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Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 Printer Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Aug 30, 2022 at 10:57 am
Latest change: Retest Mar 16, 2023 at 09:26 am
Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 Picture
3.6
Family
4.3
Small/Home Office
3.5
Student
1.6
Black & White
4.1
Photo

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 is an instant-film printer that produces 2.4" x 1.8" photos. It replaces the original Fujifilm instax Mini Link. It only works with a smartphone or a compatible Fujifilm camera over Bluetooth and can only print photos. You can purchase color or monochrome film, and there are specialty packs with patterned or colored borders. Available on Android and iOS devices, its instax mini mobile app allows you to print, create collages, add effects like bubbles and glitter, or insert a QR code with an embedded video into your photos.

Our Verdict

3.6 Family

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 is bad for family use as it's a portable instant-film printer that can only print photos. It prints pictures that look dull, doesn't have a scanner, and can only connect to smartphones via Bluetooth.

Pros
  • Feels well built.
Cons
  • Can't print documents.
  • No scanner.
  • Can only connect to smartphones or Fuji cameras via Bluetooth.
  • Photos look dull and lacking in detail.
  • High cost per print.
4.3 Small/Home Office

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 isn't designed for office use as it's an instant-film portable printer that can only print photos.

Pros
  • Feels well built.
Cons
  • Can't print documents.
  • No scanner.
  • Can only connect to smartphones or Fuji cameras via Bluetooth.
  • High cost per print.
3.5 Student

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 is bad for student use because it's a portable printer that can only print photos, so you can't use it for any of your schoolwork. It may be an option to consider if you want to take some pictures at a party, but the print quality isn't great, and it can get very expensive if you print a lot.

Pros
  • Feels well built.
Cons
  • Can't print documents.
  • No scanner.
  • Can only connect to smartphones or Fuji cameras via Bluetooth.
  • High cost per print.
1.6 Black & White

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 is terrible for printing black and white documents as it's a portable instant-film printer that can only print photos. You can get monochrome film to print black and white photos, but the quality likely isn't good as the printer struggles to print fine details.

Pros
  • Feels well built.
Cons
  • Can't print documents.
  • No scanner.
  • Can only connect to smartphones or Fuji cameras via Bluetooth.
  • High cost per print.
4.1 Photo

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 is a bad photo printer. It prints poor-quality photos as its narrow color range makes photos look dull and lacking in detail. Also, you can only use it with a smartphone or compatible Fujifilm camera, and its cost per print is high.

Pros
  • Doesn't require much maintenance.
  • Feels well built.
Cons
  • Can only connect to smartphones or Fuji cameras via Bluetooth.
  • Photos look dull and lacking in detail.
  • High cost per print.
  • 3.6 Family
  • 4.3 Small/Home Office
  • 3.5 Student
  • 1.6 Black & White
  • 4.1 Photo
  1. Updated Mar 16, 2023: We've changed the printer type to Photo Only in the Build Quality section because this printer can only print photos. This change doesn't affect the score.
  2. Updated Aug 30, 2022: Review published.
  3. Updated Aug 25, 2022: Early access published.
  4. Updated Aug 03, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  5. Updated Jun 28, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Jun 24, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 in the Space Blue color scheme. It's also available in Clay White and Soft Pink. There are no other variants.

You can see our unit's label here.

Compared To Other Printers

Compared to similar portable photo printers, the Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 performs poorly as its narrow color range makes photos look dull and lacking in detail. However, its mobile app offers more features than most competitors, like the ability to create a collage or compatibility quiz.

For other options, see our recommendations for the best printers, the best photo printers, and the best all-in-one printers.

Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 and the Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer are both compact photo printers designed for use with smartphones. The Canon is slightly better in print quality because it has a wider color range and produces finer details. It's also more cost-effective than the Fujifilm printer as its photo paper is less expensive. On the other hand, the Fujifilm model prints faster and has longer battery life.

Canon SELPHY Square QX10

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 and the Canon SELPHY Square QX10 are both compact photo printers. In terms of photo printing quality, the Canon prints better-looking photos as it has a wider color range and can produce more fine details. However, the Fujifilm prints faster, has longer battery life, and requires less time to fully charge. The cost per print is about the same for both printers.

