This latest iteration of the top-tier Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving feature: phone-free communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or satellite links.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. This is Garmin's top model and engineered to be the only tool required to venture virtually any location and monitor all your movements.
That positions it as an extremely pricey proposition, 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 edition with microLED display – almost twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant features for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, activity and adventure tracking. The full offline maps of the world can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other wearables. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, SOS communication is not provided for free.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or comparable activities – plus SOS orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and messages via satellite are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions including various allowances of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.
Once you have got it set up, you just head out the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your family and companions.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth using typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a collection of customisable pre-set responses you can use to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls work 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 feature. You can configure to automatically transmit 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 mostly acts as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally worked well, though the real position has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the line of sight 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 crucial lifeline, though it is essential to remember that orbital service is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with services offered through the customer service portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled 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 subscription plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.
This is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so functions with any make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.
Cons: very expensive, LTE and satellite features need monthly payment, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch features versus competing watches.
