The most recent version of Garmin's top-tier Fenix adventure timepiece includes a life-saving capability: phone-free communication and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. It is the brand's premier model and designed to be the single tool needed to explore virtually any location and monitor all your movements.
That makes it an extremely expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do receive a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. Its complete offline mapping of the world can automatically guide you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm size available in other models, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, like other wearables. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.
Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in running, biking or comparable activities – along with SOS orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and messages via orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering various allowances of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.
After you have completed setup, you simply head out the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and companions.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally using text or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of personalizable pre-set replies you can use to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work acceptably, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own transmit a link to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition progress, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned well, although the actual position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices 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 check-ins and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to remember that orbital coverage is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is typically serviceable with services available through the customer service site. The battery is certified 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 new purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an increasingly remarkable outdoor device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.
It is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so functions with any brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED display, monitors everything with premier GPS, built-in torch, phone and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial support, voice capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch features versus competing watches.
