In-depth Analysis of Garmin's inReach Messenger Plus Device
The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus, a significant update to the original inReach Messenger, is making waves in the world of satellite communication. This device offers enhanced messaging capabilities, improved battery life, and a more robust design, making it a worthwhile upgrade for serious backcountry travellers and professionals.
Enhanced Messaging Capabilities
The Messenger Plus supports two-way voice messages and text via Iridium satellites with nearly global coverage. It also offers new multimedia capabilities such as sending photos and 30-second voice clips through satellite messaging. These features improve communication clarity and priority, particularly in emergencies or group coordination in remote areas.
Battery Life and Reverse Charging
The Messenger Plus boasts exceptional battery longevity—up to 25-28 days of use with 10-minute tracking, roughly double the original models. It also features a "reverse charging" function, acting as a small power bank to top up your phone's battery in emergencies, although it does not fully charge the phone.
Compact and Rugged Design
The device maintains a lightweight (about 4 oz) and compact waterproof form factor, suitable for extended backcountry and ultralight backpacking usage.
Integration & Connectivity
The Messenger Plus can automatically switch between Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite connections to optimize messaging costs and efficiency. It also pairs with Garmin watches and handheld devices for remote communication and SOS activation.
Trade-offs
Despite these improvements, the Messenger Plus comes with higher subscription costs than the original Messenger, as continuous satellite coverage and multimedia messaging require more data. The device also lacks a dedicated phone number, which might be a minor issue for some users but could matter in certain communication scenarios. Messaging input may still be slow on the device itself, and navigation features are basic compared to fully integrated GPS units or phone apps with offline maps.
Is the Messenger Plus Worth the Upgrade?
Considering these factors, the Messenger Plus is a smart long-term investment for serious backcountry travelers, professionals, or those who want enhanced communication and safety features, especially for extended trips where battery life and multimedia messaging make a tangible difference. If your priority is basic messaging with minimal subscription costs or if you mainly do short trips with cellular coverage, the original Messenger or alternatives like the inReach Mini 2 or phone satellite messaging might suffice.
In summary, the Garmin inReach Messenger Plus improves substantially on the original, making it worth the upgrade if you value the new multimedia messaging, superior battery life, and enhanced safety integration despite higher operating costs.
Additional Features
- The Messenger Plus has two battery modes: Performance mode and Low power mode.
- The device switches from Iridium's older Short Burst Data (SBD) to Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT).
- The Messenger Plus is more expensive than the original Messenger, with a price of $499 compared to $299.
- The Messenger Plus has a higher subscription rate for image and voice messages compared to the original Messenger.
- The Messenger Plus allows for sending voice notes and images via satellite when paired with a phone.
- In open skies using Low power mode, battery percentage didn't change over a 5-hour hike with 10-minute location tracking.
- Photo messages sometimes took 10 minutes or longer to send, especially in dense forest.
- Overages for image and voice messages run $1 USD per item.
- The Messenger Plus is compatible with the Garmin Explore app for navigation features.
- The Messenger Plus now allows for sending 1600-character messages in full when sent to a phone or another Plus, but breaks into 160-character chunks when sent to a traditional inReach like a Mini 2 or GPSMAP 67i.
- The Messenger Plus was about 20-30% faster in general during testing, but not dramatically so.
- The Messenger Plus has a 1600-character message limit, an increase from the 160-character limit on older Garmin inReach devices.
- The Messenger Plus, an upgrade to the original device, offers new multimedia capabilities, such as sending photos and 30-second voice clips through satellite messaging, enhancing communication in remote areas.
- The Messenger Plus features a "reverse charging" function, which allows it to act as a small power bank to top up your smartphone's battery in emergencies, albeit not fully charging the phone.
- The device is compact and rugged, designed for extended backcountry and ultralight backpacking usage, maintaining a lightweight, waterproof form factor.
- The Messenger Plus pairs with Garmin watches and handheld devices for remote communication and SOS activation, and it can automatically switch between Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite connections to optimize messaging costs and efficiency.
- Although the Messenger Plus comes with higher subscription costs due to continuous satellite coverage and multimedia messaging requiring more data, it is a worthwhile investment for serious backcountry travelers and professionals seeking enhanced communication and safety features, especially for extended trips where battery life and multimedia messaging make a tangible difference.
