The latest iteration of the flagship Fenix adventure timepiece brings a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free communication and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding new cellular technology, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's premier device and designed to be the single tool required to explore virtually any location and monitor every activity.
This makes it an very pricey proposition, 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 edition with microLED display – almost double the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor monitoring. Its complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly direct you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the large, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an additional day of watch battery life despite the display always active, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, as with other wearables. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, SOS communication is not provided for no cost.
Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE text and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or similar pursuits – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with higher-tier plans offering various allowances of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you simply head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your family and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth via typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch works fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable pre-set responses you can send to expedite communication. Voice messages and calls perform acceptably, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to automatically transmit a link to selected contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked effectively, although the actual location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide 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 unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, however it is important to remember that orbital coverage 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 generally serviceable with services offered via the support site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin provides disposal schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an even more impressive outdoor tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring additional gear.
This is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to provide the features. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with all make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED screen, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and orbital features require monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are sluggish, basic wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
