Canon is reviving its mid-2010s compact by reissuing the PowerShot ELPH 360 HS as the Elph 360 HS A at $379, nearly a decade after its debut [1]. The reissue keeps the 20.2MP sensor, DIGIC 4+ processor, 12× optical zoom and 1080p video, but arrives with limited colors and some removed features, signaling a deliberately stripped‑down play amid viral demand [1].

Compared with the ELPH 360 HS’s $209.99 MSRP at its January 5, 2016 announcement, the new $379 price represents an 80.5% increase [1][2]. Canon marketed the original globally in May 2016, underscoring just how far back this design dates despite its 2025 relaunch [3].

Key Takeaways

– shows Canon pricing the Elph 360 HS A at $379, up 80.5% from the original $209.99 MSRP set on January 5, 2016 [1][2] – reveals core hardware unchanged: 20.2MP sensor, DIGIC 4+ processor, 12× (25–300mm) optical zoom, and 1080p video resolution remain identical to 2016 [1][2] – demonstrates limited retail availability, with a January 25, 2025 Canon Store restock at $329.99 and multiple in/out events during Dec 2024–Jan 2025 [5] – indicates battery life and screen specs remain dated: CIPA 180 shots and a 3.0‑inch 461k‑dot LCD persist in the 2025 model [2] – suggests Canon leaning into viral demand while removing features and constraining color options, despite unchanged 1080p/30 fps cap and 1/2.3‑inch sensor [1][2]

Elph 360 price history and 2025 positioning

As a compact snapshot camera, the PowerShot ELPH 360 HS established itself as an accessible point‑and‑shoot in 2016 with a $209.99 MSRP at announcement on January 5, 2016 [2]. Canon’s own museum records show marketing began in May 2016, placing this chassis, optics and processor squarely in the previous decade’s design cycle [3].

Fast‑forward to September 2025 and Canon’s reissue, labeled Elph 360 HS A, arrives at $379—an 80.5% jump over the original MSRP—despite keeping the same 20.2MP sensor, DIGIC 4+ engine, 12× optical zoom, and 1080p video [1][2]. The pricing strategy highlights a premium Canon is charging for a nostalgia‑driven, trend‑fueled product, rather than a spec upgrade.

Retail history over the past year adds context. B&H Photo listed the PowerShot ELPH 360 HS at $329.99 in 2025, including full spec details and typical accessory kits, undercutting the $379 reissue while offering the same core capabilities [4]. Separately, NowInStock’s tracking of Canon Store inventory shows a January 25, 2025 restock at $329.99 and a series of rapid in‑stock/out‑of‑stock swings between December 2024 and January 2025, signaling scarcity‑driven demand patterns [5]. Canon’s reissue appears timed to capture that viral momentum, with The Verge characterizing the move as capitalizing on hype [1].

What the Elph 360 HS A keeps—and removes

The core proposition hasn’t changed. Canon’s Elph 360 HS A retains the 20.2MP effective resolution, DIGIC 4+ image processor, 12× optical zoom lens, and 1080p video capture that defined the 2016 model [1]. Those internals rest on a 1/2.3‑inch CMOS sensor, paired with a 25–300mm equivalent zoom range, ISO up to 3200, and a 3.0‑inch rear display with 461k‑dot resolution [2]. Canon’s museum lists the original body at 99.6×58.0×22.8 mm and roughly 147 g, with “Progressive Fine Zoom” extending to 24× digitally, a footprint and approach that persist in spirit with the 2025 relaunch [3].

Connectivity and power details reflect the same era. B&H’s ELPH 360 HS product page enumerates micro‑HDMI out, mini‑USB data connectivity, SD/SDHC/SDXC card support, and the NB‑11LH battery—reinforcing that this platform has not modernized to USB‑C or higher‑capacity packs common to newer compacts [4]. The camera’s official CIPA rating of 180 shots per charge positions endurance clearly below today’s enthusiast point‑and‑shoots that often exceed 300 shots, further underscoring its retro baseline [2].

The major caveats in this reissue are not uplift but subtraction. The Verge notes limited color options and unspecified feature removals, implying a conscious simplification even as price rises—a reversal of the typical value arc for reissues [1]. In practice, the Elph 360 HS A is a style‑driven re‑release of 2016 tech with constraints that are more about branding and scarcity than fresh engineering [1].

Elph 360 demand spike and stock scarcity

The Elph 360’s comeback is inseparable from its recent volatility in online availability. NowInStock’s dataset shows a Canon Store restock on January 25, 2025 at $329.99, followed by multiple “in/out” events across December 2024 and January 2025—a classic signature of scarcity that often fuels virality, social chatter, and price sensitivity [5]. Listings would appear briefly and vanish, prompting users to set alerts, revisit pages, and share links, a pattern that often magnifies perceived desirability [5].

During this period, B&H showed the PowerShot ELPH 360 HS as in stock in 2025 at $329.99, providing a durable reference point against which Canon’s $379 reissue looks even more premium for the same functional baseline [4]. Against that backdrop, The Verge’s observation that Canon seems to be leaning into hype feels consistent with the documented stock whiplash and the elevated 2025 sticker price for the Elph 360 HS A [1][5].

