The latest version of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure watch introduces a life-saving feature: no-phone communication and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or satellite connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an optional advanced microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's premier model and designed to be the only gadget needed to venture almost any location and monitor all your movements.
This makes it an extremely pricey option, priced from £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 – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor monitoring. The full offline maps of the world can automatically direct you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear great on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the screen always active, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, like other smartwatches. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, SOS communication is not included for no cost.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while out running, cycling or comparable activities – plus SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Location updates and messages via orbital are then charged additionally, with more expensive plans including various quotas of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
After you have got it set up, you just venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches 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 message reciprocally using text or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable pre-set replies you can use to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls work acceptably, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to selected contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition progress, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned well, though the actual location has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these features are available on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is essential to remember that satellite service is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with options available through the support site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin provides recycling programs on recent purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach subscription plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable 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 out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant price, 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 reliant on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED display, tracks everything with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and orbital features need monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech capabilities are sluggish, basic smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
