Fujifilm instax mini Link 2 - Review

When Nintendo revitalised Pokémon Snap a few years back, many older gamers – like myself, recalled taking our Nintendo 64 memory cards to the local Blockbuster to print out the photos we had taken. Photo printing experts Fujifilm revealed that they were releasing an app that would let snappers send their Switch photos to their Instax mini Link 2 printer. Now they have returned to offer the same to Splatoon 3 fans, so the question, is this an ink-credible printer?

First things first, the printer itself is the same printer that they sell on its own, there is nothing special about it, at least compared to the solo offerings. Where the Nintendo themed elements come in are with the app and the graphics that they provide. If you pick up one of the special editions that come with the silicone sleeve, then you can get some extra Pokémon or in my case Splatoon theming. Sticking with the printer though, there really isn’t a whole lot to it, there is a charging point for it, a space for the specialised printer paper to go and a few buttons. As the one that was provided to me was the Splatoon edition, it did come with that silicone slip for the printer, which does block access to the charging port and paper input slots, but it does allow you to turn it on and retrieve the printed photos. Overall the little printer is quite densely packed, there is a weight to it (not a lot though), that honestly may surprise you, as it doesn’t look like it will be heavy, but it delivers exactly on what it promises. As for the printing system, once the picture you have elected to print is out of the printer, it can take around 90 seconds for it fully develop on the paper, meaning that as you watch it, it will start to fade in. There is no print head noise, no loud beeping or any other annoying sounds to go along with printing, it just does it and that was something I truly enjoyed.

As I said, the real magic comes from the app, in that it is where you choose your photo, a frame and any graphical elements that you want to overlay on it. When the app first launched, it only offered a small number of New Pokémon Snap related frames, now however it offers up Splatoon 3 themes, along with a host of Mario and Animal Crossing options. The frames range from a few little elements, like in Splatoon to some 1/3rd overlays and while some are a bit much, considering the print area, given the variety there should be something to suit your needs. In addition you can add additional stickers and adjust the images size, rotation and a number of basic photo options, like brightness and such. The app is not going to be where you make large adjustments to your original image, but it can do the basics in a pinch. You can forgo the frames and just print out photos without any extra elements as well, should you want to do that, so it’s a nice option to have. I do wish though, that you could view your photo in full, before it went into the app for tweaking, just to make sure you have the right one, as the app doesn’t save your location in the photo list, so you do have to scroll all over again, if you select the wrong version.

One addition that I didn’t know was included, was the ability to use the printer as sort of a magic wand, letting you draw onto the print, in the app I mean. Once you enable the mode, the LED indicator light on the side of the printer turns on and then pressing the button on the top paints your art onto the screen, in the position where the print was. Using stamps, spray paints or other icons, you can draw some fun shapes onto your photo, giving you a more unique look. Of course, holding up a printer is not going to be something everyone can do, so you can also just draw on your phones screen.

The real issue with the printer comes in the overall size of the printed photos, because they are quite small. The print area is roughly 4.5cm wide and 6cm tall, so it’s not a big space. The issue comes in when you start applying frames and graphics to it, you quickly lose the photo. Of course you don’t have to make use of the frames or stickers, but then it’s a generic version of the printer without that Nintendo touch. If the app allowed for modifications to the frames, dropping the opacity or such, then it might not be such an issue. But as you can see below, with the same photo on two prints, one with a frame and one without, the result is that you lose quite a bit.

The only other thing to be concerned about with the printer, is the cost of the printing material that you have to use, as this is not your average printer. The smallest amount I could find to buy for the printer, was over $30 for 20 sheets, which isn’t bad as a once in a while purchase, but if you are going to print out a lot, you will quickly see that dollar amount go up.

If you are an avid in game photographer and want to display your shots in a fun way, this is definitely something to consider. Given that you can send your photos direct from the Switch to the app and then printer, without needing to save them to your phone, does make the process very simple. The printers size means that you can take it with you anywhere you want to and the decent printing time, means you won’t have to spend hours waiting for results. The only real concern with the printer is the cost of the paper, as in small amounts it is expensive and buying frequently may not be an option for all. If that is not a concern for you, or you buy large amounts at once, then picking up the Instax mini Link 2 is something I would highly suggest for anyone with an interest in game photography. The fact that you can use it without any gaming related options is just an added bonus for those who like to snap shots from around the real world, as much as any virtual one.

The Score

8.5

Review unit provided by Fujifilm

The Pros

+The print quality is amazing, the colours come through great and seeing the image fade in, is a delight

+Given the units compact size, it really is perfect for taking with you, should you want to develop on the go

The Cons

-Some of the frames that the app provides are quite a bit larger than I would like and cover up much of any photo you put behind them

-The cost of the printer paper is not something that people can purchase all that often, unless you buy in bulk