Home is closer than you think within Reach Mini 2. This compact satellite communicator adds two-way communication and interactive SOS capabilities to your adventures (active satellite subscription required). TracBack routing navigates you back to your starting point the same way you came - right on your device. Stay on adventures longer with up to 14 days of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode. Using the Iridium satellite network, this device can send an alert message from anywhere in the world, even places out of the reach of mobile networks.
Home is closer than you think within Reach Mini 2. This compact satellite communicator adds two-way communication and interactive SOS capabilities to your adventures (active satellite subscription required). TracBack routing navigates you back to your starting point the same way you came - right on your device. Stay on adventures longer with up to 14 days of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode. Using the Iridium satellite network, this device can send an alert message from anywhere in the world, even places out of the reach of mobile networks.
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The lowest price for Garmin inReach Mini 2 Flame Red right now is $423.53 at Motostorm, compared across 3 retailers.
The all-time low was $423.53 on 8 June 2026. That's the lowest price we've ever tracked — a great time to buy.
Prices last updated 10 June 2026.
Garmin inReach Mini 2 Flame Red
Home is closer than you think within Reach Mini 2. This compact satellite communicator adds two-way communication and interactive SOS capabilities to your adventures (active satellite subscription required). TracBack routing navigates you back to your starting point the same way you came - right on your device. Stay on adventures longer with up to 14 days of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode. Using the Iridium satellite network, this device can send an alert message from anywhere in the world, even places out of the reach of mobile networks.
Home is closer than you think within Reach Mini 2. This compact satellite communicator adds two-way communication and interactive SOS capabilities to your adventures (active satellite subscription required). TracBack routing navigates you back to your starting point the same way you came - right on your device. Stay on adventures longer with up to 14 days of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode. Using the Iridium satellite network, this device can send an alert message from anywhere in the world, even places out of the reach of mobile networks.
Last updated at 10/06/2026 11:10:09
Garmin inReach Mini 2 - GPS Satellite Communication Device with 24/7 Emergency Call Function, Worldwide Message Sending without Mobile Receipt (
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Garmin Inreach Mini 2 Orange
Delivery $70.37
Garmin inReach Mini 2 Marine Bundle, Flame Red
Free delivery
originally posted on garmin.com
I bought the Mini 2 as a replacement for the Mini and possibly the Explorer+. The Mini worked for me, but I found the battery life and GPS sensitivity did not fully meet my needs. The Explorer+ had better battery life, a map display and a better interface for typing messages, but it is larger and heavier. I am a SCUBA diver and the dive housing for the Mini greatly expanded its utility, but the relatively short battery life negated much of that capability. I found the Mini didn't quite cut it on two rafting trips through the Grand Canyon due to the poor sensitivity of the GPS, which was necessary to download weather forecasts. After using the Mini 2 for a couple of weeks I've very pleased with the enhanced battery life and GPS performance using the GPS Multi-GNSS ... MoreI bought the Mini 2 as a replacement for the Mini and possibly the Explorer+. The Mini worked for me, but I found the battery life and GPS sensitivity did not fully meet my needs. The Explorer+ had better battery life, a map display and a better interface for typing messages, but it is larger and heavier. I am a SCUBA diver and the dive housing for the Mini greatly expanded its utility, but the relatively short battery life negated much of that capability. I found the Mini didn't quite cut it on two rafting trips through the Grand Canyon due to the poor sensitivity of the GPS, which was necessary to download weather forecasts. After using the Mini 2 for a couple of weeks I've very pleased with the enhanced battery life and GPS performance using the GPS Multi-GNSS Setting. The Mini 2 navigation and satellite communication are greatly enhanced using the Explore and Messenger smartphone apps. Kudos for Garmin keeping the size and shape the same so that the Mini 2 fits in the same dive housing! The only place where the Mini 2 is a bit deficient is with stand-alone navigation (no maps) and stand-alone entry of text. I can foresee applications where the limitations of carrying and charging a phone just isn't going to be practical, forcing a reliance on the stand-alone functions. Given the inherent limitations of the size and shape of the device that might be asking a bit too much. Overall, I'm very pleased with the upgrade of the Mini 2 over the original Mini and am looking forward to using it to its full potential.
