Garmin inReach Mini 3 Review: Satellite Communicator With Color Touchscreen

Garmin just refreshed its most popular satellite communicator. The inReach Mini 3 and Mini 3 Plus land with a color touchscreen, multi-band GPS, and optional voice and photo messaging. That last feature is new territory for this form factor.

The core job stays the same: two-way satellite messaging and SOS via the Iridium network, anywhere on earth. No cell signal needed. For trail runners, ultra athletes, or anyone heading into remote terrain, that's the whole point. The Mini 2 already had a loyal following, and Garmin is building on a solid base rather than rebuilding from scratch.

The color touchscreen is the biggest quality-of-life upgrade. The Mini 2 used a small, button-driven monochrome display that worked but felt dated next to something like a Coros Vertix 2S or Garmin Fenix 8. Navigating menus mid-run with gloves on was a pain. A touch display with better contrast should fix most of that friction. Multi-band GPS also closes the gap with flagship sport watches, meaning more accurate tracks in canyons and dense forest.

The Plus variant adds voice messaging and photo sharing over satellite. Useful for expedition athletes or guides who need richer communication than a 160-character text. It will cost more and draw more battery, so most solo trail runners will stick with the standard Mini 3. The base model is the smarter buy for 90% of athletes.

Solid upgrade. Not a full reinvention, but the touchscreen and multi-band GPS are the two things users actually complained about. Pair it with a Garmin or Coros watch via Bluetooth and you have a genuinely capable safety setup that weighs almost nothing.