In stand alone 2 way satellite communicator market there are 2 primary stand alone units.
The SPOT X and the Garmin InReach Mini.
Garmin makes a couple other larger portable units, those use the same service plans as the InReach Mini and generally have similar features. There are some other brands of satellite communicators that are found in the consumer market, the BivyStick and the Zoleo are becoming common, neither are stand alone communicators and both require their units to be paired with a Smartphone. I'm going to solely concentrate on the 2 stand alone units in this comparison.
If you need OPEN WATER coverage you want the Garmin units. If you need the polar regions, you want the Garmin units. If you need central Russia, parts of Asia or Africa, then you need the Garmin. SPOT simply does not do those regions so you can stop reading at this point if those are your concerns.
NONE of these units allow you to make a call through a satellite.
Part 1: COVERAGE MAPS
SPOT X:
SPOT X uses the 24 satellite Globalstar private network of satellites. Globalstar covers MOST the landmass of earth but not all of it and it lacks coverage over oceans. In some areas (orange) there may only be 1 way communication.
GARMIN InReach Mini:
The InReach Mini from Garmin uses the 66 satellite Iridium Satellite network that covers 100% of the earth.
Any device that uses the Iridium Satellites will offer similar full global coverage, but may have different features and will have different price plans.
The SPOT X and the Garmin InReach Mini.
Garmin makes a couple other larger portable units, those use the same service plans as the InReach Mini and generally have similar features. There are some other brands of satellite communicators that are found in the consumer market, the BivyStick and the Zoleo are becoming common, neither are stand alone communicators and both require their units to be paired with a Smartphone. I'm going to solely concentrate on the 2 stand alone units in this comparison.
If you need OPEN WATER coverage you want the Garmin units. If you need the polar regions, you want the Garmin units. If you need central Russia, parts of Asia or Africa, then you need the Garmin. SPOT simply does not do those regions so you can stop reading at this point if those are your concerns.
NONE of these units allow you to make a call through a satellite.
Part 1: COVERAGE MAPS
SPOT X:
SPOT X uses the 24 satellite Globalstar private network of satellites. Globalstar covers MOST the landmass of earth but not all of it and it lacks coverage over oceans. In some areas (orange) there may only be 1 way communication.
GARMIN InReach Mini:
The InReach Mini from Garmin uses the 66 satellite Iridium Satellite network that covers 100% of the earth.
Any device that uses the Iridium Satellites will offer similar full global coverage, but may have different features and will have different price plans.