originally posted on REI
5 stars are not enough. Amazing little device, full featured and easy to use if you study ahead a little bit. Definitely takes pre-planning to set it up to support your trip unless you just want it for SOS. Weather-proof, tiny, ergonomically great with easy to use buttons.I bought this because I wanted to minimize the risk to my family when we were in the backcountry. Of note, when out on trail with this recently, we had the opportunity to guide to safety two separate parties who were lost in failing light and worsening conditions. One was relying on just a paper map; the other on AllTrails, but had forgotten to download the proper map and was running low on phone battery.Of note, this is not ideal as a primary navigation device given small screen and interface. ... More5 stars are not enough. Amazing little device, full featured and easy to use if you study ahead a little bit. Definitely takes pre-planning to set it up to support your trip unless you just want it for SOS. Weather-proof, tiny, ergonomically great with easy to use buttons.I bought this because I wanted to minimize the risk to my family when we were in the backcountry. Of note, when out on trail with this recently, we had the opportunity to guide to safety two separate parties who were lost in failing light and worsening conditions. One was relying on just a paper map; the other on AllTrails, but had forgotten to download the proper map and was running low on phone battery.Of note, this is not ideal as a primary navigation device given small screen and interface. We used Gaia to create courses on a desktop computer, then used Garmin tools to put these on the inreach well before trip. On trail, this device pairs well with a paper map or GaiaGPS/AllTrails on a phone. The inreach alarms when you are off course, reasonably accurate. Also updates online map with your position so others can track your progress.We checked in with family at home twice daily, worked great.Only negative is that typing texts is like a throwback to candy bar style cell phones, slow and torturous. You can connect it to your cell phone with BT and use the Garmin Messenger app on the phone to type quickly. Keeping BT on on the inreach mini drains the battery, so need to be conscientious about turning it off after messaging.Finally, this is overall not a cheap option. Device seems fairly priced for what it is, but service plans are expensive. For me, added safety and great design were worth it.
originally posted on garmin.com
The general consensus that the InReach Mini 2 is the best of this type of satellite-based communicators is well-earned based on my personal experience with 2 such devises and two separate trips into the great outdoors in Southern and Central California. They do what they are advertized to do, and do so with the reliability that is key. However ,I will say that two improvements on the software/account dashboard end would be welcome and perhaps one future hardware change.Software/ Account management:1. The message inbox and the contact management is clunky and sometimes frustrating. For example, if I type in the devise specific email address of another Mini 2 that I'm trying to communicate with, that should be kept in a recent recipients list so that even if I ... MoreThe general consensus that the InReach Mini 2 is the best of this type of satellite-based communicators is well-earned based on my personal experience with 2 such devises and two separate trips into the great outdoors in Southern and Central California. They do what they are advertized to do, and do so with the reliability that is key. However ,I will say that two improvements on the software/account dashboard end would be welcome and perhaps one future hardware change.Software/ Account management:1. The message inbox and the contact management is clunky and sometimes frustrating. For example, if I type in the devise specific email address of another Mini 2 that I'm trying to communicate with, that should be kept in a recent recipients list so that even if I don't save that address in my contacts using the phone-based messenger app, it should still be accessible. Given how difficult it is to type an address of even medium length, this would be a conveniet feature to have2. There should be a way for multiple Mini 2s to be accessible, manageable, and visible via the explore.garmin.com/map site without having to enroll in and pay for what Garmin is marketing as a "team" account. I have 3 Mini 2s so that each of my sons and I can have and use one when exploring remote locations or serious camping, but I have to log-in to separate accounts to manage each device. While I am totally fine with paying for 3 subscriptions (1 per device) why can't I manage them under one master log-in account and why can't I view their locations all together in one map? I can understand if an organization had 5 or more of these that Garmin would want to upsell them on a different tier of corporate or commercial plans, but 2-4 devices is something that is not unusual for a typical family of campers or hikers.Hardware:The only thing that would get me to upgrade to another Mini 2 would be a slightly larger screen. Don't want color or even better resolution and wouldn't want the hit to battery life that would come with it...but even a small increase say, going to 25mmX25mm or 1.1" X 1.1" (from the current 0.9" X 0.9") would allow for a larger font. If you are blessed with good vision or are under the age of 50---this may not mean much, but trust me that as a 51 yr old, I am just at the borderline of needing reading glasses to view the text on the screen. In a wilderness situation where glasses could be easily lost or damaged, the ability to read the screen with unaided eyes would be super-important.Overall, however, these are minor complaints for what is an excellent device and my revent experiences were excellent.
