Portable printers are not new, but Fujifilm's Instax Mini Link has been designed to turn the pocket printer into a fun smartphone accessory, rather than a dull computer peripheral. The compact device, hooks up to your mobile phone via Bluetooth and lets you print images from your photo library, or direct from the camera – giving you a great deal of control over the printing process, without turning this into a chore.
The Instax Mini Link is about 20% lighter and 23% smaller than the existing Fujifilm Instax SP-2 printer - which also uses the popular Instax Mini instant film packs, that offer you ten prints for around 80 cents or 80p a pop. Pictures are printed out in about 12 seconds, and are fully developed in a further 90. The image area measures 62x44mm (2.4x1.8in), whilst the overall print size is 54×86 mm (2.1×3.4in).
The advantage over a portable printer rather than an instant camera is that you get to pick and choose the pictures you shoot. And with the new Mini Play app you have a range of creative controls to help with you with this. You can tweak exposure and color settings for instance, add overlays, and use frames. You can crop into images too from the app itself to improve the composition. And there are a 14 different collage-style multi-image frames that let you combine a series of images into the one hard copy print.
But the Mini Link adds to this interactive experience by using a built-in motion sensor. It will switch between modes on the app if you turn the camera from upright position to lying down. And you can even use the printer as a remote control for taking selfies, with the added benefit of being to zoom in to ensure there is no wasted space. And you can also reprint images if you want another copy by simply turning the device upside down.
The Mini Link can also be used as a party game... One mode allows you to combine images from up to five different phones, that could lead some interesting Indentikit results. And there is another that lets you to work out the compatibility of two different people from images of the pair.
Instax Mini Link: promo video
Instax mini Link vs Instax SP-2 Share
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Instax mini Link | Instax SP-2 |
| Size | 90.3x124.5x34.6mm | 89.5x131.8x40mm |
| Weight (without film) | 209g | 250g |
| Film type | Instax mini | Instax mini |
| App | Instax mini Link | Instax Share |
| Colors | Dark Blue, White or Pink | Silver or Gold |
Price and availability
The Instax Mini LInk will be available in a choice of three colors – Dark Denim, Dusky Pink and Ash White. The printer will retail for £109.99 / $99.99.
Read more:
Best portable printers for photos
