I took some pictures on the camera and printed them and I gotta say, the prints look amazing, the pictures don't do it justice as my phone's camera is crappy but I did as best as I could to show them off, I'm not good at taking pictures but I'm still learning. It even works as an Instax photo printer to print any picture or image from a smartphone via its own dedicated app (which works surprisingly well).

Fundamentally, the camera allows the user to make the photos they want to make and print the photos they want to print – two things that aren’t necessarily the status quo in instant film photography. It’s great that you can throw in a microSD card and keep any image files you’ve shot, but don’t expect these to all be keepers. Analogue purists may baulk at its hybrid design, but it brings a host of practical benefits to the table that you simply won’t find on all-analogue alternatives. It takes digital photos, allows us to apply filters and lens effects to these photos, and then gives us the freedom to decide whether or not we want to instantly print those photos. Instantly print the images you take or send them over to your smartphone for sharing on social media.

There’s an accessory shoe on the top plate, which is most useful for mounting a self-powered light, and a tripod socket on the bottom. When it comes to the menus and interface, there’s loads of shared DNA between this and the Instax Mini LiPlay, which is a bit simpler but also blends digital and instant photography.

The instax mini Evo embodies a modern generation of analog, combining a classic look with more ways to create. And while I got proper excited when I saw the Evo first appear, after using one I decided that it would be the first Instax I wouldn't add to my collection. I’m looking into this camera as a Christmas gift and have a few questions about transferring the digital photos from the camera to a smartphone/computer. A handy little selfie mirror can be used for easy framing while in front of the camera, and there’s a standard tripod socket built into the base should you want to step back for group shots. Using an app on your phone, you can send pictures from your smartphone to the camera via Bluetooth and print them out.We used it to print a couple of snaps (see below) and you can tell the difference when you're holding a shot that's come from a more advanced camera.

Here, the Mini Evo uses that same lever as a satisfying way to print the snap you’re viewing on the screen.

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