| Battery | Rechargeable interne lithium-ionbatterij |
| Interface | Usb-c |
| Water resistance | Ipx7 |
| Dimensions | 5,17 x 9,90 x 2,61 cm |
Garmin inReach Mini 2 - GPS Satellite Communication Device with 24/7 Emergency Call Function, Worldwide Message Sending without Mobile Receipt (
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Garmin Inreach Mini 2 Orange
Delivery $70.37
Garmin inReach Mini 2 Marine Bundle, Flame Red
Free delivery
I bought the Mini 2 as a replacement for the Mini and possibly the Explorer+. The Mini worked for me, but I found the battery life and GPS sensitivity did not fully meet my needs. The Explorer+ had better battery life, a map display and a better interface for typing messages, but it is larger and heavier. I am a SCUBA diver and the dive housing for the Mini greatly expanded its utility, but the relatively short battery life negated much of that capability. I found the Mini didn't quite cut it on two rafting trips through the Grand Canyon due to the poor sensitivity of the GPS, which was necessary to download weather forecasts. After using the Mini 2 for a couple of weeks I've very pleased with the enhanced battery life and GPS performance using the GPS Multi-GNSS ... MoreI bought the Mini 2 as a replacement for the Mini and possibly the Explorer+. The Mini worked for me, but I found the battery life and GPS sensitivity did not fully meet my needs. The Explorer+ had better battery life, a map display and a better interface for typing messages, but it is larger and heavier. I am a SCUBA diver and the dive housing for the Mini greatly expanded its utility, but the relatively short battery life negated much of that capability. I found the Mini didn't quite cut it on two rafting trips through the Grand Canyon due to the poor sensitivity of the GPS, which was necessary to download weather forecasts. After using the Mini 2 for a couple of weeks I've very pleased with the enhanced battery life and GPS performance using the GPS Multi-GNSS Setting. The Mini 2 navigation and satellite communication are greatly enhanced using the Explore and Messenger smartphone apps. Kudos for Garmin keeping the size and shape the same so that the Mini 2 fits in the same dive housing! The only place where the Mini 2 is a bit deficient is with stand-alone navigation (no maps) and stand-alone entry of text. I can foresee applications where the limitations of carrying and charging a phone just isn't going to be practical, forcing a reliance on the stand-alone functions. Given the inherent limitations of the size and shape of the device that might be asking a bit too much. Overall, I'm very pleased with the upgrade of the Mini 2 over the original Mini and am looking forward to using it to its full potential.
5 stars are not enough. Amazing little device, full featured and easy to use if you study ahead a little bit. Definitely takes pre-planning to set it up to support your trip unless you just want it for SOS. Weather-proof, tiny, ergonomically great with easy to use buttons.I bought this because I wanted to minimize the risk to my family when we were in the backcountry. Of note, when out on trail with this recently, we had the opportunity to guide to safety two separate parties who were lost in failing light and worsening conditions. One was relying on just a paper map; the other on AllTrails, but had forgotten to download the proper map and was running low on phone battery.Of note, this is not ideal as a primary navigation device given small screen and interface. ... More5 stars are not enough. Amazing little device, full featured and easy to use if you study ahead a little bit. Definitely takes pre-planning to set it up to support your trip unless you just want it for SOS. Weather-proof, tiny, ergonomically great with easy to use buttons.I bought this because I wanted to minimize the risk to my family when we were in the backcountry. Of note, when out on trail with this recently, we had the opportunity to guide to safety two separate parties who were lost in failing light and worsening conditions. One was relying on just a paper map; the other on AllTrails, but had forgotten to download the proper map and was running low on phone battery.Of note, this is not ideal as a primary navigation device given small screen and interface. We used Gaia to create courses on a desktop computer, then used Garmin tools to put these on the inreach well before trip. On trail, this device pairs well with a paper map or GaiaGPS/AllTrails on a phone. The inreach alarms when you are off course, reasonably accurate. Also updates online map with your position so others can track your progress.We checked in with family at home twice daily, worked great.Only negative is that typing texts is like a throwback to candy bar style cell phones, slow and torturous. You can connect it to your cell phone with BT and use the Garmin Messenger app on the phone to type quickly. Keeping BT on on the inreach mini drains the battery, so need to be conscientious about turning it off after messaging.Finally, this is overall not a cheap option. Device seems fairly priced for what it is, but service plans are expensive. For me, added safety and great design were worth it.
