The best kids' cameras
Their own camera, their own photos, and a great many pictures of the dog. Pick by age and what they'll do with it.
A camera of their own is one of those presents children really use: on walks, on holiday and all round the house. Children's cameras have come a long way, with selfie lenses, games and even instant prints.
Don't worry about megapixel claims. For young children, a tough case, simple buttons and a memory card in the box matter far more. We've included one for older kids that behaves more like a real compact camera.
What matters
- Toughness and size: a case and chunky buttons for little hands.
- A memory card in the box, or they can't take many photos.
- Rechargeable or AA batteries.
- Extras: a selfie lens, instant prints or games.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Gofunly Kids Camera with 32GB Card
£20–£30 Price range
A soft silicone case takes the knocks, and there's a lens on the front and the back so they can flip to selfies. The memory card is already in the box, so it's ready to go on the day.
What owners say: Owners call it brilliant for children from about four and a favourite present that keeps them busy, and like that it looks like a real camera.
A closer look: Charge it before wrapping it. It plugs into a computer by USB, so copy the best pictures off now and then before the card fills up with photos of the cat.
- Soft silicone case
- Front and selfie lenses
- 32GB card included
- Rechargeable, 3–4 hours' use
- 5 built-in games
Best for: Ages 3 to 8
- Screen
- 2in
- Video
- 1080p
- Memory card
- 32GB included
- Power
- Rechargeable (3–4 hrs)
- Instant prints
- No
#2 of 5
Best for older kids
IXNAIQY 1080p Digital Camera for Kids and Teens
£20–£30 Price range
A proper little point-and-shoot for someone who has outgrown toy cameras: 16x digital zoom, anti-shake and a flash, and it doubles as a webcam for video calls.
What owners say: Owners find it a great starter camera, light and easy to carry, with clear video for the price.
A closer look: The listing doesn't include a memory card, so add an SD card with it. Twenty built-in filters give photos a vintage or film look without an app.
- 1080p video
- 16x digital zoom
- Anti-shake and face detection
- Built-in flash
- Works as a webcam
Best for: Tweens and teens
- Screen
- 2.4in
- Video
- 1080p
- Memory card
- Not included
- Power
- Rechargeable
- Instant prints
- No
#3 of 5
Most to play with
VTech KidiZoom Duo FX Camera
£64.99 RRP
Two cameras, one for selfies, plus 20-odd games and a daft Chin Puppet mode that turns a chin into a talking face. It's made for small hands and ages 3 to 9.
What owners say: Owners find it entertaining on trips, easy to use and sturdy, and grandchildren love it.
Heads up: It runs on four AA batteries rather than charging by USB, so pick up rechargeable AAs with it.
A closer look: Add a microSD card: without one it only has 256MB of space and records small 320×240 video; with one, video goes up to 640×480.
- 8MP camera plus a selfie camera
- 2.4-inch colour screen
- Live AR filters and effects
- 20+ games
- Chin Puppet Show mode
Best for: Games, effects and silliness
- Screen
- 2.4in
- Video
- 640×480 (with microSD)
- Memory card
- Not included (256MB built in)
- Power
- 4 × AA
- Instant prints
- No
#4 of 5
Best instant print
HiMont Instant Print Kids Camera
£20–£30 Price range
Press the button and out comes a black-and-white print on thermal paper, no ink needed, ready to colour in with the pens in the box. It takes colour photos and video too.
What owners say: Owners find it easy for small hands, love the instant receipt-style prints, and think it's excellent value.
A closer look: Buy spare rolls of thermal paper with it: prints go fast on the first day. Back the photos up to a computer now and then, as the maker suggests.
- Instant black-and-white prints, no ink
- 3 paper rolls and colour pens
- 1080p video
- 32GB card included
- About 4 hours a charge
Best for: Crafty kids
- Screen
- 2.4in
- Video
- 1080p
- Memory card
- 32GB included
- Power
- Rechargeable (about 4 hrs)
- Instant prints
- Black and white, no ink
#5 of 5
Best budget
ARNSSIEN Kids Camera with Flip Lens
£10–£20 Price range
The lens flips round 180° for selfies, and a speaker plays music and stories from the card, so it's a camera and a little music player in one.
What owners say: Owners find it easy for toddlers to use, with good pictures, and say it keeps children entertained for hours.
A closer look: Set the date and time the first time it's switched on, and look through the settings before handing it over. The card reader in the box makes copying photos to a laptop easy.
- 180° flip lens for selfies
- 2.4-inch screen
- 8GB card and reader included
- 10 games, 31 frames
- Rechargeable, 2–4 hours
Best for: Toddlers and stockings
- Screen
- 2.4in
- Video
- 1080p
- Memory card
- 8GB included
- Power
- Rechargeable (2–4 hrs)
- Instant prints
- No
How they compare
| Feature | #1Gofunly | #2IXNAIQY | #3VTech KidiZoom Duo FX | #4HiMont instant print | #5ARNSSIEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for older kids | Most to play with | Best instant print | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.6 |
| Price | £20–£30 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £64.99 RRP | £20–£30 Price range | £10–£20 Price range |
| Screen | 2in | 2.4in | 2.4in | 2.4in | 2.4in |
| Video | 1080p | 1080p | 640×480 (with microSD) | 1080p | 1080p |
| Memory card | 32GB included | Not included | Not included (256MB built in) | 32GB included | 8GB included |
| Power | Rechargeable (3–4 hrs) | Rechargeable | 4 × AA | Rechargeable (about 4 hrs) | Rechargeable (2–4 hrs) |
| Instant prints | No | No | No | Black and white, no ink | No |
| Best for | Ages 3 to 8 | Tweens and teens | Games, effects and silliness | Crafty kids | Toddlers and stockings |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Swipe sideways to see all 5.
Photos are illustrative. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. How we pick · How this works.