Polaroid x Pokemon: nine limited pieces, pre-orders open 25 August

Polaroid x Pokemon: nine limited pieces, pre-orders open 25 August

• Polaroid announced the collection on 18 August 2026 for the 30th anniversary of Pokemon: nine limited pieces

• Three cameras: Go Generation 3 in Pikachu and Sylveon liveries at £89.99 each, and the Now Generation 3 in Poke Ball colours at £129.99

• Three film packs with printed frames, £21.99 each for both the i-Type and the Go varieties

• Pre-orders open 25 August 2026 through Polaroid and Pokemon Center, with the UK among the three launch markets

• Wide release follows in early October, and the whole collection runs in limited quantities

What is in the collection

Nine limited pieces, split evenly across three tiers: hardware, film and accessories.

The cameras are existing Polaroid models in new liveries, with no change to the hardware itself. The compact Go Generation 3 comes in two versions, a bright yellow Pikachu finish and a pink and blue one based on Sylveon, both at £89.99 or $99.99. The full-size Now Generation 3, which takes i-Type film, gets Poke Ball colours in red, white and black at £129.99 or $139.99.

Two build details worth noting. All three cameras carry a Poke Ball shaped shutter button, and the Pikachu edition swaps the standard strap for a Pikachu tail.

Film comes in three variants: two for the Go series, in Pikachu and Sylveon boxes matching the cameras, and one i-Type pack for the Now. Both the i-Type and the Go packs are £21.99, which in dollars works out at $22.99 and $24.99 respectively, a couple of dollars above standard Polaroid film pricing.

Accessories close the set: a protective case for the Go in a Poke Ball design, a matching mini photo album and a strap, with accessory pricing starting under $15.

The frames, not just the shell

The element separating this from a licence printed onto hardware sits in the film.

The packs carry characters printed around the frame of the photo. Beyond Pikachu and Sylveon, which match the cameras, the frames feature Snorlax, Charmander, Clefairy and Squirtle. The dark slides have been redesigned too, meaning the black protective sheet that ejects first when you load a pack.

For contrast, Fujifilm's Pokemon collaboration five years ago stopped at the hardware. Here the theme reaches the print itself, and therefore the consumable you buy again.

Dates and how to buy

Pre-orders open on 25 August 2026 through the official Polaroid store and Pokemon Center. The UK sits alongside the US and Canada as one of only three pre-order markets, so British buyers are inside the window rather than waiting on it.

Wide release follows in early October. Sources differ slightly on the exact day, with some reporting 5 October and others 6 October, and Polaroid has not pinned it down publicly.

Everything in the collection is limited. In an anniversary year, on this franchise, that combination has a track record of clearing pre-order allocations well before the stated window closes, so treat 25 August as the date that matters rather than October.

Worth knowing before you commit

The cameras are not technically different from the models Polaroid already sells. Go Generation 3 and Now Generation 3 are the same hardware underneath, with the colourway, the shutter button and the accessories doing the work. If you already own either body, the film and accessories are the part of the collection that actually changes anything.

Film is also the piece most likely to stay in stock past the first afternoon, since it is a consumable rather than a one-off purchase.

FAQ

When do pre-orders open?

25 August 2026, through Polaroid and Pokemon Center. The UK is one of three pre-order markets alongside the US and Canada.

How much are the cameras?

Go Generation 3 in Pikachu and Sylveon at £89.99 each, Now Generation 3 in Poke Ball colours at £129.99.

How much is the film?

£21.99 per pack for both the i-Type and the Go versions.

When is the wide release?

Early October 2026. Reports point to either 5 or 6 October, and Polaroid has not confirmed which.

Are the cameras different from standard Polaroid models?

Not structurally. They are the Go Generation 3 and Now Generation 3 in new liveries, with Poke Ball shutter buttons and dedicated accessories.

Which Pokemon appear on the frames?

Pikachu, Sylveon, Snorlax, Charmander, Clefairy and Squirtle.

Is the collection limited?

Yes, all nine pieces. Polaroid has not published production numbers.

What is next

The date that counts is 25 August, when pre-orders open on both stores. October is the fallback rather than the plan, because limited runs on anniversary products rarely survive intact until wide release.

If you are choosing one item rather than the set, the film is the piece that carries the collaboration onto the photograph, and the one most likely still to be available later.