Instax Mini Link 3 review: Fun and easy

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link series effectively turns any phone into an instant film camera. Using organic light-emitting diodes, the mini printers expose a digital image onto a light-sensitive surface, effectively turning digital pixels into instant film. The third iteration in the series, the new Instax Mini Link 3, takes that approach one step further, equipping a phone with photobooth-like capabilities and even an augmented reality studio. As a professional photographer, I use the Mini Link 2 to hand out same-day sneak peeks. The speed and the fact that it prints real film always manage to impress. The Instax Mini Link 3 carries on that same basic functionality with a few updates.

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Instax Mini Link 3. The simple setup, instant prints, and highly entertaining form factor help make this my favorite mobile photo printer yet.

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Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3 uses Bluetooth to print smartphone photos on real film. While the basic functionality is the same as earlier models, upgraded features including photo booth capabilities, video printing, and augmented reality up the fun factor. When it comes to having your photos in both digital and physical format without a bulky printer, the Instax Mini Link 3 is hard to beat.

Pros

• Prints photos (and even videos) on real film
• Portable and easy to use
• Photo booth mode
• Doubles as a camera remote

Cons

• Film can be a bit pricey
• Look of real film isn’t for everyone

Specs, price, and availability

Fujifilm released the Instax Mini Link 3 this past August 2024. It costs $99. The portable printer uses Instax Mini-type film to produce credit-card-sized prints, with an image space of about 62mm by 46mm. The printer itself is compact, coming in at less than five inches long and weighing under 7.5 ounces. It uses a built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery rated for around 100 prints.

What I liked about the Instax Mini Link 3

Fun, simple instant film from a phone

The Instax Mini Link 3 is small enough to fit in my hand. The design has a bit of a retro feel with a ridged texture to the exterior. LEDs inside light the word Instax on the front. That’s not just for looks either; the lights also indicate battery level and print status. The minimalist design gives the printer two buttons, a charging port, and a film compartment.

The Instax Mini Link 3 works differently from other mobile printers that use paper with embedded ink crystals or traditional ink cartridges and photo paper. It instead uses organic light-emitting diodes to expose a digital image to film.

Don’t be intimidated by the word film. The Instax Mini Link 3 is simple to set up and start printing. The device charges with an included USB-C cable. The film is housed in a plastic cartridge. Loading it up is as simple as lining up the yellow markers on both the printer and the cartridge. Because it won’t fit if you attempt to install it backward, the design is nearly foolproof. Once the film is loaded and the printer is on, the Mini Link 3 spits out the protective cover over the film and is ready to go.

Connecting to the Mini Link app is almost as straightforward. The first time you install the app, the software walks you through connecting. As I already had the app downloaded, connecting was slightly more complex. I had to go into the Settings menu, and select Printer Settings, followed by Select Printer to start the process. Once I began pairing the two, the printer quickly popped up on my phone’s screen.

From the app, you can then select your photo, edit it or add special effects, then tap the print button. You don’t even need a photo: If you have a video you love, you can pull a still frame from it and print that, too. The printer takes around 15 seconds to expose and spit out the print. The resulting image then needs another minute or two to fully develop.

One of my favorite upgrades over earlier models is the option to select from two print modes. ‘Rich’ mode produces colors that really pop on Instax film. ‘Natural’ mode creates a lighter image with less saturated colors. I love this feature because, at times, the earlier printer would create images that were too dark or featured skin tones that were orange. The Natural mode doesn’t have that problem, though, at times, it goes the other way and overexposes the image a bit. Instant film will never create perfect colors that look identical to what’s on the digital file. However, having both modes built-in gives me more control over the final results. I recommend choosing Natural if the image is already a little darker, but Rich for images on the lighter side where you really want those film colors to pop.

Another new favorite is the photo booth mode, called Click to Collage. Like an actual photo booth, this counts down a few seconds between images, then compiles them into a collage. Unlike a photo booth, you have a few different options to choose from, and if you don’t love the images, you don’t have to print them. These collages can also be turned into videos to share on social media.

The Instax Mini Link also doubles as a remote control for your smartphone’s camera. In the Instax Camera mode, the app displays a live preview of the camera inside a virtual Instax frame. You can then use the power button on the printer to trigger a photo, which means you can take selfies without the awkward arm out.

The Instax AiR Studio is an app-based feature that allows you to add augmented reality backgrounds, props, and animations to the camera view, and then take a photo to print. This mode is fun to play around in, but feels a bit gimmicky and isn’t a reason in itself to buy the printer. That said, I can see AR phrases like “happy birthday” and “thank you” being handy for creating cards or gift tags.

What I didn’t like about the Instax Mini Link 3

Not much, but potential buyers need to know what to expect

I had little to complain about on the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3. That said, I’ve also used earlier versions in the past and knew what I was getting. It’s important to understand what the Mini Link is and what its limitations are.

First, as an instant film printer, it’s meant more to be fun and portable than something designed to reproduce accurate, perfect prints. While I love most of the prints that I get, instant film can be unpredictable, producing colors that are a bit different than those you’ll see on a digital. I love the format and the real film colors, but if you’re expecting images to look perfect, then instant film probably isn’t the printing medium for you.

Second, instant film isn’t the cheapest way to print. The cost of the film varies a bit based on whether you pick a value pack or colored borders, but expect to spend about $0.90 to $1.45 on each print. That’s not terrible for a mobile printer, but still more expensive than ordering larger 4x6s from a print shop.

Finally, several of the updates to the third version in the series are software-based, like the photo booth and augmented reality modes. These features aren’t coming to Fujifilm’s older printers, even though they aren’t tied to the physical hardware. I feel like a firmware update could have brought these features to the older printers and demonstrated a better commitment to the longevity of the company’s mobile printers, but that’s probably a big ask for a $100 device.

Should you buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3?

If you want fun, quick prints from your smartphone, buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3. The printer is easy to set up, packed with entertaining features, and spits out images on real film with all the quirks that come with that. Multiple color modes and a photo booth mode level up the fun factor, while the upgraded design makes it easier to check the battery level.

But don’t expect perfection. I love the quirky colors that instant film creates. However, if you want a print that looks near identical to what’s on your phone screen, then instant film isn’t the right printing medium for you. The cost of film of around a dollar or slightly more per image should also be factored into the purchase decision.

What about those who already own the Mini Link 2? While the upgrades over the Instax Mini Link 2 are great, the key functionality remains the same. Unless you really need the photo booth functionality or neutral color setting, put some of that $99 towards more film instead.

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Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3