Garmin Mini 3 Specs
– Max. resolution: 1920×1080 @ 30fps
– Released: 2024
– Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – eBay US / AU – more countries & vendors (ad)
– High Dynamic Range (HDR)
– Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz)
– Size: 52mm x 32mm x 20mm (2.05″ x 1.24″ x .8″)
– Weight: 30g (1.06oz)
– Angle of view: 140° diagonal
– Video format: MP4
– Codec: H.264
– Supports up to 512 GB MicroSD cards
– Operating temperature: from -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)
– Time and date stamp on video
– Loop recording, auto on/off, G-Sensor
– Parking mode: With Vault subscription only
– CPL filter built in
– Apps for Android / iOS
– Internal capacitor instead of battery
– Internal microphone and beeper (no speaker)
– Adhesive mount
– Voice control
– Supports cloud & live view
Garmin Mini 3 Review
Design
The Garmin Mini 3 is the smallest and most discreet dash cam currently on the market. Garmin have chosen to remove all unnecessary features, even GPS which almost all other modern dash cams have built in. Obviously, the Mini 3 has no screen. You can operate it through Wi-Fi, or by giving voice commands.
A speaker isn’t included either, but the camera can acknowledge your commands with a piezoelectric beeper.
Comparison: Garmin Mini 3 vs. Garmin Mini 2
Unlike its predecessor, the Mini 3 is horizontally aligned. This means it is wider than it is high. Also, it is about 30% smaller than the Mini2. Here are the dimensions:
Mini 2 dimensions: Width 1.22″, height 2.09″, depth 1.14″ -> total volume: 2.91 cubic inches
Mini 3 dimensions: Width 2.05″, height 1.24″, depth .8″ -> total volume: 2.03 cubic inches
The Mini 2 was the world’s smallest dash cam previously, but Garmin managed to make the Mini 3 even smaller!
Video Quality
This camera records at 1080p. While it’s possible to achieve great video quality at that resolution, the Mini 3 doesn’t quite reach that level. The video it records is good to very good during the day time — we’re giving 3.5 out of 5 points. At night, video quality is fair, so that’s 2 points out of 5.
A CPL filter is built in, which is a novelty. Off the top of my head, I don’t recall any other dash cams that have an in-built CPL filter. With most other brands, it’s an optional extra that will cost you more (if they even offer one).
CPL filters are great when driving in bright sunlight, because they reduce windshield reflectivity.
Our total video score for the Garmin Mini 3 is 2.75 points. To see how it compares to other dash cams, check our dash cam comparison table.
Basic Parking Mode (“Parking Guard”)
The Mini 3 has a simple, impact-triggered parking mode. Garmin calls it “Parking Guard”. A hard-wiring kit is required to supply power to the camera when parked.
Garmin’s hard-wiring kits are priced above average. A simple kit to connect to the fuse box costs between $20-30, while an ODB-II connector is about $40-50.
When hard-wired, the camera automatically switches into Parking Guard mode once you turn off the car engine. Then, if anyone or anything impacts your car, the camera wakes up and records a 15 second video.
Should you have an active connection to the cloud, it can also send a notification to your phone and upload the relevant video for safekeeping. This is a great feature in case a thief decides to steal the dash cam: Your recording would be sage.
Cloud Connection (“Garmin Vault”)
Garmin’s cloud is called “Vault”. To connect the dash cam to it, you need some sort of permanent internet access in your car, like Wi-Fi coverage or an internet access point. Also, it is mandatory to subscribe to Garmin’s cloud service.
Older Garmin dash cams supported a free account with limited functionality, but apparently they are planning to phase that out. So if you get the Garmin 3, it can only connect to the cloud with a paid subscriptions.
Paid subscriptions are available in two levels. For $10 a month, you can store video up to 7 days. For $20 per month, this increases to 30 days. Both subscriptions support event notifications and live video streaming to your phone, so you can watch what’s happening around your car remotely.
We find 7 days is usually enough to store a video. In case something important happens, one week is ample time to share or download the relevant videos for safekeeping.
For more information about dash cam clouds, check this article: Best Dash Cams With Cloud For Live Video Streaming
Multi-Camera Networks
You can connect and synchronize up to 4 Garmin dash cams in a multi-camera network. Pair them all with your smart phone to create picture-in-picture or multi-picture videos.
The Mini 3 doesn’t have GPS. However, if one of the other cameras in the multi-camera network has GPS, that information can be used to tag its videos too.
Other Features
Since the Garmin Mini 3 is so minimalist, it uses very little power. In parking mode, it only consumes 1.8W, so it’s very energy saving and easy on the car battery. (The Parking Guard cable does have a voltage monitor, so it prevents your battery from becoming depleted accidentally.)
You can use voice commands for things like saving video and toggling audio recording. Languages supported: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish
Conclusion
This is, without a doubt, the smallest and most discreet dash camera as of January 2025. It comes with the bare minimum of features, which is great for reduced power consumption. Video quality isn’t the best, but acceptable for a tiny dash cam of its price. You’ll be able to see what’s going on, and read most license plates.
One thing to keep in mind is that while we don’t have much data on the Mini 3 yet (since it’s relatively new), the Mini 2 has been returned relatively often. Also the Mini 3 has an above average amount of negative reviews.
Another major annoyance is that Garmin no longer offers a free basic cloud service with the Mini 3. It’s great that it comes with a built-in CPL filter though — many other dash cam brands will charge you extra for that.
Pros:
- Smallest dash cam available
- Cloud connectivity
- Built-in CPL filter
- Low power consumption
Cons:
- No free cloud subscription available
- Questionable reliability
- Parking mode cables are expensive
Garmin Mini 3 Video Sample
During the day, the Mini 3’s video quality is good to very good. You’ll be able to read license plates while driving by. Sometimes you’ll need to stop the video for that, so we’re giving 3.5 out of 5 points.
At night, video quality is fair. You may be able to read license plates when you’re stopped or moving very slow, but while driving, the footage just isn’t clear enough. Score: 2 points out of 5.
Where To Buy
The Garmin Mini 3 is available for sale from the following vendors:
Links to vendors are affiliate links. If you find this site useful, please consider buying through our links. There's no extra cost for you, and it helps to keep the site ad-free and up to date with top quality reviews.
