🔗 Share this article

The newest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure timepiece introduces a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free messaging and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or satellite links.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding new mobile tech, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. This is the brand's premier model and engineered to be the only tool required to venture virtually any location and monitor all your movements.

This makes it an extremely pricey option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED display – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.

Users receive a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor monitoring. The full offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly direct you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and appear excellent on the large, sharp and high-luminance display.

The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm version available in other models, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.

Phone-Free Messaging, Calls and Real-Time Location

The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, like other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-capable devices, emergency communication is not included for no cost.

Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while out jogging, cycling or comparable activities – plus emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Check-ins and messages over orbital are then charged on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering various allowances of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.

Once you have got it set up, you just venture the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and friends.

Whenever you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally via text or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a phone number is enough to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of personalizable pre-set responses you can use to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work acceptably, though as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own transmit a URL to chosen contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it primarily serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has generally worked effectively, although the actual position has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.

These features are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and emergency SOS.

A guide shows you how to find 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 crucial safety feature, however it is essential to note that satellite coverage is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is typically serviceable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin offers disposal schemes on new purchases.

Price

This 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

The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.

The result is an even more impressive outdoor device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish 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 needing anything else.

This is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to enable the service. At least it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and network.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.

Pros: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, built-in flashlight, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.

Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite features need monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are slow, limited smartwatch features compared with competing watches.