Instax Mini cameras and the Mini Link 3 printer use the same film at about $0.91 a shot. Buy a camera for point-and-shoot prints, and the printer to print only the phone photos you choose.
Fujifilm sells two ways to get an Instax Mini print. An Instax Mini camera, such as the Mini 12 or Mini 13, takes the picture itself on instant film. An Instax Mini Link printer takes a photo from your phone over Bluetooth and prints it on the same film. The print is the same size and costs the same, about $0.91 a shot. What differs is where the picture comes from, which shots get printed, and what you pay up front.
The short answer
Buy an Instax Mini camera if you want the simple version: twist it on, press one button, and get a print with no phone in the loop. The Mini 13 was $79.95 at the October 5, 2026 price check, and the Mini 12 was $82.94.
Buy the Instax Mini Link 3 printer if most of your photos already live on your phone, or if you want to print only the shots you like. It was $99.95 on the same date, prints in about 15 seconds, and runs for about 100 prints on a charge.
If you want both in one body, look at the Instax Mini Evo, a camera that keeps a digital copy and lets you choose which shots to print. It costs more than the two bought separately.
Same film, same cost per shot
The camera and the printer take the same film. All three models here take Instax Mini film, which prints 86 x 54 mm with a 62 x 46 mm picture inside the white frame. A twin pack of 20 shots was $18.17 at Amazon on October 5, 2026, which works out at about $0.91 a shot. A hundred prints cost about $91 in film, whichever device you feed them through.
Same on all three: Current · Instax Mini film · 86 x 54 mm print · 62 x 46 mm image · $0.91 a shot · Shots per battery / prints per charge: 100.
| Spec |  Instax Mini 12 |  Instax Mini 13 |  Instax Mini Link 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Analog instant camera | Analog instant camera | Instant photo printer |
| Launched | 2023 | 2026 | 2024 |
| Lens | 60 mm f/12.7, 2 components 2 elements | 60 mm f/12.7, 2 components 2 elements | n/a |
| Focus | fixed; 0.3 m to infinity; close-up (selfie) mode 0.3 to 0.5 m with parallax correction | fixed; 0.3 m and beyond; Close-up Mode 0.3 to 0.5 m with parallax correction | n/a |
| Exposure | automatic, Lv 5.0 to 14.5 (ISO 800) | automatic, Lv 5.0 to 14.5 (ISO 800) | n/a |
| Shutter | 1/2 to 1/250 s, slow synchro for low light | programmed electronic shutter, 1/2 to 1/250 s, slow synchro for low light | n/a |
| Flash | auto, always fires | constant firing flash with automatic light adjustment; recycle time 7 s or less; effective range 0.3 to 2.2 m | n/a |
| Selfie mirror | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| Close-up mode | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| Self timer | No | Yes | n/a |
| Double exposure | No | No | n/a |
| Bulb mode | No | No | n/a |
| Tripod socket | No | No | n/a |
| Power | 2 x AA alkaline | 2 x AA alkaline (LR6) | Internal lithium-ion battery, USB-C charging, approx. 1.5 to 2.0 hours to full charge, 3W consumption |
| Print resolution | n/a | n/a | 318 dpi |
| Print time | n/a | n/a | 15 s |
| Connectivity | n/a | n/a | Bluetooth |
| App | instax UP! | instax UP! | instax mini Link app (iOS and Android) |
| Dimensions | 104 x 66 x 122 mm | 105.5 x 124.7 x 67.6 mm | 90 x 37.7 x 125 mm |
| Weight | 306 g | 327 g | 210 g |
| Colours | 5 (Pastel Blue, Blossom Pink, Mint Green, plus 2 more) | 5 (Dreamy Purple, Frost Blue, Candy Pink, plus 2 more) | 3 (Clay White, Rose Pink, Sage Green) |
| Street price | $82.94 (checked October 5, 2026) | $79.95 (checked October 5, 2026) | $99.95 (checked October 5, 2026) |
| Amazon rating | 4.6 (1,554 ratings) | 4.5 (19 ratings) | 4.7 (742 ratings) |
| Buy | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
Specs from manufacturer pages; prices and ratings checked October 5, 2026.
That shared film means you can start with one and add the other later. A box of Instax Mini film bought for a camera works in the Link 3, and the reverse.
