This latest version of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. This is Garmin's top model and engineered to be the only tool required to venture almost any location and monitor every activity.
That makes it an very expensive proposition, priced from £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 edition with microLED display – almost double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of functionality for your money, with best-in-class workout, activity and adventure tracking. Its complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly direct you back to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the large, crisp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm size available 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 watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calls and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, like other wearables. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, emergency communication is not included for no cost.
Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position tracking – so your contacts or family can monitor you while out running, biking or comparable pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Location updates and messages via orbital are then charged on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different quotas of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.
After you have got it set up, you just venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your family and companions.
When you text someone, Garmin sends 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 using text or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable pre-set replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls work acceptably, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to on its own send a link to chosen contacts every time you start an activity, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s great for following race performance, but it primarily serves as a utility for someone you rely on to be aware of your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, though the actual position has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of good LTE signal.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A guide displays you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, 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, though it is essential to note that satellite coverage is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically serviceable with options offered via the support site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an even more impressive outdoor tool for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing anything else.
This is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to enable the service. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED display, monitors everything with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and satellite features require ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