The general consensus that the InReach Mini 2 is the best of this type of satellite-based communicators is well-earned based on my personal experience with 2 such devises and two separate trips into the great outdoors in Southern and Central California. They do what they are advertized to do, and do so with the reliability that is key. However ,I will say that two improvements on the software/account dashboard end would be welcome and perhaps one future hardware change.Software/ Account management:1. The message inbox and the contact management is clunky and sometimes frustrating. For example, if I type in the devise specific email address of another Mini 2 that I'm trying to communicate with, that should be kept in a recent recipients list so that even if I ... MoreThe general consensus that the InReach Mini 2 is the best of this type of satellite-based communicators is well-earned based on my personal experience with 2 such devises and two separate trips into the great outdoors in Southern and Central California. They do what they are advertized to do, and do so with the reliability that is key. However ,I will say that two improvements on the software/account dashboard end would be welcome and perhaps one future hardware change.Software/ Account management:1. The message inbox and the contact management is clunky and sometimes frustrating. For example, if I type in the devise specific email address of another Mini 2 that I'm trying to communicate with, that should be kept in a recent recipients list so that even if I don't save that address in my contacts using the phone-based messenger app, it should still be accessible. Given how difficult it is to type an address of even medium length, this would be a conveniet feature to have2. There should be a way for multiple Mini 2s to be accessible, manageable, and visible via the explore.garmin.com/map site without having to enroll in and pay for what Garmin is marketing as a "team" account. I have 3 Mini 2s so that each of my sons and I can have and use one when exploring remote locations or serious camping, but I have to log-in to separate accounts to manage each device. While I am totally fine with paying for 3 subscriptions (1 per device) why can't I manage them under one master log-in account and why can't I view their locations all together in one map? I can understand if an organization had 5 or more of these that Garmin would want to upsell them on a different tier of corporate or commercial plans, but 2-4 devices is something that is not unusual for a typical family of campers or hikers.Hardware:The only thing that would get me to upgrade to another Mini 2 would be a slightly larger screen. Don't want color or even better resolution and wouldn't want the hit to battery life that would come with it...but even a small increase say, going to 25mmX25mm or 1.1" X 1.1" (from the current 0.9" X 0.9") would allow for a larger font. If you are blessed with good vision or are under the age of 50---this may not mean much, but trust me that as a 51 yr old, I am just at the borderline of needing reading glasses to view the text on the screen. In a wilderness situation where glasses could be easily lost or damaged, the ability to read the screen with unaided eyes would be super-important.Overall, however, these are minor complaints for what is an excellent device and my revent experiences were excellent.
Bought the Mini2 to replace my inReach Explorer SE+ for an upcoming international trip that has weight restrictions on our flight to our jumping off point. After a few weeks of using, I notice the following compared to the Explorer SE+. My Explorer SE+ was able to settle on my location near tree cover better than the Mini2. Even under a clear sky on a summit, I've received the 'low gps strength' message on the Mini2. To send a check-in message with the Explorer SE+, I simply pressed send and if the device hadn't locked on to a location, it would automatically wait and send it when a location was locked in. With the Mini2, after pressing 'Send', the user is presented with a screen (on which one has to scroll to see the full message) advising that their is poor ... MoreBought the Mini2 to replace my inReach Explorer SE+ for an upcoming international trip that has weight restrictions on our flight to our jumping off point. After a few weeks of using, I notice the following compared to the Explorer SE+. My Explorer SE+ was able to settle on my location near tree cover better than the Mini2. Even under a clear sky on a summit, I've received the 'low gps strength' message on the Mini2. To send a check-in message with the Explorer SE+, I simply pressed send and if the device hadn't locked on to a location, it would automatically wait and send it when a location was locked in. With the Mini2, after pressing 'Send', the user is presented with a screen (on which one has to scroll to see the full message) advising that their is poor satellite strength. The user can opt to Wait or Send Anyway. The latter option sent the message, but not the location (as expected). This functionality means, that the user has to scroll thru more screens and click more buttons to send a message. If you don't select one of the 2 options (or think you pressed 'ok' for one of the options, but didn't press hard enough), the message never sends (in my experience).I combed through much of the online support materials, but still had to contact Garmin for a couple questions. In each case, my question was fully answered, and in only 1 instance did it take more than 2 business days to answer.One of the things that confused me has having to manage 2 phone apps: Messenger and Explore. The supporting documents for Explore provided instructions for sending messages using the Explore app, but when both apps are installed, when sending a message in Explore, it opens the Messenger app by default and that's from where one can send a message. That makes perfect sense, I just wish the supporting documentation for the Explore app mentioned it. I do like having the ability to update my recipient list for check-ins, check # of messages sent/month, and sync changes with the device by using the Explore app. Hopefully, the Explore and Messenger apps can be combined in the future for more seamless usability.I like the small size and weight of the device, and these will come in handy on my trek. Despite the extra clicks to do the same thing (with the Mini2 vs Explorer SE+), the Mini2 is a great device and I recommend it.
