The newest iteration of Garmin's top-tier Fenix adventure watch brings a life-saving feature: no-phone messaging and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or satellite links.
This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile tech, plus an available advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. This is Garmin's premier device and designed to be the single tool required to venture almost any location and monitor all your movements.
This makes it an very expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the globe can automatically guide you back to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm size found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an additional day of watch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, like other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-enabled devices, emergency communication is not provided for no cost.
Rather, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while out running, biking or similar pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions including various allowances of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
After you have completed setup, you just head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth via text or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a set of customisable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls perform OK, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally worked well, although the actual position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of good LTE signal.
All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A guide displays you how to find 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 safety feature, though it is important to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with options available via the support site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin provides disposal programs on new 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 begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an even more remarkable outdoor device 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 middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing anything else.
It is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to enable the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, cycling or hiking, but still desires to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED display, monitors all activities with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features require monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, speech features are slow, basic wearable functionality versus competing watches.
