The newest model of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure watch brings a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new mobile technology, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. This is the brand's premier device and designed to be the only tool required to venture almost anywhere and monitor every activity.
That positions it as an extremely expensive proposition, starting at £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 variant with microLED screen – almost double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
You do get a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading workout, movement and adventure tracking. The full offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear great 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 found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested does have an additional day of watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, like other wearables. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, emergency communication is not included for free.
Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, cycling or similar pursuits – plus emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and messages via satellite are then billed additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions including various allowances of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.
After you have got it set up, you simply venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your family and companions.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth using typed or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is enough to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, though as with most wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest 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 real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly acts as a utility for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has generally functioned well, although the real location has occasionally 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 locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location updates and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance 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 easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is essential to note that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with options available through the customer service site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin provides recycling programs on recent purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an increasingly impressive adventure tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.
It is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to enable the features. At least it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features require ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch functionality compared with competing watches.