Liene Amber M100

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 and the Liene Amber M100 are both photo printers. The Fujifilm is a portable polaroid-like printer with an internal battery, while the Liene is more of a general photo printer that requires an electrical outlet to function. If you want the best photo quality, the Liene performs better because it has a wider color range and can produce finer details. The Liene is also more versatile as you can use it with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices, while the Fujifilm only works with smartphones and Fujifilm cameras.

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
7.5
Design
Build Quality
Type Photo Only

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 is entirely plastic but feels sturdily built. The film compartment is easily accessible; you just need to ensure that there isn't any unused film inside, as light exposure will ruin the sheets and make them unusable. Printed pictures come out from the slot at the top of the device, which lacks any protective covering, meaning dust can get in and accumulate over time. The Micro-USB port on the side, however, has a protective cover. There's a case available if you want more protection for transport, though you have to purchase it separately. The power button on the front of the device provides tactile feedback so that you know it has registered an input.

Design
Dimensions
Height 4.9" (12.5 cm)
Width 3.6" (9.2 cm)
Depth 1.4" (3.6 cm)
Height When In Use
4.9" (12.5 cm)
Width When In Use
3.6" (9.2 cm)
Depth When In Use
1.4" (3.6 cm)
Weight
0.5 lbs (0.2 kg)

Note: The weight includes a film pack, as removing it would ruin the film.

8.0
Design
Expected Maintenance
Ink Related Maintenance
Not Needed
Drum Unit
No Drum Unit

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 requires very little maintenance. The film pack is easy to load, and each pack contains ten sheets. Again, it's best to wait until the camera is empty to load a new pack, as exposing the film to light would ruin the film. There's a reset button in case of malfunction. You can see the user's manual here.

0
Design
Display Screen
Display Screen No
Display Screen Size
N/A
Touchscreen No

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 doesn't have a display. The LED-lit 'instax' branding on the power button pulses when charging or printing.

8.3
Design
Cartridge
Technology Film
SuperTank
No
Photo Cartridge
No
Color Yes
Number Of Color Cartridges
N/A
Black Cartridge Model
No Cartridges
Tested Black Page Yield
N/A
Estimated Black Page Yield
N/A
Color Cartridge Model
No Cartridges
Tested Color Page Yield
20 prints
Estimated Color Page Yield
20 prints
Third Party Cartridge
No Cartridges
Ink Type
No Ink
High Yield Cartridge
No Cartridge

This printer uses instant film instead of cartridges. You can purchase the film in packs of various sizes and choose between color or monochrome film. There are also specialty packs with colored or patterned borders, like sky blue, pink lemonade, Hello Kitty, or rainbows. The compartment holds ten sheets at a time.

0
Design
Scanner Features
Scanner
No Scanner
ADF Capacity
N/A
Scan Speed
N/A
Duplex Scanning
No Scanner
Max Flatbed Scan Size
No Scanner
Max ADF Scan Size
No Scanner
Flatbed Hinge Adjustability
N/A
Fax
No
Copy
No
OCR Included
No Scanner
0
Design
Scan Quality
Max Scan Resolution
N/A
Max Scan Color Depth
N/A
Design
In The Box

  • User guide
  • USB-A to Micro-USB charging cable

Note: The printer doesn't come with any film.

Design
Battery
Advertised Battery Life
~100 prints
Tested Charging Time
88 min

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 has an advertised charging time of 80 to 120 minutes. However, it may take longer to fully charge the device the first time.

Document
0
Document
Black & White Documents
Color Ink Needed For Black & White
No

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 can't print documents.

0
Document
Color Documents
5.8
Document
Cost-Per-Print
Black Cartridge Price
0 US$
Color Cartridge Price
0 US$
Black-Only Printing Cost
N/A
Color Printing Cost
N/A
Photo Printing Cost
0.699 US$/print
Ink Subscription
No

The cost per print is high because the film is expensive. That said, this is the cost for a pack of 20 sheets. You can likely get a better deal with larger packs.