How each one makes a picture
The Mini 12 and Mini 13 are analog cameras. The 60 mm f/12.7 lens exposes the film directly, and the camera sets the exposure itself between Lv 5.0 and 14.5. There is no sensor and no digital file, so the print is the only copy. Neither has any manual control. The flash fires on every frame and cannot be switched off. Cameralabs noted that bright daylight can still overexpose a Mini 12 shot.
That makes every press of the shutter a sheet of film, at about $0.91, whether the picture works or not. Digital Camera World called the Mini 12 “still the best bang-for-buck instant camera you can buy”.
The Mini Link 3 works the other way round. You take the picture on your phone, or pick one from your camera roll, and send it to the printer over Bluetooth with the instax mini Link app. You see the photo before you print it, so the only sheets you use are the ones you meant to. The app has two colour modes, Instax-Rich and Instax-Natural. Turn the printer upside down and hold the power button to reprint the last image.
The printer works at 318 dpi and takes about 15 seconds a print. PCMag said it “makes it simple to convert digital snaps into charming, wallet-sized Instax Mini prints”. Amazon buyers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 742 ratings and praise its vibrant, true-to-screen colour.
Nothing prints until you have the phone, the app and a charged printer to hand.
What each costs
At the October 5, 2026 price check:
| Model | Type | Price | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instax Mini 13 | Analog camera | $79.95 | 2 AA batteries, about 100 shots |
| Instax Mini 12 | Analog camera | $82.94 | 2 AA batteries, about 100 shots |
| Instax Mini Link 3 | Phone printer | $99.95 | Built-in battery, about 100 prints a charge |
| Instax Mini Evo | Hybrid camera | $199.00 | Built-in battery, about 100 shots a charge |
The Link 3 costs $20.00 more than the Mini 13 and $17.01 more than the Mini 12. Add 100 shots of film at about $91 and a Mini 13 comes to about $170.95, against about $190.95 for the Link 3. The camera is cheaper to start with. The printer can claw some of that back if it saves you from printing shots you would have thrown away, but how much depends on how many you waste.
The Mini 13’s price sat $14 under its $93.95 list price on that date, and the Mini 12’s sat just above its $79.95 list. The Link 3 sold at its $99.95 list.
Batteries and charging
The cameras run on two AA batteries, good for about 100 shots a set. You can buy AAs almost anywhere, which helps on a trip. PCMag counted the Mini 13’s AA power as one of its conveniences.
The Link 3 has a built-in lithium-ion battery that charges over USB-C in about 1.5 to 2 hours and lasts for about 100 prints. It weighs 210 g, against 306 g for the Mini 12 and 327 g for the Mini 13. Your phone needs charge too, since the printer has nothing to print without it.
The Instax Mini cameras you can buy
| Model | Type | Film or media | Street price | Amazon rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instax Mini SE | Analog instant camera | Instax Mini | $64.00 | 4.2 (58 ratings) |
| Instax Mini 13 | Analog instant camera | Instax Mini | $79.95 | 4.5 (19 ratings) |
| Instax Mini 12 | Analog instant camera | Instax Mini | $82.94 | 4.6 (1,554 ratings) |
| Instax Mini 41 | Analog instant camera | Instax Mini | $99.90 | 4.4 (334 ratings) |
| Instax Mini LiPlay | Hybrid instant camera | Instax Mini | $165.00 | 4.8 (84 ratings) |
| Instax Mini 99 | Analog instant camera | Instax Mini | $189.05 | 4.6 (182 ratings) |
| Instax Mini Evo | Hybrid instant camera | Instax Mini | $199.00 | 4.6 (2,008 ratings) |
| Instax Mini LiPlay+ | Hybrid instant camera | Instax Mini | $199.95 | 4.2 (19 ratings) |
| Instax Mini Evo Cinema | Hybrid instant camera | Instax Mini | $389.00 | 3.7 (23 ratings) |
Prices and ratings checked October 5, 2026.
The Mini 12 and Mini 13 are the two to compare against the printer. They take the same picture through the same lens. The Mini 13, launched in 2026, adds a 2 second and 10 second self-timer and a wrist strap that doubles as a stand. Amazon shoppers rate the Mini 12 4.6 out of 5 across 1,554 ratings. The Mini 13 is rated 4.5, but from only 19 ratings so far. Our Instax Mini 12 vs Mini 13 page covers that choice in detail.
