This most recent version of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure timepiece includes a life-saving feature: no-phone communication and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. This is the brand's premier model and engineered to be the only tool needed to explore almost any location and track all your movements.
That positions it as an very pricey proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – nearly double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure tracking. Its complete offline mapping of the globe can automatically direct you back to the path if you lose your way without a phone, and look excellent on the large, sharp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of watch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription service rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not provided for no cost.
Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, cycling or similar activities – plus emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts via satellite are then charged additionally, with more expensive subscriptions offering different quotas of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the service.
After you have got it set up, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your family and companions.
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 application, you can then communicate back and forth via text or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is enough to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of personalizable pre-set responses you can use to expedite communication. Spoken recordings and calls work acceptably, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to automatically transmit a link to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked well, though the real location has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of good LTE signal.
These features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and SOS SOS.
A guide 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 safety feature, though it is important to remember that satellite coverage is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with options offered via the customer service site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin offers disposal programs on new purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable outdoor tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
This is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to enable the service. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so functions with any brand of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED screen, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.
Cons: very costly, LTE and satellite features require monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank support, voice features are slow, basic smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
