Garmin Supercharges Its Award-Winning Survival Device with Powerful New Features

It’s never been easier to stay connected while offgrid.

While casual explorers increasingly rely on their omnipresent smartphones for emergency communication, true backcountry technology is evolving just as quickly.

Garmin has long been the industry leader in rugged devices built for adventure, but its latest release further blurs the line between smartphone and satellite communication device.

The InReach Mini 3 Plus is more robust compared to its predecessors in every measurable metric: it’s slightly bigger, a little more durable and considerably more capable, with a new suite of features that transform it from straightforward satellite messenger to something entirely new.

Garmin

Stay connected

The InReach Mini 3 Plus’s list of upgrades runs from minor to very major, but each new innovation is meaningful, regardless of proportion.

Most notably, Garmin’s new pocket-sized satellite communicator features a new color touchscreen display and built-in speaker and microphone. These enhancements allow for longer texts, photos and voice messages (with an active subscription) not possible on any previous version of the Mini.

Garmin

While some may argue that photos and voice messages distract from the core purpose of the InReach Mini 3 Plus — which is to communicate in an emergency — I’d argue the opposite. Rather than superfluous distraction, each of these features enable uses to provide more specificity and data to emergency responders, which could mean the difference between life and death.

Garmin

Alongside the new ability to send enhanced messages, the InReach Mini 3 Plus is now rated IP67 compared to its predecessor’s IPX7 rating, which means it’s better equipped to handle dust, with the same water resistance as before. (The device can withstand incidental exposure to water of up to one meter for up to 30 minutes.)

Garmin’s newest InReach is 4.42 ounces compared with the InReach Mini 2’s 3.5 ounces, and the latest device is a little larger as well, measuring in at 2.16 x 3.85 x 1.05 inches. The Mini 3 Plus is still plenty portable though.

Garmin

The InReach Mini 3 Plus’s battery life is also substantial: with up to 330 hours (nearly 14 days) of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode, the device can endure multi-day trips with no recharging necessary.

In the event an emergency does occur, users can also trigger an interactive SOS message to the Garmin Response center, through which coordinators will communicate with the user, their listed emergency contacts, search and rescue organizations and other available local resources to initiate potential rescues and provide updates.

Availability and pricing

While all these updates are important, they also come with an upgraded price tag: Garmin’s latest InReach costs $500, up $100 from the last model … and that doesn’t include the monthly subscription options, which range from $8–$50 per month.

The InReach Mini 3 Plus is available now on Garmin’s official website.

Garmin

Garmin InReach Mini 3 Plus

• $500 at Garmin

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