This is my new “must carry” device! Hang on to the end of this review, I have a suggestion for Garmin. This thing works perfectly - I love the way check in messages are supplied with a map of your current loc - brilliant! Battery life is excellent as is signal acquisition. I own an iPhone 14 with satellite SOS but wanted the InReach as a “rugged” backip and to send “non-emergency” texts which the iPhone can’t in satellite mode. In fact I like it so much I told an older friend who has had heart trouble about it. He lives on a farm without cell service and the InTeach can get him help in an emergency he otherwise had no access to! SO! Here is my suggestion for Garmin (and 1st time users). I read all of the reviews and most if not all of the low ratings (undeserved) ... MoreThis is my new “must carry” device! Hang on to the end of this review, I have a suggestion for Garmin. This thing works perfectly - I love the way check in messages are supplied with a map of your current loc - brilliant! Battery life is excellent as is signal acquisition. I own an iPhone 14 with satellite SOS but wanted the InReach as a “rugged” backip and to send “non-emergency” texts which the iPhone can’t in satellite mode. In fact I like it so much I told an older friend who has had heart trouble about it. He lives on a farm without cell service and the InTeach can get him help in an emergency he otherwise had no access to! SO! Here is my suggestion for Garmin (and 1st time users). I read all of the reviews and most if not all of the low ratings (undeserved) had to do with problems initializing the device. To avoid problems START, STEP 1.0 is GO TO EXPLORE.GARMIN.COM and SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT FIRST!!! You only need to turn the device on to obtain the IMEI and device codes for registration - do EVERYTHING ELSE on your smartphone or PC. After you set up your account, (should take less than 5 minutes) turn on the InReach, walk outside and wait for it to activate. Again should take just a few minutes! It is my opinion that if Garmin emphasized this sequence (rather than simply stating “you need an active account to use the device”) there would be less confusion and more user satisfaction. Thank you Garmin for an amazingly compact layer of security!!
I'm a long-time inReach user. I recently upgraded to the Mini2 from the original Mini. For some reason, the original Mini had a poor GPS receiver which would take forever to figure out its position, and would easily lose its location under any kind of tree cover. Given that Garmin has long been a leader in GPS, this was an inexplicable flaw. Happily, this is fixed in the Mini2, which works as a modern GPS receiver should- it finds its position quickly, even under obstructions. This is important because even if you don't use the inReach as a navigation device, it'll tag messages with your location, which would be really nice in an emergency.I use the inReach for two purposes: to keep in touch with family and friends when I'm in the backcountry, and for the SOS ... MoreI'm a long-time inReach user. I recently upgraded to the Mini2 from the original Mini. For some reason, the original Mini had a poor GPS receiver which would take forever to figure out its position, and would easily lose its location under any kind of tree cover. Given that Garmin has long been a leader in GPS, this was an inexplicable flaw. Happily, this is fixed in the Mini2, which works as a modern GPS receiver should- it finds its position quickly, even under obstructions. This is important because even if you don't use the inReach as a navigation device, it'll tag messages with your location, which would be really nice in an emergency.I use the inReach for two purposes: to keep in touch with family and friends when I'm in the backcountry, and for the SOS feature. It is infinitely more flexible than a personal locator beacon because of the ability to communicate detailed messages. There are plenty of scenarios where you might have a problem and need to get help, but it's not at the level of "OMG emergency I need a Blackhawk helicopter now!" This is what the inReach does well that a PLB can't do.I've never had to use the SOS feature, just as I've never had to use the seatbelts in my car. I'm glad they're there.On all three inReach models I've used, the satellite messaging has worked reliably. Messages are sent and received quickly– typically within a minute. However, the process is more fiddly than just sending text messages through your phone.Looking through reviews, I see a lot of complaints about the cost of Garmin's service plans. I don't get it. I use the "safety" plan with annual contract. There's an annual $35 fee. On top of the annual fee, I pay $12.86/month (including taxes) when the service is active. You can activate and deactivate service at any time through Garmin's web site, and I've never had problems doing that. I no longer bother, because the monthly fee is low enough that I just don't want to take the chance of finding myself in a remote area and I've forgotten to activate service. If I need additional messages (10/month included in this plan), I just pay a-la-carte. To me, the cost seems completely reasonable given the inReach's global coverage, which is downright miraculous. I know people who spend $60k on a new 4x4 truck so they can travel into the remotest areas but they flinch at the $13/month service plan which allows them to summon help, FROM ANYWHERE, if they need it.
