Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 2 Review
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 2 portable wireless printer is a successor to the 2019 Mini Link Printer, but it only has one major difference. Motion control and light painting effects make InstaxAir a hit-or-miss feature that was amusing for five minutes but lost its appeal shortly. The smartphone printer works fine, but upgrading from the Instax Mini Link printer isn’t appealing.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 2 specification
| Paper Type | Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film |
| Print Size | 86mm x 108mm |
| Image Size | 62 mm × 46 mm |
| Resolution | 12.5 dots/mm |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, micro USB |
| Dimension | 91.9 mm × 36.4 mm × 124.8 mm |
| Weight | 210 g |
| Battery | Lithium ion battery |
| Compatibility | iOS/Android |
Pros
- A quick and simple printer
- Great teen photographer present
- Light and compact, ultra pocket-sized
- Features are great to use
Cons
- Not good quality
- The novelty of InstaxAir wears off
- No USB-C charging
- A bit pricy
Design and Build
The design of this instant printer is very similar to the last. Its ribbed exterior bears the Instax logo in the middle and comes in white, pink, and navy. Its fresh style and feel are typical of Instax products. The Instax Mini Link 2 weighs 210g and measures 91.9×36.4×124.8mm. It’s not as portable as the Kodak Step Slim, but it fits in a small purse or large pocket and isn’t heavy. It can stand alone or lie flat. The central logo is the power and pairing button, while the graphics print from the top. A button opens a panel to load film packs at the back of the printer. Loading genuine film exposes the film and changes the prints; thus, don’t reopen the panel.
App and Features
To print and use all Mini Link 2 capabilities, download the free Instax Mini Link app on iOS and Android. Instax has more printing options than its competitors. You get the usual frames, stickers, filters, text, and QR code alterations, but Instax also offers video prints. Play a video on your phone and choose a frame. The programme adds seasonal frames to Instax’s wide presets. As Halloween approaches, there are many spooky overlays. You may add photographs to collage layouts with many possibilities. Instax revived the odd ‘match test’ from the previous iteration. You take a quiz with a friend to check how many answers are the same, and the results are printed on the image. You may also shoot images in the app and print them instantaneously. This functionality can be used alone or with InstaxAir. Users can sketch patterns and filters on InstaxAir images. Pointing the printer’s LED at your phone’s camera and waving it about while holding the button does this. Your phone should recognise where you move the printer and give a light painting effect to the image.
Print Quality
It is an actual film, so it comes out blank when removed and develops in 90 seconds under the light. Instax prints include sharp details and brilliant, contrasting colours, even in black, white, and sepia. They stand out compared to cheaper Zink prints, which are fuzzier and duller. Natural Mode and Rich Mode are Instax printing settings. The latter brightens and deepens saturation, warming visuals. App settings let you swap between these. Instax Mini prints are credit card-sized at 86x54mm. They also include bottom writing space. This printer isn’t the biggest, so get it if you need tiny prints for your wallet, scrapbook, or pinboard.
Battery Life
According to Instax, this printer can print 100 times each charge. It depends on how you use it. Using InstaxAir mode will drain it faster. However, this printer should last all day without running out of juice. The app shows the Mink Link 2’s battery state and charges 100% if you deplete it to flat in two hours. Like other Instax printers, it charges by MicroUSB. The package includes a cable, although this technology is outdated. USB-C charging would be nice for future printers.
Pricing and Availability
Instax Mini Link 2 costs $99.99/£114.99. Amazon, Target, and Best Buy sell it in the US. It costs £10 more than the initial Mini Link in the UK. This model is now available for £89, giving it a more competitive choice if you don’t care about InstaxAir. US stock of this printer is low. The cost of Instax prints can add up over time. Single prints cost 98c/75p. Zink paper costs 50c/50p a sheet, but it’s not a real film. Thus, it’s lower quality.
