The newest version of the flagship Fenix adventure timepiece brings a life-saving feature: no-phone communication and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular tech, plus an available advanced microLED display in a limited edition. It is Garmin's premier device and designed to be the single tool required to venture virtually any location and monitor every activity.
That makes it an extremely expensive option, 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 – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a significant functionality for your money, with best-in-class workout, activity and outdoor tracking. Its complete offline maps of the globe can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an additional day of watch battery life even with the display always active, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Texting, Calling and Live Tracking
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other smartwatches. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, emergency communication is not included for free.
Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, cycling or comparable activities – plus SOS satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts over orbital are then charged on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different allowances of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
Once you have got it set up, you simply venture outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and companions.
When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone 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 communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of customisable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Voice messages and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked effectively, although the actual location has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.
These features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications 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 coverage is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with options offered through the support portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin provides 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 plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.
Outcome is an even more impressive adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.
This is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to provide the service. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so functions with all make of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still wants to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite features need ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, speech features are slow, limited smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
