ZOLEO  Satellite Communicator

This is a good device and excellent first iteration. The device itself seems tough, lasts just over a week, and recharges in a couple hours. A bit of a bummer that its USB-B aka micro USB when everything is switching to USB-C. The app works very well and the seamless messaging between satellite and cell data (when available) is a nice feature for long trips since you can tell everyone to simply text your Zoleo number without worry of missed messages as you go in and out of coverage. Satellite messaging reliability has been good which is to be expected since its the exact same network Garmin uses. Ultimately though this device has some cons that made me keep my Inreach Mini. The main ones are that the device has no screen/UI built in and requires a phone to function as a 2-way communicator. If your phone battery dies or you lose/break your phone then the Zoleo becomes a 1 way communicator with SOS/Check-In only but you have no idea whats being sent back. This isnt great particularly with the SOS function which contacts IERCC which is a routing center so no phone means you cannot tell them the nature of your emergency. With an Inreach Mini you can use the device with or without your phone. Without a phone the UI is basic and composing messages is slow but it can be done so its a redundancy which is a big selling point in a safety device like this. My other gripe is with the plans. They are more expensive than Garmin for any type of plan, particularly compared to Garmin's annual plans (Zoleo has no reduced plan pricing for a yearly subscription). There is also an upcharge/add-on to add unlimited track markers and, more importantly, make the simple "I'm Okay" check-in message unlimited where all Garmin plans include the unlimited use of 3 customizable check-ins. I find the latter much more valuable since you can compose your own check-ins like "I'm safe, running late" or "Setting up camp, all is well". Ultimately the Zoleo really is only better than Garmin if you want to text a lot then you get something like their mid-tier plan (250 messages per month) and do app to app communication (massive 950 character limit instead of 160). If you're simply shopping for an emergency beacon and a device to send simple one or two sentence updates to family/friends then the Zoleo plans are quite a bit worse in terms of value compared to Garmin. In addition to the upcharge for unlimited check-ins, Zoleo has a higher minimum plan charge, requires 3 consecutive months of service at initial activation, and has a small maintenance fee to hibernate the account which you want to pay otherwise you pay the activation and 3 consecutive months of service penalty all over again. Point being dont just compare the up front costs of the devices because if you factor in the costs of the plans over the projected months/years you plan on using it that cost savings may go right out the window. In the end I do like the device but the requirement of a phone to really function as intended and higher subscription costs are a put-off. It would be nice to have a higher end device option with the ability to directly compose messages. In the short term, and at a minimum, I'd really like to see them adopt similar unlimited customizable check-ins and add those into the plan costs without the hefty upcharge and also roll out a more cost competitive plan structure. As it stands I could really only recommend a Zoleo to people who want to send long detailed updates or have lengthy conversations which is the only area it truly excels. I'm sure some people will find value in that, particularly solo hikers on a long thru or trip abroad, but for shorter trips or day trips the Zoleo isnt doing enough better to warrant its extra service costs.

This is a good device and excellent first iteration. The device itself seems tough, lasts just over a week, and recharges in a couple hours. A bit of a bummer that its USB-B aka micro USB when everything is switching to USB-C. The app works very well and the seamless messaging between satellite and cell data (when available) is a nice feature for long trips since you can tell everyone to simply text your Zoleo number without worry of missed messages as you go in and out of coverage. Satellite messaging reliability has been good which is to be expected since its the exact same network Garmin uses. Ultimately though this device has some cons that made me keep my Inreach Mini. The main ones are that the device has no screen/UI built in and requires a phone to function as a 2-way communicator. If your phone battery dies or you lose/break your phone then the Zoleo becomes a 1 way communicator with SOS/Check-In only but you have no idea whats being sent back. This isnt great particularly with the SOS function which contacts IERCC which is a routing center so no phone means you cannot tell them the nature of your emergency. With an Inreach Mini you can use the device with or without your phone. Without a phone the UI is basic and composing messages is slow but it can be done so its a redundancy which is a big selling point in a safety device like this. My other gripe is with the plans. They are more expensive than Garmin for any type of plan, particularly compared to Garmin's annual plans (Zoleo has no reduced plan pricing for a yearly subscription). There is also an upcharge/add-on to add unlimited track markers and, more importantly, make the simple "I'm Okay" check-in message unlimited where all Garmin plans include the unlimited use of 3 customizable check-ins. I find the latter much more valuable since you can compose your own check-ins like "I'm safe, running late" or "Setting up camp, all is well". Ultimately the Zoleo really is only better than Garmin if you want to text a lot then you get something like their mid-tier plan (250 messages per month) and do app to app communication (massive 950 character limit instead of 160). If you're simply shopping for an emergency beacon and a device to send simple one or two sentence updates to family/friends then the Zoleo plans are quite a bit worse in terms of value compared to Garmin. In addition to the upcharge for unlimited check-ins, Zoleo has a higher minimum plan charge, requires 3 consecutive months of service at initial activation, and has a small maintenance fee to hibernate the account which you want to pay otherwise you pay the activation and 3 consecutive months of service penalty all over again. Point being dont just compare the up front costs of the devices because if you factor in the costs of the plans over the projected months/years you plan on using it that cost savings may go right out the window. In the end I do like the device but the requirement of a phone to really function as intended and higher subscription costs are a put-off. It would be nice to have a higher end device option with the ability to directly compose messages. In the short term, and at a minimum, I'd really like to see them adopt similar unlimited customizable check-ins and add those into the plan costs without the hefty upcharge and also roll out a more cost competitive plan structure. As it stands I could really only recommend a Zoleo to people who want to send long detailed updates or have lengthy conversations which is the only area it truly excels. I'm sure some people will find value in that, particularly solo hikers on a long thru or trip abroad, but for shorter trips or day trips the Zoleo isnt doing enough better to warrant its extra service costs.