The newest version of the top-tier Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free communication and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile tech, along with an optional advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. This is Garmin's top device and engineered to be the single tool required to venture virtually anywhere and track all your movements.
That makes it an very expensive option, starting at £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 variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
You do receive a lot of functionality for your money, with best-in-class workout, activity and outdoor monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the world can automatically direct you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm version found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, SOS messaging is not provided for free.
Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while out running, cycling or similar activities – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Location updates and messages via satellite are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions including different quotas of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you simply venture the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your family and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate reciprocally via typed or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is enough to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable canned replies you can send to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls perform OK, though as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to on its own transmit a link to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring race performance, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, although the real location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide shows you how to locate the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is essential to remember that orbital service is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with services offered via the support portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
This is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to enable the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone provider so functions with any brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but still desires to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite functions need monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, speech features are slow, limited smartwatch functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
