TikTok is responsible for a lot of things. Making retro games go viral. Fantastic edits of your favorite TV show characters. "Influencing" you into buying a product that has been (sometimes) wrongfully romanticized. The last bit is very true, as I often see videos of content creators sharing their favorite tech that, as a tech journalist and reviewer, I don't agree with.
Recently, we've seen this with the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III which first came out in 2019 but has since exploded on TikTok and received cult-like status. The demand for decade-old cameras that are near-impossible to buy new has skyrocketed since, and it has claimed another victim: the Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A / IXUS 285 HS A. In fact, this camera originally came out in 2016 but ever since Kendall Jenner was spotted using it, it became so popular that Canon decided to re-release it in 2025 with an "A" at the end of its name.
Well, I'm here to "de-influence" you, which is another TikTok trend where people talk you out of buying either overpriced or overhyped products. Look, the PowerShot Elph 360 HS A / IXUS 285 HS A is a good camera — I've even taken some of my best pics on a compact on it so far — but is it worth nearly $400 when there are so many other value-for-money options available? Let's find out.
What's good about it?
The Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A (as it's known in the U.S.) or the IXUS 285 HS A (as it's known in other parts of the world) features a 20.2MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor and it can record FHD/30fps video. It's extremely easy to use thanks to its well-placed buttons and straightforward menu system, and it packs a few creative modes which make it a versatile snapper. One of its biggest selling points is its 12x optical zoom which lets you zoom in to subjects without losing much image quality and sharpness to digital processing.
I've tested many compact cameras and not all of them boast sharp image quality — but the PowerShot Elph 360 HS A does. You can see a few sample photos in the gallery above, and these are some of the best photos I've taken on a compact camera yet. Canon's color science has always been excellent and it has rarely given me much to complain about. As you can see in the gallery, the reds are popping while the greens are vivid. There's a good amount of contrast in the images too and the images look neither too dark nor too bright.
One of my favorite features is the Hybrid Auto mode which records a short video clip when you press the shutter button, so it shows the lead-up to the image. You can see what this looks like in the video above. This is a great feature to have for those who like to share behind-the-scenes footage on their social media accounts, or even those who just like capturing candid moments. It's like a live photo on a smartphone but better.
Okay, sounds great, so what's wrong?
There are... a few things up with the Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A. It isn't the strongest camera when it comes to battery life, as it's CIPA-rated for just 180 shots. This means that if you're taking the camera to a day-long festival, for instance, it won't necessarily last a full day of capturing stills or recording video. In my testing, the camera lasted me just over 190 photos, which isn't great.
That isn't even my biggest issue with the camera, though. The PowerShot Elph 360 HS A is fitted a USB-B port for data transfer, which means it doesn't feature in-camera charging. To charge the camera, you need to remove the battery pack and insert it into the included external charger — which uses a proprietary cable, so it isn't like you can use a USB-C cable to charge it either. My issue with this is that the camera originally came out in 2016, and for that time period, the USB-B port was fine, but for 2026? It's a no-go.
Then you've got the lackluster build quality. It feels plasticky and fragile, especially the sliding cover that protects the battery pack and the microSD card. It honestly feels like it could snap into two if you used just a bit of excessive force. Oh, and speaking of, Canon has replaced the SD card on the 2016 version with a microSD card. It isn't a massive drawback, but SD cards are simply faster and are better for heat dissipation.
What are my options?
All of this for a camera that costs $379 / £379 is simply not good enough, in my opinion. But there are other options out there, and you've come to the right place if you want a compact camera that's powerful and doesn't break the bank.
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More from Tom's Guide
- Kendall Jenner and Dua Lipa made this 10-year-old Canon compact go viral so I tested it to find out if it’s worth the hype — here’s how it went
- Seven years later, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is still TikTok’s favorite compact camera — here’s how it holds up in 2026
- I took 200 photos on the Leica Leitzphone and the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL to see which is better — and it’s not even close
