Zero ink (Zink) portable photo printers don't quite match the image quality of dye-sublimation models, but the output of the original Canon IVY reviewed here in June 2018 was mediocre even compared to its Zink competitors. Canon's new IVY 2 Mini Photo Printer produces better small-format (2-by-3-inch) prints at similarly low running costs, making it a good value, especially with a current discount from $129.99 to $99.99. Our only real complaint about this IVY is that, even with the discount, it lists for $30 more than the Kodak Step Instant Mobile Photo Printer that just copped an Editors' Choice award among Zink smartphone companions.
One Pass, Zero Ink
Instead of ink, Zink photo printers use special paper infused with colors released by the printer's application of heat, producing images in a single pass. Canon says that with proper storage, images from the IVY 2 should last for up to a century. By contrast, dye-sublimation or dye-sub devices like the Polaroid Hi-Print 2x3 Pocket Photo Printer and the Kodak Mini 3 Retro Portable Printer take four passes to lay down cyan, magenta, and yellow ink and a clear coat that helps colors stand out and protects images from dust and fingerprints.