Garmin inReach Mini 3 Confirmed: Color Touchscreen Incoming

Garmin accidentally confirmed the inReach Mini 3 exists via an email leak, and the headline feature is clear: a high-resolution color touchscreen is coming to the satellite communicator lineup. The current Mini 2 runs a monochrome display that feels dated next to modern trail watches like the Fenix 8 or Coros Vertix 2S, so this is a meaningful upgrade for anyone relying on the device in the backcountry.

Speculation based on the eTrex Touch hardware points toward proper map support on the device itself, not just a companion app view. That would be a significant shift. Right now, the Mini 2 gives you basic waypoints and a compass bearing, but actual topo map rendering has always lived on your phone or a separate Garmin GPS unit.

For trail runners and ultra athletes carrying the Mini 2 as a safety device, the weight question matters. The Mini 2 sits at 100 grams. Any color touchscreen hardware will put pressure on that number, and Garmin will need to keep it under 115 grams or so to stay viable as a run-packable device rather than a hiker-only tool.

Two-way messaging via Iridium satellite stays the core function, same as before. The inReach platform competes with SPOT and Zoleo, but Garmin's integration with Garmin Connect and compatible watches like the Fenix or Epix series is a real advantage for athletes already in that ecosystem.

Solid upgrade on paper. The real test is battery life with that new screen and a price that doesn't push past the Mini 2's already steep $350 entry point.