The newest model of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor watch includes a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is the brand's premier model and designed to be the single tool needed to venture almost anywhere and track all your movements.
That positions it as an extremely expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – nearly twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. Its full offline mapping of the globe can automatically guide you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an additional day of watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Live Tracking
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, as with other smartwatches. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out running, biking or similar pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.
Location updates and texts via satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive plans offering different allowances of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
Once you have got it set up, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally using typed or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of customisable canned replies you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls perform OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to automatically send a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race performance, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked effectively, though the real location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
These features are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the clear view to the orbital system, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with options offered through the support portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin provides recycling programs on new purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an even more remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
It is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the features. At least it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or hiking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED display, tracks everything with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.
Cons: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial support, voice features are sluggish, basic smartwatch features versus competing watches.
