This newest version of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding new mobile tech, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. It is Garmin's premier model and engineered to be the only tool needed to venture almost any location and track every activity.
That makes it an extremely expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading workout, movement and adventure monitoring. The complete offline maps of the globe can automatically guide you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the large, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, emergency communication is not included for no cost.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE text and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or family can monitor you while out jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – plus emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and messages over orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions including different allowances of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.
After you have completed setup, you just venture outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth using 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 enough to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of personalizable canned replies you can use to expedite communication. Spoken recordings and calls work OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the quality is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to automatically send a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition progress, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned well, though the actual location has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and SOS SOS.
A guide 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 surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, however it is essential to remember that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with services available via 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 does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin offers disposal schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to enable the features. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED display, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, voice capabilities are slow, limited wearable functionality versus competing watches.
