Fujifilm has made three Instax Mini Link phone printers and only the Link 3 is still sold. Here is what changed at each step, and whether an older one is worth buying second hand.
Specs side by side
| Spec | Instax Mini Link | Instax Mini Link 2 | Instax Mini Link 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Instant photo printer | Instant photo printer | Instant photo printer |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued | Current |
| Launched | n/a | 2022 | 2024 |
| Film or media | Instax Mini | Instax Mini | Instax Mini |
| Print size | 86 x 54 mm | 86 x 54 mm | 86 x 54 mm |
| Image size | 62 x 46 mm | 62 x 46 mm | 62 x 46 mm |
| Film cost per shot | $0.88 | $0.88 | $0.88 |
| Power | Internal lithium-ion battery, micro-USB charging, approx. 80 to 120 minutes to full charge, 3W consumption | Internal lithium-ion battery, micro-USB charging | Internal lithium-ion battery, USB-C charging, approx. 1.5 to 2.0 hours to full charge, 3W consumption |
| Shots per battery / prints per charge | 100 | 40 | 100 |
| Print resolution | 318 dpi | 300 dpi | 318 dpi |
| Print time | 12 s | 20 s | 15 s |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth Ver. 4.2 (BLE) | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| App | instax mini Link app | instax mini Link app | instax mini Link app |
| Dimensions | 90.3 x 34.6 x 124.5 mm | 86 x 33 x 122 mm | 90 x 37.7 x 125 mm |
| Weight | 209 g | 210 g | 210 g |
| Colours | 2 (Dark Denim, Ash White) | 3 (Clay White, Soft Pink, Space Blue) | 3 (Clay White, Rose Pink, Sage Green) |
| Street price | n/a | $96.99 (checked September 9, 2026) | $109.00 (checked September 9, 2026) |
| Amazon rating | 4.8 (957 ratings) | 4.7 (704 ratings) | 4.7 (724 ratings) |
Specs from manufacturer pages; prices and ratings checked September 9, 2026.
Fujifilm has made three Instax Mini Link phone printers, and only the Link 3 is still sold. The original Link and the Link 2 are both discontinued, which leaves second hand listings and film bundles as the only way to get one now. On the numbers, that is rarely worth doing.
What changed from Link 1 to Link 2
The Link 2 is the odd step in the line. It arrived in 2022 and went backwards on three specs: 300 dpi against the original’s 318, 20 seconds a print against 12, and about 40 prints per charge against 100. The rest held steady. Both charge over micro-USB, both pair over Bluetooth, both run the instax mini Link app, and the two weigh within a gram of each other at 209 g and 210 g.
What the Link 2 added was software. It brought the Instax Air gesture and AR effects, and it gained the Rich colour mode the original lacks. The original had its own party trick, a Fun Mode that lets up to five phones connect for a Compatibility Test. Both printers reprint the last shot when you turn them upside down. The Link 2 cannot print from a PC or a Mac.
What changed from Link 2 to Link 3
The Link 3 arrived in 2024 and undoes most of that. Resolution is back to 318 dpi, a print takes 15 seconds instead of 20, and one charge is good for about 100 prints, two and a half times what the Link 2 manages. The charging port is finally USB-C, and a full charge takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Weight is the same 210 g, and the body is a little taller and thicker at 90 x 37.7 x 125 mm against 86 x 33 x 122 mm.
Little else moved. Bluetooth pairing, the app, the film and the upside down reprint all carry over. The Link 3 has two colour modes, Instax-Rich and Instax-Natural, and its AR effects now sit under Instax AiR Studio. Reviewers treat the change as real but small. Isabella Ruffatti’s verdict was that “The Instax Mini Link 2 was already very good and, while the Mini Link 3’s improvements are subtle, it’s a great option with very few downsides.”
Price and film cost
At the last price check, on September 9, 2026, the Link 3 was $109.00 and the Link 2 was $96.99. Both list at $99.95, so the discontinued printer is the one selling below list and the current one is selling above it. The original Link has no street price on file, because it is no longer sold as a bare printer. The one current Amazon listing bundles it with 40 sheets of film.
Film is the bigger bill either way. All three take the same Instax Mini film at about $0.88 a shot, with a twin pack of 20 shots at $17.50. Print 100 photos, one full charge on the Link 1 or the Link 3, and the film alone costs about $88. That is close to the price of the printer, and you pay it again every hundred prints.
Which one to buy
Buy the Link 3. It is the only one Fujifilm still sells, it beats the Link 2 on resolution, print time and battery life, and it takes a USB-C cable. At current prices it costs about $12 more than a Link 2.
A used Link 2 only makes sense if it is cheap. You give up 18 dpi, five seconds a print and 60 prints a charge, and you inherit the micro-USB port. Twelve dollars is not enough of a saving for that. At half the Link 3’s price it is a fair buy for parties and gifting, which is what most buyers use it for.
