The off-grid device adds a colour touchscreen and voice messaging, mimicking the features of Garmin’s flagship watch
Garmin has unveiled the inReach Mini 3 Plus, an updated version of its popular compact satellite communicator.
It follows the launch of the Fenix 8 Pro earlier this year, the first Garmin watch to offer integrated inReach satellite communications.
In comparison, this latest version of the inReach handheld—available for $499/£439.99— is a significant upgrade to the compact satellite experience. Garmin has added a colour touchscreen display, a built-in speaker, and a microphone.
(Image credit: Garmin)
This allows adventurers to exchange 30-second voice messages, texts, and photos when operating entirely beyond mobile phone coverage—features previously reserved for the full-sized Messenger devices or the new Fenix watch line.
Users can still trigger an interactive SOS message to the 24/7 Garmin Response center. With up to 330 hours of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode, the Mini 3 Plus—on paper at least—shapes up as one of the best options for staying safe during extended, multi-day trips.
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An increasingly difficult choice for adventurers
While the Fenix 8 Pro offers adventurers the convenience of satellite SOS and basic messaging directly from their wrist, the dedicated inReach handhelds—as shown with this latest Mini 3 Plus launch—remain vastly superior in battery life and communications features.
The key choice, as before, is whether you want to trade in some of that capability for a different form factor. The Fenix 8 Pro’s built-in inReach satellite technology enables emergency calls and messages directly from the watch, making it a true safety device you never leave behind (or in your bag when you might not be able to reach it).
The new Mini 3 Plus, with its enhanced screen and ability to exchange photo and voice messages, makes the choice harder than ever.