The most recent version of the top-tier Fenix outdoor timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone messaging and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, plus an available advanced microLED display in a limited edition. It is Garmin's top model and designed to be the single tool needed to explore almost any location 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 version and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of features for your money, with best-in-class fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. Its full offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly direct you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, Calls and Live Tracking
The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, emergency messaging is not provided for no cost.
Instead, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while engaged in running, biking or comparable activities – along with emergency satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and messages via satellite are then billed on top, with more expensive subscriptions including different quotas of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
Once you have completed setup, you just venture outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or comparable tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your family and friends.
When you text 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 using text or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is enough to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of customisable canned replies you can use to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls work acceptably, though as with most smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can configure to on its own transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned well, though the real location has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to find the line of sight to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is essential to remember that orbital service is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with services available through the customer service portal. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin offers 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 additional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
The result is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while running after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to enable the features. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED display, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features need monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are sluggish, limited wearable features compared with competing watches.
