The newest iteration of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding new cellular tech, plus an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. This is the brand's top device and designed to be the single gadget needed to explore almost anywhere and track all your movements.
That positions it as an very expensive 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 cost of the standard Fenix 8.
You do get a significant functionality for your money, with best-in-class workout, activity and adventure monitoring. Its complete offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and super-bright display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm version found in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the screen always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Live Tracking
Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, as with other smartwatches. But unlike competing satellite-enabled devices, SOS messaging is not provided for no cost.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, biking or comparable activities – plus emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and texts over orbital are then billed on top, with more expensive subscriptions including different quotas of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
Once you have got it set up, you just head out the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable tasks, but you are able to place and receive calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth via typed or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately 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. Voice recordings and calls work OK, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can configure to on its own transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition performance, but it primarily serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned well, although the real location has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the clear view to the orbital system, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is essential to note that orbital coverage is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally serviceable with services available through the support portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin offers disposal schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
Outcome is an even more impressive adventure tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
It is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries quite a price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and satellite functions require monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech features are slow, limited wearable features compared with competing watches.
