iPhone compared to inreach?

[Blackbird]

Using the satellite texting on I phone seemed to drain my battery on my phone rapidly. I’ll be keeping my in reach around.

 

[wyosam]

For me they are similar but different uses. The iPhone messaging means I can keep a lower priced plan with less messages on my Inreach, since I can send general messages and check ins from my phone. iPhone isn’t ready to replace my Inreach yet. Beyond the lack of panic button/requiring active tracking of satellite, the phone is pretty much useless in those places where there is an intermittent cell signal that isn’t enough to actually use, but keeps the satellite option from being available. That’s a common problem in many of the areas I spend time.


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[BryanL]

I just got back from a trip to Alaska. Never had a Sat communicator. Now that I used one it was the first thing I prioritized. Not only did it work better and faster, the garmin app interface allowed essentially normal texting. I hunt a lot with my kiddo, and I want a true emergency option for him. iphone satellite has worked ok for basic stuff but took some time to connect and drained the battery.

 

[Meshnasty]

I finally got a chance to to compare the two as well and I'm keeping the inreach. I can't stand sitting around waiting for signal or spinning in a circle to find a satellite. Plus I like to text my wife and friends while I'm out hunting.

I will say this year, almost daily, my inreach would bog down for a bit and not send messages for 10-20 mins even in clear/open conditions this. It has typically been fairly quick to send. It appeared to be when I was messaging multiple people at a time so it could have been induced by my actions. I don't think my old inreach ever did that though.

That said outside of hunting season I had been turning my inreach off but they just changed their plans again so I need to see what is cheaper.

 

[Jdeck09]

Id never get rid of my inreach mini or tell a hunting partner too. I think its great to have just in case. That said, in NM their iphones did a way better job of texting and replying more quickly than my inreach. My Google Pixel's satellite function was awful.

 

[go4thegusto]

Spent 2 weeks in the Bighorns chasing elk. Tried my iphone 16 many times. Never did get a message to go through. What a joke. One of the premier companies in the world and they put out this POS feature. Luckily we could get on a high spire every few days and get cell service to check in at home.

 

[Norcal18]

Anyone utilized the T Mobile Satellite service yet in the backwoods to prove its claims? It seems intriguing but hesitant to trust.

I have T-Mobile and prior to a few weeks ago i would have highly recommended, but now im a little hesitant. T-Mobile doesn’t have great rural service where i live and the starlink messaging has worked great in those areas without service. Left for four days to go hunting and it finally started working half way through the third day. I was pretty annoyed. I got enough service on one ridge to message my wife and contact T-Mobile. There response was that the iPhone 13(which I have) and 14 satellite capabilities aren’t as good as the 15+ , sorry about your luck. Like I said it did end up working, but just something to think about if you haven’t older model.

 

[Jayhawkhunter]

I have an iPhone 15 - wouldn’t use the satellite as it takes to long but had T-Mobile Starlink in Idaho this year and it was great - cost me 10/month and you can turn it off and on - I was pretty happy with the experience

 

[eidsvolling]

My DELORME (you read that right) inReach Explorer is going strong at age 10. I’ve never had an issue in the cold, and I use it on my chest pack in a part of MN where people don’t comment on the cold until it goes to -30° F.

My iPhones through several generations have started weeping and then shut down at temperatures where I would be embarrassed to be seen wearing a parka.

 

[glock233]

Most of the Inreach messaging features are quickly becoming obsolete. Especially if you have T-Mobile and add full satellite texting, which is phenomenal.

What’s missing with the cell phone based things, however, is ruggedness and tracking. The Garmin adds a layer of waterproofing, durability, tracking, and tied-in emergency services that cell phones have not achieved (and may not achieve).

Bottom line is Garmin is perhaps still worth it for redundancy and durability if you’re spending a lot of time in areas where you may need rescue. Just get the cheap emergency plan.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I’ve used the iPhone satellite messaging a little bit more this winter. It seems like it’s improving in terms of speed and reliability.

All that said, I keep taking my InReach and will for the foreseeable future.

 

[homers]

Inreach when your life depends on it. iPhone satellite or t-mobile satellite for casual texting. T-mobile satellite coverage is improving and more apps are able to use it beside texting. No t-mobile satellite outside US.

 

[Huntforthesoul]

For those that have an inreach, how does the new iPhone update compare to an inreach? Is it similar? Are inreaches becoming pointless?

It’s a nice, free option.

That being said, even though I use the iPhone predominantly I still carry the inreach. That one will always work. Push the button, and eventually it will get a signal. I can’t say the same for the iPhone.

 

[Kodiak06]

For those that have an inreach, how does the new iPhone update compare to an inreach? Is it similar? Are inreaches becoming pointless?

I'd look at battery life personally

 

[ProRoad]

I'm getting an in-reach. I just go to too many deep canyons, by myself, to continue taking the i-phone chance. I like that panic button and hope I never use it.

 

[TintedSnow]

I've tried my iPhone all over Alaska. From Prudhoe Bay to the Denali Highway down to Homer, AK. It sucks. I will never, ever, leave home without my InReach. I have it mounted right on the handlebars of my Argo so its always with "in Reach". Ha. The iPhone works maybe a couple times here and there, but so time consuming and just not worth your life. Garmin is king here. This year, I bought myself Starlink Mini and am currently mounting it on top of my Argo. If you're in a position to bring starlink, it could definitely be a game changer for the same price or less than an Inreach. I got mine on sale at Home Depot around Xmas for like $250. Then $50/month for 100gb or whatever it is now.

 

[wyosam]

I’ve found iPhone satellite to be useful at times, but nowhere near useful enough to replace Inreach. Lots of places I find myself in have an intermittent bar or two of service, that won’t actually get a text message out, but block the satellite feature from being available. Also requires too much effing around for true emergency use in my opinion. Too many situations where a button push is feasible, but waving a phone around looking for a signal is not.


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[mtnbound]

Until there is some type of tracking capability in a phone like my InReach, I will never give it up. That being said I have started using T-Satellite by T-Mobile and the texting capabilities is impressive. It has been significantly faster than my InReach.

 

[MtnBeaver]

I use my phone for messaging but you need to keep a connection by pointing phone certain directions sometimes won’t connect in dark timber . Inreach is always “searching” for satellites. Sometimes it is slower than using phone but I trust my life with an inreach


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[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I'd look at battery life personally

Yeah that is one thing to note, I used my iphone for some casual texting during this last hunting season and it used a lot more battery doing so than having my inreach on in my pack. As everyone has echoed inreach is still the king for when you need connection and durability/reliablity compared to iphone. But I just keep the basic plan on my inreach for when needed and am free to text more with my satellite iphone casually for free when its working and I can work around its quirks, ie getting/maintaining/reconnecting a signal.