Yes, you read the headline right. Starbucks has started selling a natty, retro-styled compact camera with dual sensors for easy selfies, trendy filters and more for the equivalent of $30. The kicker being that you will need to be in China to get one.
The Starbucks Retro Digital Camera was recently released in China for the start of the 2025 holiday season, costing only 198 yuan – about $28 or £21. That’s less than you can pay for a quick breakfast for two at the coffee chain, particularly at an airport.
While the camera may be cheap, it definitely doesn’t look cheap and nasty. It features a leather finish and comes in burgundy gold or green silver. Indeed, a lot of big Japanese camera makers, with their boring black boxes, could take some styling cues from Starbucks here.
Clever sensors
Looks aside, the budget coffee companion includes a second sensor. It’s ingeniously placed where the viewfinder would usually sit, giving you a functional selfie camera.
Simply frame yourself and your cup of morning Joe on the rear LCD, as you would with a smartphone, and you get a selfie. The front sensor is used for framing shots in the conventional way.
Also available in the camera are nine nostalgic/Y2K photo frame overlays and retro filters to give your images a shot of extra caffeine. In addition, the Starbucks Retro Digital Camera sports a functional shutter button and even a built-in flash, though the top dials appear to be purely decorative.
Other hardware details are sketchy at this stage. It’s not clear who Starbucks China teamed up with to produce the camera, but there is no shortage of firms churning out cheap cameras in the Middle Kingdom.
While China still hasn’t got a premium camera brand to match the Japanese, several lens makers have been building a strong reputation beyond the home market, notably Viltrox. It recently joined the L Mount alliance along with such distinguished partners as Leica and Sigma.
The Starbucks Retro Digital Camera appears to have been a big hit in China, with resale values rocketing. If Starbucks in the UK or US starts to sell this camera, we will be sure to let you know. In the meantime, why not check out new compact cameras available worldwide, in our latest compact camera reviews.
Related reading:
- Vintage digital cameras you should actually buy
- Retro alternative cameras available now
- Classic second-hand compact cameras
Follow AP on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
