Unplugging is one of the major benefits we enjoy while spending time in the backcountry. But even when the goal is disconnecting, having the ability to check in with loved ones and reach help in the case of an emergency is crucial. Garmin’s line of inReach devices offer this comfort and have been a must-carry for both thru-hikers and weekenders alike. Today 2 December 2025, Garmin released the latest entry in the inReach product family, the inReach Mini 3 and inReach Mini 3 Plus, and with it, significant upgrades in communication capabilities.
Garmin InReach Mini 3 vs Mini 3 Plus
Retailing for $500, the Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus introduces a new built-in microphone and speaker for sharing voice messages, a full-color touchscreen for exchanging text messages, and photo-sharing capabilities when paired with the Garmin Messenger app on a smartphone. All of which the previous generation InReach Mini 2 does not support.
The inReach Mini 3 on the other hand cost $450 and features the same full-color touchscreen as the Plus model, but does not support photo sharing or voice messages. But it does come in a cooler almost-all-black colorway.
Both inReach Mini 3 models support weather reports and forecast requests for the user's destination, along with other navigational tools like backtracking. Both impact-resistant devices feature an IP67 waterproof rating (meaning it's dust-tight and can survive up to 30 minutes submerged in a meter of water) and a battery life that lasts up to 350 hours.
But given the value of photo and voice messages—especially in an emergency setting where thumb and finger dexterity may be limited—and that both require subscription plans from Garmin, the cost savings simply does not outweigh the capability difference in our eyes. So for the remainder of the article, we'll focus on the inReach Mini 3 Plus.
New Key Features of Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus
photo sharing
Photo Sharing
Garmin introduced photo sharing while out in the wild with the palm-sized inReach Messenger Plus in 2024. The inReach Mini 3 Plus offers the same capabilities without cell reception. To do so, the user connects their inReach to a smartphone using the Garmin Messenger app, and from there, they can select and send any photo on their phone via satellite. And, with the inReach Mini's new full-color screen, users can also now receive photos from friends and family back home and view them directly on the device. (From what we can gather, the inReach Mini 3 Plus can receive messages without the need of a smartphone connection.)
voice messages
Voice Messages
As with photo sharing, voice messages are another feature carried over from the inReach Messenger Plus. The Mini 3 Plus ups the ante with its new built-in microphone and speaker, bypassing the need to power on a smartphone to record and send voice messages. The new GPS-enabled inReach can also receive voice messages, and if the mood or environment requires silence—maybe your tent mates are already snoozing in their sleeping bags—the device can also transcribe incoming messages into text for convenient review.
SOS instructions on device
Location Sharing & Emergency Services
While sharing photos, text messages, and voice memos are a nice way to stay connected to loved ones at home, the most important feature of the inReach Mini line has always been providing dependable access to emergency services and making your location known. Your most concerned friends and family will appreciate Garmin’s LiveTrack location sharing feature, enabling the device to broadcast your realtime location to contacts back home. Otherwise, the device’s default 10-minute tracking mode will leave a GPS breadcrumb trail marking your track. In this mode, the device packs an impressive 350 hours of battery life.
If things get really dire, the inReach Mini 3 Plus also has an SOS button that contacts the Garmin Response team, who can coordinate a rescue. Working with search and rescue providers and local resources, the Garmin team can also leverage the new device's photo and voice message features to aid in their response, adding an additional level of detail to a rescue op.
