Some things just never go out of style. Like physical photos. The kind you’d stick on your fridge or leave in an old drawer for someone to find years later. Xiaomi, of all companies, just released a free AI Polaroid photo tool that brings that feeling back—with a digital twist. It turns any image—yes, any image—into something that looks like a Polaroid. It’s kind of delightful.
Now, is it groundbreaking? Not really. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t need to be. Sometimes simple is… good. I tried it with a photo of my cat (I know, cliché), and the result actually made me pause. Not because the tech blew my mind, but because it looked like something from a shoebox in the attic. The slight color fade, that signature white frame—familiar, soft, a little imperfect. Just like memory.
How You Try It (It’s Pretty Painless)
No Xiaomi phone? Doesn’t matter. You just head to their AI platform, upload a photo, let it process, and download your “Polaroid.” Took me maybe 15 seconds. And zero installs.
How to Use the Polaroid Conversion Tool
To convert your photos:
- Visit Xiaomi’s AI platform to turn any image to Polaroid.
- Upload an image from your device.
- Allow the AI to process the photo.
- Download the Polaroid-style image.
The tool adds classic Polaroid elements like white borders and subtle color fading, giving your photos a nostalgic feel. Under the hood, it’s powered by MiMo-7B, Xiaomi’s surprisingly capable AI model. It’s not the biggest in the game, but from what I’ve read, it’s doing more with less. And that’s impressive. Almost suspiciously so. If you do use a Xiaomi device, the integration goes deeper. Especially if you install the MemeOS Enhancer from the Play Store—though I’ll admit, I haven’t messed with that part yet. Might later.
Anyway, it’s free. It works. And it hits a very specific emotional note. Maybe that’s enough.
