Xiaomi has unveiled a new, affordable photo printer: the Mijia Desktop Photo Printer 2. The device is currently available in China through the company’s own crowdfunding platform, Youpin, and is positioned as an improved successor to the Desktop Photo Printer 1S.
4-Color Dye-Sublimation Instead of Pure CMY Printing
The most significant technical innovation concerns the printing process: Xiaomi has added an additional black K channel, enabling the printer to use the 4-color dye-sublimation process for the first time, rather than just the three basic CMY colors. Dark areas of the image and shadows can thus be printed using the separate black channel, which, according to Xiaomi, results in sharper, finer details while also using ink more efficiently.
Bluetooth Instead of Mandatory Wi-Fi
There’s also an upgrade in connectivity: While the predecessor, the 1S, still required a Wi-Fi connection for wireless use, the Desktop Photo Printer 2 connects directly to smartphones, tablets, or laptops via Bluetooth 5.2—without needing a home network at all. The printer also supports multiple simultaneously connected devices, various print templates and print modes, as well as square paper in 4-inch and 6-inch formats. According to Xiaomi, printing costs for the 4-inch format are expected to drop to the equivalent of up to 0.13 euros per sheet.
Price and Availability
The Mijia Desktop Photo Printer 2 currently costs the equivalent of about 90 euros via Youpin. Xiaomi has not yet provided any information regarding a launch in Germany or general availability outside of China—but as with many Mijia products, it’s not out of the question that the device could eventually become available here through import channels.
Conclusion
With the Mijia Desktop Photo Printer 2, Xiaomi demonstrates that meaningful improvements can still be made even in the entry-level segment of photo printers. The additional black ink layer and the elimination of the Wi-Fi requirement make the printer more practical for everyday use without significantly increasing the price. If you don’t want to wait for it to become available in Germany, you can find alternatives that are already on the market in our comparison of the best portable instant photo printers.
