This latest model of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor watch brings a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's top model and engineered to be the single gadget required to venture virtually anywhere and track every activity.
This makes it an extremely expensive proposition, 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 variant with microLED screen – almost double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do receive a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. Its complete offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly guide you return to the path if you get lost without a phone, and look great on the large, crisp and super-bright display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, SOS messaging is not included for free.
Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE text and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – along with SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts via satellite are then charged additionally, with more expensive plans offering different quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have got it set up, you just venture the door minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your family and companions.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth via typed or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a set of customisable pre-set replies you can use to expedite communication. Spoken recordings and calls work OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to automatically transmit a link to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s great for following competition performance, but it mostly acts as a utility for someone you rely on 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 strong LTE signal.
These features are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and emergency SOS.
A guide displays you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is essential to note that orbital service is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically serviceable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin provides recycling programs on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an even more remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.
It is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to provide the service. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so works with any make of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED screen, monitors everything with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.
Cons: very expensive, LTE and satellite features require ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
