I’ve used the original inReach Mini for years— It’s powered down until needed, clipped to my pack, and paired with a phone in airplane mode used only for Earthmate and photos. My Epix Gen 2 triggers it via ANT, no phone required.
With rumors of a Mini 3, I want to advocate for refinement—not reinvention.
What Makes the Mini Work
- Iridium satellite coverage: global, dynamic, reliable.
- Standalone operation: Earthmate access to contacts, towing info, and pre-saved messages.
- Battery resilience: doesn’t compete with phone/watch power.
- Rugged form factor: carabiner-ready, compact, durable.
What I Don’t Want
- App-gated messaging (Messenger-only).
- Skylo satellite limitations (geostationary, southern sky dependency).
- Feature creep: music, calls, Wi-Fi tethering.
What Would Improve It
- Slightly larger screen.
- Offline voice-to-text for composing messages in gloves or stress.
The Mini is trusted because it respects autonomy and clarity. If Garmin turns it into another convergence device, they risk losing that trust. If they refine it—preserving its singularity of purpose—they’ll earn even deeper loyalty from those of us who rely on it when it matters most.
After seeing the specs of the Fenix 8 Pro and its LTE-M and Sat situation and drilled down a think the Mini still has legs and want to see the form factor continue.
I am using a Epix Gen 2 and the original Mini and a Samsung Phone. With the newer form factors arriving I was just hoping the moves don't signal Garmin dropping the Mini form factor.
John
Once posted, I can help you monitor replies and shape follow-up responses that keep the thread focused and constructive. Want to draft a short intro line to kick off the thread with a bit more punch?