1.6
Document
Printing Speed
Black Only Text Document
N/A
Color Document
N/A
Photo Printing Time
24.8 s
Single Page Out Time (Black Only)
N/A
Duplex Printing
No
Input Tray Capacity
10 pages

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 prints photos very quickly; it only scores low because it can't print any documents or double-sided. You can reprint the last photo by flipping the printer upside down and pressing the main button. However, it doesn't work if you've turned off the printer since the last print.

Document
Document Printing Sizes
Letter (8.5" x 11") No
Legal (8.5" x 14") No
Tabloid (11" x 17") No
A6 (105mm x 148mm) No
A5 (148mm x 210mm) No
A4 (210mm x 297mm) No
Max Paper Weight
N/A
Photo
4.0
Photo
Color Gamut

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 has a poor color gamut. Fujifilm advertises the printer as having an RGB gradation of 256 colors. Its narrow color range makes photos look dull, with some areas looking like a single color with no texture or fine detail, like the parrot's white face and red feathers.

6.3
Photo
Color Accuracy
Average Color dE
7.67

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2's color accuracy is mediocre, largely due to the printer's narrow color range. Most colors are visibly off, especially cyan.

3.0
Photo
Small Details
Max Print Resolution (DPI)
800 x 600

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 performs poorly with small details. Although there isn't any halftoning or dithering that we often see on inkjet and laser printers, the image looks soft, with blurred edges. The low resolution is noticeable even on such a small photo, and due to the printer's narrow color range, much of the details in lighter areas aren't visible.

0
Photo
Photo Printing Sizes
Glossy Paper (4" x 6") No
Glossy Paper (5" x 7") No
Glossy Paper (8" x 10") No
Glossy Paper (8.5" x 11") No
Glossy Paper (13" x 19") No
Borderless Printing
No

As expected, the Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 can only produce 2.4" x 1.8" photos on instax mini film.

Mobile App And Connectivity
1.0
Mobile App And Connectivity
Connectivity
Ethernet
No
USB Input To Computer
No
Wireless Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi via Router
No
Wi-Fi Direct
No
External Storage Support
No
Apple AirPrint
No
Mopria Print Service
No

You can only connect to the printer via Bluetooth, either with an Android or iOS smartphone or a compatible Fujifilm camera like the Fujifilm X-S10. You can only connect to one device at a time, and the Micro-USB port is for charging only.

When connected to the Fujifilm X-S10, there's an additional menu that lets you select the print mode (Natural or Rich); the menu isn't present on other Fujifilm cameras. You can only print photos taken with the camera, and the file has to be in a JPEG format. There isn't a significant quality difference between the Natural and Rich mode; the only difference is that the Rich mode gives the image a warmer tone.

4.7
Mobile App And Connectivity
Mobile App
Mobile App Yes
App Name Instax Mini Link
iOS Yes
Android Yes
Photo (JPEG, PNG)
Android and iOS
PDF
No
Microsoft Office Files
No
Text Files (TXT)
No
Webpages (HTML)
No

Since the printer can only print photos, the mobile app doesn't support text files, PDFs, or webpages. It has two modes: a Print Mode and a Fun Mode. The Print Mode lets you print photos or a frame of a video as a photo or take a picture with your smartphone while using the printer as a shutter remote. The Fun Mode lets you create a collage by putting multiple images into a single photo, a montage with someone else's photos, or put two photos together (yours and a friend's) for a compatibility quiz. You can take a picture of a sketch with your smartphone and add it to your existing photo, add effects like bubbles and glitter, draw on the image with your fingers, or use the printer's side LED as a pointer to draw in the air, a feature called instaxAiR. You can embed a video into the image; the printer will create a QR code that shows the video when scanned. Lastly, you can monitor the printer's battery level and the number of sheets left via the app.

There's a separate app called 'instax mini Link for Nintendo Switch', which allows you to print screenshots taken on your Nintendo Switch. This app also gives you exclusive access to frames and stickers that you can add to your photos.

Mobile App And Connectivity
OS Compatibility
Windows No
macOS No
Chrome OS No

The Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 isn't compatible with any desktop operating systems as it can only connect to smartphones and compatible Fujifilm cameras.