Outdoor communication keeps getting smarter, smaller, and, like all thing, more expensive. Garmin’s new inReach Mini 3 Plus ($499) adds a touchscreen, voice messaging, and photo sharing to a device that once prided itself on being almost stubbornly simple.
The new version jumps from a tiny grayscale screen and a handful of buttons to something closer to a stripped-down phone. It sends voice messages, supports photo viewing, allows photo sharing when paired with the Messenger app, and uses a touchscreen for faster navigation. It’s a sharp turn for a device best known for blunt practicality.
The core inReach pieces are still here. Two-way messaging, SOS support, and LiveTrack all remain, now delivered through a color screen with built-in audio tools. Battery life stretches up to 330 hours in 10-minute tracking mode, which should get most people through long trips without rationing power. READ FULL STORY