I took my new inreach mini 2 for a trial run in the Laurel Highlands of PA and was initially disappointed. I'm glad I did this before taking it out backpacking alone in a secluded area where I depended on it. On my trial run I was very disappointed with its lack of ability to find and send my location and messages. The tree canopy on these small mountains does not give a clear view of the sky anywhere, and the garmin was essentially useless. What I learned from this is that apparently the test function should be used at the start point of the excursion, not at home before leaving. I assume this was my problem because after testing with open sky at the campground it worked flawlessly, even in forest.For my first solo wilderness with the inreach I stood in the road ... MoreI took my new inreach mini 2 for a trial run in the Laurel Highlands of PA and was initially disappointed. I'm glad I did this before taking it out backpacking alone in a secluded area where I depended on it. On my trial run I was very disappointed with its lack of ability to find and send my location and messages. The tree canopy on these small mountains does not give a clear view of the sky anywhere, and the garmin was essentially useless. What I learned from this is that apparently the test function should be used at the start point of the excursion, not at home before leaving. I assume this was my problem because after testing with open sky at the campground it worked flawlessly, even in forest.For my first solo wilderness with the inreach I stood in the road at the entry point before heading into the forest and hit the test button. It took a few minutes to signal a successful test. But after this it was quite impressive. I was able to navigate the trailless forest using the inreach mini 2, and sent my location and messages home flawlessly. I was very impressed. Hopefully I will never use the SOS button, but I now feel confident that it is really there if needed. I am very happy with the size, light weight, and ability to function in the forest (at least after initial synch with open sky).
I bought the Mini 2 to replace my Mini, which is absolutely essential equipment on any outing, including road trips.The Mini 2 has a better interface (on its tiny screen) but it is disappointing how confusing it remains. Main complaints are:--Apparently Bluetooth is active all the time? I could not find a setting to turn Bluetooth on or off. I believe the new Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) mode means it uses almost no power, so it's not a problem. But Garmin needs to make it clear that Bluetooth is always on. Or explain where to turn it off. (Hint: when you choose "Device" in Messenger, if you don't see "Presets" and "Tracking" and "Message Check"--your Bluetooth on your phone is not turned on.)--"Unread messages" is frustrating. There is no way to DELETE ALL ... MoreI bought the Mini 2 to replace my Mini, which is absolutely essential equipment on any outing, including road trips.The Mini 2 has a better interface (on its tiny screen) but it is disappointing how confusing it remains. Main complaints are:--Apparently Bluetooth is active all the time? I could not find a setting to turn Bluetooth on or off. I believe the new Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) mode means it uses almost no power, so it's not a problem. But Garmin needs to make it clear that Bluetooth is always on. Or explain where to turn it off. (Hint: when you choose "Device" in Messenger, if you don't see "Presets" and "Tracking" and "Message Check"--your Bluetooth on your phone is not turned on.)--"Unread messages" is frustrating. There is no way to DELETE ALL MESSAGES on the Mini 2. Instead, it requires 9 steps to delete a single message! Really? And that's even though all messages have been deleted in Messenger (which DOES have the option to delete all selected messages). Why doesn't the Mini 2 delete all messages as soon as they are deleted in Messenger?--The multiple satellite networks sounds good, but I haven't really noticed any better connectivity while hiking in Utah canyons, although sometimes yes, it does manage to send a message very quickly. It may be a feature you don't realize you have because you may have connectivity in places that just one satellite would not reach.--Pecking out a message manually on the Mini 2 is improved somewhat but it is still an excruciating exercise in near futility, only to be used in dire circumstances, such as when I got a new phone and discovered--in the wilderness--that the Bluetooth could not connect. I had to completely reset the Mini 2, a detail I didn't know until I got home and googled it. My sisters could not understand the gobbledygook message I sent them. :( (Lesson: don't send gobbledygook. Take the time to go back and spell words correctly, no matter how painstaking!)
