio Album feature hasn’t wowed me yet, but I’ll withhold judgment for a few years to see how I handle it. I’d still like to see Fujifilm expand QR capabilities so I can include links, enabling me, for example, to take a photo of someone and then print out a link for them (on their photo) to a gallery where they can find high-resolution photos. Unfortunately, as far as I know, there is no way to do this.
Dream features aside, LiPlay+ is a solid upgrade, and I especially like the layered photo mode. It’s Instax at its best, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, giving you fun and creative options that let you play with images and experiment in ways you might not otherwise.
Mini LiPlay+ vs Mini Evo
If you want a compact Instax camera and printer, there are two options: the Mini LiPlay+ and the older, but still very capable Mini Evo.
The Mini Evo features a retro film camera-inspired design, with functions such as a rotating lens ring for switching lens effects and an ISO-style dial control for film effects. To print, you have to pull the film winder. It’s all very clever and fun, but it’s also practical. Like the LiPlay+, the Evo has an f/2 lens, can store about 45 images (expandable up to 1GB with a microSD card), and offers quite a few fun borders and effects.
Ultimately, I’d say the choice comes down to whether you want the rear selfie camera and layered photos of the LiPlay+ or the old-fashioned look of the Evo.