The latest iteration of Garmin's top-tier Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. This is the brand's top device and engineered to be the single gadget needed to venture virtually anywhere and monitor all your movements.
This positions it as an very expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do get a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading workout, activity and adventure monitoring. Its complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you back to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and look great on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm version found in other models, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location
The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, like other smartwatches. However in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not provided for no cost.
Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while out jogging, biking or comparable activities – along with SOS orbital SOS alerts.
Location updates and texts via orbital are then billed on top, with higher-tier plans including various quotas of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have got it set up, you simply venture outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth via typed or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, only a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of personalizable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can configure to automatically send a link to selected contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring race progress, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case something happens. It has generally functioned effectively, although the actual position has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.
These capabilities 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 send texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is important to remember that satellite coverage is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with services offered through the support portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused materials. Garmin provides recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.
Outcome is an increasingly impressive outdoor tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing anything else.
This is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to provide the service. At least it is not dependent on your phone provider so functions with any brand of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and satellite features need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, speech features are slow, basic wearable features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
