The most recent version of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone communication and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or satellite links.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. It is the brand's top model and designed to be the only tool needed to venture virtually any location and monitor all your movements.
This makes it an extremely pricey option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – nearly twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
You do receive a lot of functionality for your investment, with industry-leading workout, movement and outdoor monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the large, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm size available in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, like other wearables. But in contrast to competing satellite-capable products, SOS communication is not provided for free.
Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, biking or similar activities – along with SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and messages over satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering various quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.
After you have completed setup, you simply venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your family and companions.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally via text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, 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 slow. It has a collection of personalizable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work OK, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically send a URL to selected contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s great for following competition progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned well, although the real location has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is essential to remember that orbital coverage is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with options available through the support site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin provides recycling schemes on new purchases.
Price
The 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
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an even more remarkable outdoor tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is quite liberating to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to enable the features. At least it isn’t reliant on your phone provider so functions with any brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or trekking, but still wants to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED screen, monitors all activities with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite functions require monthly payment, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are slow, basic smartwatch functionality compared with competing watches.
