The latest iteration of Garmin's top-tier Fenix outdoor watch includes a life-saving capability: phone-free communication and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. This is Garmin's premier model and designed to be the single tool needed to explore almost any location and track every activity.
This makes it an very pricey proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED display – almost twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of features for your investment, with industry-leading workout, activity and adventure tracking. The complete offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly guide you return to the path if you lose your way without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm version found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Live Tracking
The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, like other wearables. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled products, emergency communication is not provided for free.
Instead, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while out jogging, biking or comparable activities – plus SOS satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and messages via orbital are then charged additionally, with more expensive plans including different allowances of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you simply head out the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar activities, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your family and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally using typed or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a set of customisable pre-set responses you can send to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls work OK, although as with most smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for following race progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, although the actual position has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight to the orbital system, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is essential to remember that orbital service is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically serviceable with services available through the support site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin offers recycling schemes on new purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.
This is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries quite a price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so works with any brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED display, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features require ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial support, voice capabilities are slow, limited wearable features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
