Instax Mini Link Smartphone Printer Review

Quick Verdict

The Instax Mini Link is a fun device that encourages you to print and display images rather than just storing them in your smartphone's gallery forever. It's easy to use, has customisable options, allows you to be creative and the Fujifilm Instax prints are both cute and of a decent quality. You can't print photos straight from social media accounts which some will miss and we did raise our eyebrows at the 'match test' feature but we're not seven-year-old girls so it's probably not aimed at us anyway.

Overall, if you're looking for a fun way to print and share your smartphone photos, the Instax Mini Link could be the tool for you. Plus, the price isn't bad either.

+ Pros

Easy to use
The app is well designed
Lots of creative options
It's fun!
Good price
Portable size

- Cons

Instax Mini film is expensive
Print to smartphone screen colours do differ
Can't print from social media accounts

The Instax Mini Link is Fujifilm's latest smartphone printer which is designed to encourage smartphone photographers to print their photos rather than just sharing them straight to social media or, as most of us do, never actually look at them again. As well as printing Fujifilm Instax mini prints, the Instax Mini Link can also be used as a smartphone controller and there's a free-to-download app for adding frames and editing photos before you hit the 'print' button.

We've been printing our own smartphone snaps on the Instax Mini Link to find out how good the prints are, how easy the printer is to use and if the features it has to offer are enough to make us purchase this smartphone printer over the other portable instant printers that are on offer.

Instax Mini Link Features

The Mini Link is a compact printer available in 3 colours (white, pink and blue), featuring a motion sensor and several printing modes, found in the accompanying app, which are designed to add a bit of fun to your print creation experience.

You might be wondering why there's a motion sensor in the printer and that's because you can use it as a remote release when paired with your smartphone and you can also capture images with your smartphone, via the app, and print them - you don't only have to use photos already stored in your gallery.

Other features include the ability to add various frames, turn a photo black & white, make adjustments to brightness/exposure and merge multiple images to create a collage print. There's also a 'Party Print' function which connects up to five smartphones to the app, receives a picture from each of the devices and combines them into one Instax print. While in the "Surprise Mode," no one knows what kind of pictures others have chosen and what the final print would look like until the images appear on the print. You can also scroll through video frames left to right to choose the best moment and print it out when in the 'Video Print' mode.

For those of us who are a little bit younger, there's a 'match test' mode which examines your compatibility with a friend or someone special. It's a weird thing to be built into a smartphone printing app but hey, the 8-to-24-year-olds who the device is particularly aimed at may find it fun.

Instax Mini Link Ease Of Use & Performance

The Instax Mini Link can definitely be described as a 'compact printer' and, should you want to, it can easily fit in a trouser pocket or, more practically, a bag so you can carry with you.

You can tell straight away that it's part of the Fujifilm Instax range, even without the name giving it away, as it has a similar design to Instax cameras with its selection of bright colours and modern feel.

To use the Instax Mini Link, you load a film pack into the back panel and switch the printer on via the only button found on the device. When it's activated, this will illuminate (it changes colour depending on what mode you're in). Once switched on, you need to connect the printer, via Bluetooth, to your smartphone and to do this, you need to download the free Instax Mini Link app from the iOS/Play store.

read more Fujifilm Instax Square SQ20 Adds Video Recording

Connecting the Instax Mini Link to a smart device is really easy and once connected, you can access your Gallery/Library, capture images 'live', add various frames, create collage prints, use footage from videos to make stills or simply print a photo. You can also connect up to five smartphones to the app so you can send an image from each smartphone which is then combined into one print. If you want to tweak an image before you print it, basic edit options are available such as brightness, contrast and saturation and you can rotate an image, too. A few filters are available but choices are limited so use your smartphone's built-in photo editor before using the app should you want more options/control over your edits and filters.

To print, you press the middle button that looks like a printer and the Instax Mini Link springs to life or you can swipe up on the smartphone screen to easily transfer a picture to the Link for printing. Your image also scrolls up your smartphone's screen as if it's heading to the printer which is a quirky feature. Prints take around 12-seconds and 100 images can be printed on a single charge.

On a side note, Fujifilm X Series cameras which are compatible with the app can also be printed from.

Once printed, your photo will slowly appear on the Fujifilm Instax film and quality is good, although, colours don't quite match what you see on your smartphone screen. Darker colours 'pop' from the frame much better than light areas so try not to overexpose the photo. Prints definitely have the vintage, quirky look to them that fans of instant photography like.

Should you want a second print of the same photo you've just printed, you can press the button on the front of the Instax Mini Link, saving you time.

You can't print photos from social media accounts which is something you can do with other smart printers and it's probably a feature the younger demographic will miss as you do tend to have photos on your social media channels that aren't saved in your smartphone's gallery. If you do want a social aspect, use the 'Party Print' or 'Surprise' Mode with fellow Mini Link app users.

As well as printing with the Instax Mini Link, you can use it as a remote to control your smartphone camera. For example, you can tilt the printer to zoom and press the power button to capture a photo. It's a bit different, and something other smart printers don't offer, but it can be a bit laggy.

Overall, the Instax Mini Link is easy to use, fun to play around with and the prints are great.
Value For Money

The Instax Mini Link is available now, from Amazon UK, for £89.99 (£20 saving on the £109 RRP) which is about on-par with other instant printers which include the Kodak Mini 2 (£89.99), HP Sprocket 200 (£69) and the Polaroid ZIP (£89.99). For something a little more manual, there's the KiiPix portable photo printer priced at £22.99. Other instant printers we've reviewed include the Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3 and the Canon Zoemini Photo Printer.

Where you do get stung a bit is with the purchase of Instax mini film as it's not cheap with a 10-shot pack starting at £9.99 (that's £1 a print!).

For more options, have a look at our instant camera/printer top suggestions.

read more Fujifilm Instax Square SQ20 Review

Instax Mini Link Verdict

If you're looking for an easy to use instant printer that has plenty of customisable options then the Instax Mini Link is well-worth considering. You can't print photos straight from social media accounts which some will miss and we did raise our eyebrows at the 'match test' feature but we're not seven-year-old girls so it's probably not aimed at us anyway.

Fujifilm Instax prints are great, if expensive, and the ability to create collages is a cool feature which look great once printed. Filter and edit options are limited but you can just make your edits before opening the Mini Link app.

Overall, the Instax Mini Link is a fun device that encourages you to print and display images rather than just storing them in your smartphone's gallery forever. The price is rather reasonable, too.

Instax Mini Link Pros

Easy to use
The app is well designed
Lots of creative options
It's fun!
Good price
Portable size

Instax Mini Link Cons

Instax Mini film is expensive
Print to smartphone screen colours do differ
Can't print from social media accounts

Moverssell

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