Elph 360 specs snapshot and practical trade‑offs

For buyers weighing the Elph 360 in 2025, the decision is less about raw performance and more about form factor, simplicity, and nostalgia. Here’s the measurable core of what you get:

– Sensor and processor: 20.2MP effective on a 1/2.3‑inch CMOS with DIGIC 4+, mirroring the 2016 architecture [2]. – Lens and reach: 12× optical zoom covering 25–300mm equivalent; Progressive Fine Zoom to 24× for extended framing flexibility [3]. – Video format: Full HD 1080p capture, with typical 30 fps implementation noted in retail specs [4]. – Display and controls: 3.0‑inch LCD at 461k dots—serviceable for framing, though low by current standards for resolution and touch features [2]. – Sensitivity and power: ISO ceiling at 3200 and CIPA‑rated 180 shots per charge, aligned with the original endurance profile [2]. – Size and weight: Pocketable 99.6×58.0×22.8 mm body at about 147 g, keeping the camera small enough for everyday carry [3]. – I/O and media: micro‑HDMI output, mini‑USB data port, and SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot; NB‑11LH battery pack included [4].

The practical upside is straightforward: a tiny, dedicated camera with an optical zoom that smartphones cannot physically replicate, delivering consistent framing reach without lens attachments. The trade‑offs are equally clear: 1080p video instead of 4K, modest low‑light performance expected from a 1/2.3‑inch sensor, older connectors, and a battery life rating that demands a spare for long outings [2][4]. None of those change in the HS A reissue, which is why the value calculus hinges on price, styling, and availability rather than new capability [1].

Elph 360 timeline: 2016 launch to 2025 reissue

The original was announced on January 5, 2016, at $209.99 MSRP, as part of Canon’s compact lineup built for quick, social‑ready pictures without the complexity of interchangeable lenses [2]. Canon’s museum dates market availability to May 2016, situating the model among late‑compact‑era designs just before smartphone cameras began swallowing the casual market almost entirely [3].

In 2024–2025, the camera’s unexpected surge back into online discourse had a measurable footprint: a December–January sequence of stock spikes and sellouts followed by a documented January 25 restock at $329.99 on Canon’s own store, per NowInStock logs [5]. Retailers like B&H maintained listings at $329.99 with full specs and accessories, reinforcing that new‑in‑box units were still circulating even before the reissue branding appeared [4]. The reissue itself arrives in September 2025 at $379, explicitly keeping the same core hardware and removing some options, a rare case of a brand charging more for less in a later run [1].

Buyer outlook: who should consider the Elph 360 HS A?

The Elph 360 HS A suits buyers who value pocketability, an optical 12× range, and the clean shooting experience of a dedicated camera without apps, notifications, and complexity. At 147 g and sub‑100×60×23 mm, it carries like a phone but shoots like a compact—with a lens that reaches 300mm equivalent, enabling portraits, travel details, and candid street frames from a comfortable distance [3]. For creators who love the mid‑2010s aesthetic or want a no‑frills backup to a phone, it can be appealing.

Budget‑driven buyers should evaluate the $379 reissue against the widely listed $329.99 price seen for the prior ELPH 360 HS in 2025 channels, given the identical sensor, processor, zoom, and video resolution [1][4]. If availability is steady, the older listing can be the better value; if scarcity returns, the reissue may be the only path—albeit at a premium [4][5]. Those expecting modern features like 4K, touchscreens, USB‑C, or stronger low‑light performance will find the platform’s 1080p ceiling, 461k‑dot LCD, mini‑USB, and 1/2.3‑inch sensor limiting by 2025 standards [2][4].

Ultimately, Canon’s move reads as a bet that the Elph 360’s form factor and nostalgia can command higher prices in 2025, even with limited colors and feature removals. Whether that gambit succeeds will depend on how long scarcity persists and how enthusiast communities weigh the 80.5% price jump against the charm of a resurrected point‑and‑shoot [1][2][5].

Sources:

[1] The Verge – Canon is bringing back a point-and-shoot from 2016 with fewer features and a higher price (it’s viral): www.theverge.com/news/774095/canon-powershot-elph-360-hsa-kendall-jenner-reissue-price-specs” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.theverge.com/news/774095/canon-powershot-elph-360-hsa-kendall-jenner-reissue-price-specs

[2] DPReview – Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS Specs: www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_elph360hs/specifications” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_elph360hs/specifications [3] Canon Camera Museum (official) – PowerShot ELPH 360 HS: https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/dcc851.html

[4] B&H Photo Video – Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS Digital Camera (Black): www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1233412-REG/canon_powershot_elph_360_hs.html/overview” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1233412-REG/canon_powershot_elph_360_hs.html/overview [5] NowInStock – Canon Store Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS – Black Stock History: www.nowinstock.net/full_historydetails/73/77767/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.nowinstock.net/full_historydetails/73/77767/

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