After watching a few hours of confusing tutorials that scroll through the option so fast and use so many technical labels that it is hard enough to watch them, let alone keep up by trying the same functions on your own device, I gave-up. This thing is marginally helpful if you go from point A to point B and can't find your way back to B, but otherwise the functions and user interface are obscure and counter-intuitive. The subscriptions required to make use of any of the tracking, SOS and messaging functions are ridiculously expensive. The smart phone Apps that are supposed to enhance the user's experience are likewise confusing and require even more subscriptions to obtain maps that are at all useful. I don't get how or why smartphone manufacturers and Google Maps, ... MoreAfter watching a few hours of confusing tutorials that scroll through the option so fast and use so many technical labels that it is hard enough to watch them, let alone keep up by trying the same functions on your own device, I gave-up. This thing is marginally helpful if you go from point A to point B and can't find your way back to B, but otherwise the functions and user interface are obscure and counter-intuitive. The subscriptions required to make use of any of the tracking, SOS and messaging functions are ridiculously expensive. The smart phone Apps that are supposed to enhance the user's experience are likewise confusing and require even more subscriptions to obtain maps that are at all useful. I don't get how or why smartphone manufacturers and Google Maps, etc. can make GPS/mapping programs that are so easy to use and even talk the user through the navigation steps, but Garmin can't make a GPS that is user-friendly and doesn't require expensive subscriptions and supplemental Apps to be even marginally useful to the average user? I have tried this GPS model, a Garmin watch, and the larger (supposedly advanced) GPSMAP 67i, and returned them all in utter frustration. I have never gotten lost using a map and compass for land navigation, so I am not a complete dummy, but I have concluded that apparently I am not smart enough to use Garmin GPS's for much of anything besides an expensive paperweight. Oh, yeah - it cost me $138 just to cancel the lousy subscriptions that I never used to any benefit at all.
I picked this up during the winter and didn't get to use it much as it was bitterly cold. I had poor battery life but attributed it to its connecting to my phone. I set it aside after playing around with one month of the Freedom plan. I found the battery dead a few months later. I charged it and within a week, the battery was dead.I started talking to support and trying several things as it had poor battery life to begin with, though somehow support focused on the unit's performance being on. I did find out from support and various online sources that the remote control setting should be turned off to get better life even when the unit is off. After about 5 months of support interaction (I had to wait a week in between contacts to test the battery) and it being ... MoreI picked this up during the winter and didn't get to use it much as it was bitterly cold. I had poor battery life but attributed it to its connecting to my phone. I set it aside after playing around with one month of the Freedom plan. I found the battery dead a few months later. I charged it and within a week, the battery was dead.I started talking to support and trying several things as it had poor battery life to begin with, though somehow support focused on the unit's performance being on. I did find out from support and various online sources that the remote control setting should be turned off to get better life even when the unit is off. After about 5 months of support interaction (I had to wait a week in between contacts to test the battery) and it being left behind on an international trip I finally got it through to support that the battery was dead in a week of being powered off. They sent me a replacement unit. The battery is great on this unit.After a couple of weeks of playing with it I get an email stating that my freedom plan would be discontinued and you must now pay monthly no matter what. That was very upsetting because tge onlyy reason I paused the service is because of a broken battery.The unit works fine without it, all though it's a little slower with glonass and you constantly have to scroll through the activation alert page every start up. I picked it up primarily for hunting as my larger unit weighs more and I'm on more of a tighter weight budget. The pay as needed freedom plan for when I'm out of cell phone range pushed me to bullyuy it over one of the smart watches which basically track the same way.With the end of the plan I chose , I may have just used a watch. Perhaps you may want to as well especially iphone users with their satellite service.I had to cancel quite a few trips where this unit would have been handy this summer especially when I was meeting people in other countries and I will think twice about my next units having no replaceable batteries.
| Battery | Rechargeable interne lithium-ionbatterij |
| Interface | Usb-c |
| Water resistance | Ipx7 |
| Dimensions | 5,17 x 9,90 x 2,61 cm |
