The most recent model of the flagship Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or satellite connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge mobile tech, plus an available advanced microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's premier model and designed to be the single gadget needed to venture almost any location and monitor every activity.
This makes it an extremely pricey option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED display – almost double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do receive a lot of functionality for your money, with industry-leading workout, movement and adventure monitoring. The full offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the more compact 43mm size available in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested does have an additional day of watch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling 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 carrier, like other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not included for free.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out running, biking or comparable activities – plus emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Location updates and messages over satellite are then billed additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions including different allowances of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the service.
Once you have completed setup, you just head out outside minus your phone and the watch will connect 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 keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate reciprocally using text or voice communications, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of customisable canned replies you can send to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls work acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically send a URL to chosen contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s excellent for following competition 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 effectively, though the real location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide displays you how to find the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital lifeline, though it is important to note that satellite coverage is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is generally serviceable with services available via the support portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin provides disposal 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 plans cost 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, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.
The result is an even more impressive adventure device for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.
It is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to provide the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone provider so works with all make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED screen, monitors everything with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: very costly, LTE and orbital features require ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial support, voice features are sluggish, limited smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
