This newest version of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor timepiece includes a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or satellite connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. This is the brand's premier model and engineered to be the only tool needed to explore almost any location and track every activity.
This makes it an extremely pricey option, priced from £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 double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do get a lot of features for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the world can automatically guide you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm version found in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the screen always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, like other wearables. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, SOS messaging is not provided for free.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in running, biking or similar activities – along with emergency satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts via orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive plans offering different quotas of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.
After you have got it set up, you just venture outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your family and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth via typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of customisable canned replies you can use to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls work OK, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for extended discussions as the quality is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to on its own transmit a link to selected contacts every time you start an activity, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s great for monitoring race progress, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned effectively, although the actual location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these features are available on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows 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 unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is important to remember that orbital service is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally repairable with services offered via the support 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 reused materials. Garmin offers disposal schemes on new 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 cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable outdoor tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring additional gear.
It is very liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so functions with any make of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or hiking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors everything with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features require monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are slow, limited wearable features compared with competing watches.