The Instax Mini printers you can buy
| Model | Type | Film or media | Street price | Amazon rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instax Mini Link 3 | Instant photo printer | Instax Mini | $99.95 | 4.7 (742 ratings) |
| Instax Mini Link+ | Instant photo printer | Instax Mini | $158.40 | 4.3 (12 ratings) |
Prices and ratings checked October 5, 2026.
The Link 3 is the printer most buyers should look at. The Mini Link Plus, launched in 2026, prints at the same 318 dpi in the same 15 seconds, and reviewers rate its colour and text the best in the Link line. It was $158.40 on October 5, 2026, $58.45 more than the Link 3. Our Instax Mini Link 1 vs 2 vs 3 page covers the older printers.
The Mini Evo: a camera that prints what you choose
The Instax Mini Evo sits between the two. It is a hybrid camera: it takes a digital photo, shows it on a 3.0-inch screen, and prints only the shots you choose on the same Instax Mini film. It stores about 45 images in its own memory and more on a microSD card, and it pairs with a phone app over Bluetooth. It prints at 318 dpi in about 16 seconds, and one charge covers about 100 shots. Unlike the Mini 12 and Mini 13, it has autofocus, a flash you can switch off, and 10 lens effects and 10 film effects.
Buyers like being able to review shots before printing so no film is wasted. The trade-off is the look. Reviewers and buyers say its photos look more digital than an analog Instax print, and TechRadar noted that its digital-first approach and lack of an optical viewfinder might put off fans of true analog photography.
It was $199 on October 5, 2026. A Mini 13 and a Mini Link 3 together came to $179.90 on the same date, $19.10 less, and that pair gives you a true analog camera plus a printer for your phone photos.
Which one to buy
Buy the Instax Mini 13 if you want a camera to hand around at a party, to give to a child or to keep in a bag for spur-of-the-moment prints. It is the cheapest way in, at $79.95, and it needs nothing else to work.
Buy the Instax Mini Link 3 if you take most of your photos on your phone already, or if wasting a $0.91 sheet on a blinked eye or a blown-out shot would bother you. You pay $20 more up front and print only what you choose.
Buy the Instax Mini Evo if you want one device that does both jobs and you accept a more digital-looking print. If you can carry two devices, a Mini 13 and a Link 3 cost less together.
Sources
src/data/products/product records for the Instax Mini 12, Mini 13, Mini Evo, Mini Link 3 and Mini Link Plus, with prices, film costs and ratings checked 2026-10-05: every price, film cost, specification, rating and quoted reviewer verdict above.docs/research/price-check-2026-10-fujifilm.md: the 2026-10-05 price check for Fujifilm cameras, printers and film.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy an Instax camera or an Instax printer?
Buy an Instax Mini camera such as the Mini 13 if you want to point, shoot and get a print with no phone involved. It was $79.95 on October 5, 2026. Buy the Instax Mini Link 3 printer, $99.95 on the same date, if you would rather take pictures on your phone and print only the ones you like. Both use the same Instax Mini film at about $0.91 a shot.
Do Instax printers and cameras use the same film?
Yes. The Instax Mini Link 3 printer and the Instax Mini 12 and Mini 13 cameras all take Instax Mini film, which prints 86 x 54 mm with a 62 x 46 mm picture. A twin pack of 20 shots was $18.17 at Amazon on October 5, 2026, about $0.91 a shot.
Is an Instax printer cheaper to run than an Instax camera?
Per sheet, no: the film is the same and costs about $0.91 a shot either way. In practice the printer can work out cheaper, because you only print photos you have already seen on your phone. On an analog camera such as the Mini 12 or Mini 13, every press of the shutter uses a sheet, including shots ruined by the always-on flash or bright daylight.
How fast does the Instax Mini Link 3 print?
About 15 seconds a print, at 318 dpi. One charge is good for about 100 prints, and a full charge over USB-C takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. It pairs with a phone over Bluetooth and uses the instax mini Link app.
Is there an Instax camera that lets you choose which photos to print?
Yes. The Instax Mini Evo is a hybrid: it takes a digital photo, shows it on a 3.0-inch screen, and prints only the shots you pick on Instax Mini film. It stores about 45 images internally plus a microSD card. It was $199 on October 5, 2026, which is $19.10 more than a Mini 13 and a Mini Link 3 bought together.
Related comparisons
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- Instax Mini Evo vs Mini LiPlay: Which Should You Buy? (2026)
- Instax vs Zink: Which Instant Print Should You Choose? (2026)