Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus: 6 Months Later

Garmin inReach Mini 3+ review after 6 months and hundreds of miles of hiking. *Lowest Prices I Found:* https://amzn.to/45n6Hn0 *Gear I'm Using Now:* - inReach: https://hkgy.co/inreach - Hiking App: https://hkgy.co/app - Watch: https://hkgy.co/watch - Shoes: https://hkgy.co/shoes - Pack: https://hkgy.co/backpack - Rescue Insurance: https://hkgy.co/insurance *Full Hiking Gear List* (Tested & Not Sponsored): https://hikingguy.com/gear *Links:* - More Info: https://hikingguy.com/gear/garmin-inreach-mini-3-plus-review/ - Website: https://hikingguy.com - Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/hikingguy - Monthly Hiking News (free): https://www.patreon.com/c/hikingguy/ - Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Hikingguy After six months and hundreds of miles with the Garmin inReach Mini 3+, the features that changed how I actually use a satellite communicator are the microphone and the touchscreen. I timed it: a 30-second voice note carries what would take three to five minutes to type on a keyboard, and Garmin transcribes the recording before delivery, so the person receiving it reads a normal text message. Voice notes and photos took one to three and two to five minutes to send, and I had zero failed sends in six months. The touchscreen offers QWERTY, grid, and the old ribbon keyboard, and the grid proved most accurate for me; you can also turn the touchscreen off entirely. Battery came in at 130 to 300 hours with low power mode and 10-minute tracking, short of Garmin's 350-hour claim, with tree cover driving most of the difference. The device never froze or rebooted, though Garmin shipped five firmware updates including a bootloop fix. Detailed maps are still missing. 00:00 No Detailed Maps 01:04 Custom Map Hack 02:05 Voice Messages 03:46 Photo Messaging 05:13 Touchscreen 06:41 Battery Life 08:14 Reliability 09:36 Worth The Price 10:38 Maps Via Firmware? 11:18 Mini 2 Instead? 11:43 Phone SOS Enough? 12:36 Faster Than Mini 2? 13:28 Do Photos Cost More? 13:59 Heavier Than Mini 2? 14:29 Messenger App Required? 15:02 Will Screen Crack? 15:30 Mini 3+ Or Messenger Plus? 16:25 Upgrade From Mini 1? 17:17 fenix 8 Or Mini 3? 17:51 Which inReach To Buy? 18:16 Subscription Plans 18:44 Phone Connected Messages 19:23 inReach To inReach 19:48 Backpack Attachment Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use and trust.