The original Link is a collector’s piece now. On paper it matches the Link 3 on resolution and prints per charge and beats it on print time. What it lacks is the colour mode toggle, USB-C charging and any way to buy it new on its own. TechGearLab’s verdict in 2020, when it was still current, was that “The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link is not the best photo printer, nor even the best mini printer, and it’s only worth buying if you value its throwback Polaroid-style look over print quality and value.” Buy it only if a film bundle makes the price silly, or if you want the full set.
What reviewers and buyers say
Instax Mini Link
Published reviews of the Instax Mini Link:
- “The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link is not the best photo printer, nor even the best mini printer, and it's only worth buying if you value its throwback Polaroid-style look over print quality and value.” (TechGearLab, 2020-04)
Amazon buyers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 957 ratings.
Praised for: easy Bluetooth setup, good print quality for the era, compact, pocketable size. Criticised for: micro-USB charging feels dated, no longer sold as a standalone printer, print quality trails the newer Link 2 and Link 3.
Instax Mini Link 2
Published reviews of the Instax Mini Link 2:
- “The pocket-size Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 2 Bluetooth printer relies on instant film for prints and we love the photo quality, but we're less enthusiastic about the micro USB charging and the Instax Air filter feature.” (PCMag, 2022-06)
- “The reviewer finds the Mini Link 2 innovative and fun with cool features, but is unsure of its practical value and target audience, ultimately awarding it three out of five stars.” (The Phoblographer, 2022-06)
- “The INSTAX mini Link 2 remains a useful portable printer for your phone that uses the popular Mini instant format, worth buying for the novelty factor even if you mostly use the basic print function.” (Cameralabs, 2022-06)
Amazon buyers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 704 ratings.
Praised for: easy Bluetooth setup with no hassle, vibrant, print-quality photos, especially in Instax Rich mode, compact and easy to carry in a bag or pocket. Criticised for: micro-USB charging port feels outdated, Instax Air gesture/AR features feel gimmicky, can't print from a PC or Mac.
Instax Mini Link 3
Published reviews of the Instax Mini Link 3:
- “The compact and colorful Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3 printer makes it simple to convert digital snaps into charming, wallet-sized Instax Mini prints, though PCMag still recommends the dye-sublimation Canon Selphy CP1500 as its Editors' Choice for portable printers overall.” (PCMag, 2024-08)
- “The Instax Mini Link 2 was already very good and, while the Mini Link 3's improvements are subtle, it's a great option with very few downsides.” (Isabella Ruffatti, 2025-04)
- “It's just enough of an upgrade to make you want to get it, especially for printing physical portfolios rather than relying on social media.” (Chris Gampat, 2024-08)
Amazon buyers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 724 ratings.
Praised for: easy setup and fast Bluetooth pairing, vibrant, true-to-screen color, compact enough to carry everywhere, USB-C charging is a welcome upgrade. Criticised for: occasional bad batches of film hurt print quality, AR/Instax AiR Studio features feel gimmicky, still costs more per print than Zink or dye-sub rivals.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Instax Mini Link 2 and Link 3?
The Link 3 prints at 318 dpi against the Link 2's 300 dpi, takes 15 seconds a print against 20, and manages about 100 prints per charge against 40. It charges over USB-C, where the Link 2 uses micro-USB. Both weigh 210 g, pair over Bluetooth, use the instax mini Link app and take the same Instax Mini film. The Link 2 launched in 2022, the Link 3 in 2024.
Is the Instax Mini Link 3 worth upgrading to?
If you already own a Link 2 and it works, the case is thin. Isabella Ruffatti's verdict was that "The Instax Mini Link 2 was already very good and, while the Mini Link 3's improvements are subtle, it's a great option with very few downsides." Chris Gampat called it "just enough of an upgrade to make you want to get it, especially for printing physical portfolios rather than relying on social media." If you are buying your first one, get the Link 3, since it is the only model still sold.
Do all three Instax Mini Link printers use the same film?
Yes. All three take Instax Mini film, which prints 86 x 54 mm with a 62 x 46 mm image and works out at about $0.88 a shot. A twin pack of 20 shots was $17.50 at the last check.
Is the original Instax Mini Link still worth buying?
Only if you find one cheap in a film bundle. It matches the Link 3 at 318 dpi and 100 prints per charge and is faster at 12 seconds a print, but it charges over micro-USB, lacks the Rich and Natural colour toggle the later models added, and is no longer sold new as a standalone printer. The one current Amazon listing bundles it with 40 sheets of film.
Related comparisons
- Instax Mini 12 vs Mini 41: Which Should You Buy? (2026)
- Instax Mini SE vs Mini 12: Which Should You Buy? (2026)
- Instax Mini vs Square vs Wide: Which Film Size Should You Choose? (2026)
- Instax vs Polaroid: Which Instant Camera Should You Buy? (2026)
- Polaroid Go vs Instax Mini 12: Which Should You Buy? (2026)