The newest model of the flagship Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving capability: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding new cellular tech, plus an optional advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is Garmin's premier model and designed to be the single tool required to venture virtually anywhere and monitor 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 version and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of features for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. The full offline mapping of the world can automatically guide you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the more compact 43mm size available in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, like other wearables. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.
Instead, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in jogging, cycling or similar pursuits – plus emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Location updates and messages via orbital are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering various quotas of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you simply venture outside minus 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, send texts and generally stay connected with your family and friends.
Whenever you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth via text or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable canned replies you can send to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to on its own transmit a URL to chosen contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring race performance, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked effectively, though the actual position has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to find the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is essential to note that satellite coverage is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally repairable with options available through the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin provides recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach subscription plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an even more remarkable outdoor device for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
This is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that functionality carries quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to enable the features. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touchscreen.
Cons: very costly, LTE and satellite functions need monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
