The most recent version of the top-tier Fenix adventure watch introduces a life-saving capability: no-phone messaging and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile technology, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. This is Garmin's premier model and designed to be the single tool needed to venture almost anywhere and track all your movements.
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 edition with microLED screen – nearly double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. The full offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you return to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, 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 boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not provided 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 contacts or family can monitor you while out jogging, biking or similar activities – plus emergency satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts over satellite are then billed on top, with more expensive plans offering various quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you just venture the door minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable activities, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your family and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth via text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of customisable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls work acceptably, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the quality is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you start an activity, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, although the actual position has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.
These features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A guide displays you how to find the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial safety feature, however it is essential to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with options offered via the support site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin provides disposal schemes on recent purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach subscription plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
Outcome is an even more impressive outdoor device for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
It is very liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to enable the service. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so functions with any make of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED display, monitors all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: very costly, LTE and satellite features need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice capabilities are slow, limited wearable features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
