GARMIN inReach Mini 3 Compact Touchscreen SOS Satellite Communicator and GPS Locator

Yes. inReach models sold in Taiwan are NCC certified and use the Iridium satellite network, which has global coverage, including Taiwan's high mountains, the sea and remote areas.

Yes. The inReach Mini 3 sends and receives text messages, shares your location and sends SOS directly over satellite, with no cell signal needed. When paired with the Garmin Messenger app on your phone, it switches automatically between Wi-Fi, mobile network and satellite.

The on-screen keyboard on the device supports English only. To enter Chinese, first install the Garmin Messenger app on your phone, connect it to the inReach over Bluetooth, and type and send your message in the app.

People who receive your message by email can reply by clicking the link in the email; people who receive it as a mobile text message cannot reply directly. We recommend setting your frequent contacts, such as family or your trip contact, to receive by email.

In 10-minute interval tracking mode, up to 350 hours, charged by USB-C. In places with poor reception such as forests and canyons, the device keeps resending signals and uses more power, so carry a power bank on multi-day trips.

Yes. You need to activate a Garmin satellite service plan, with a one-time activation fee of TWD 1,310. Individual plans currently come in four tiers, billed monthly and automatically renewed. Monthly fees are as announced on Garmin Taiwan's official website.

Yes. A plan can be paused for up to 12 consecutive months. No fees are charged while it is paused, and no activation fee is due when you resume; if you cancel the plan and reactivate it later, you pay the activation fee again. Pause terms follow the announcement on Garmin Taiwan's plan page.

The Mini 3 has a color touchscreen, weighs 122.2 g, and lasts up to 350 hours in 10-minute tracking mode; the Mini 2 uses buttons, weighs about 100 g, and lasts up to about 14 days with 10-minute tracking, standard activity logging and a completely clear sky, and up to about 4 days under partial tree cover (default); both are manufacturer's specifications. Core features, including SOS, satellite messaging, location sharing and tracking, are the same on both.

If you hike only a few times a year, renting first makes sense: Mabu Valley offers inReach rentals (https://mabuvalley.com/en/products/garmin-inreach-rental), and the current rental model is the Garmin inReach Mini 2. Thanks to the National Fire Agency (Ministry of the Interior) subsidy, the rent is currently NT$50 per day (regular price NT$100), with a minimum of 3 days. If you hike often, do long multi-day traverses or need it for work, buying one is more convenient.

After the Garmin Response 24-hour emergency coordination center receives your SOS, it confirms your situation with you by satellite message and notifies Taiwan rescue units and the emergency contacts you set. Before you set out, set up your emergency contacts in your Garmin account and give your hiking plan to your trip contact.

Its water rating is IP67; Garmin states it meets MIL-STD-810 (thermal, shock, water), for the bare unit only.

The standard accessories are the inReach Mini 3 device, a USB cable and documentation. Satellite messaging and SOS need an active Garmin satellite service plan.