The newest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor watch introduces a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or satellite connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, plus an optional advanced microLED display in a limited edition. It is the brand's top device and engineered to be the single tool needed to venture almost anywhere and monitor every activity.
This makes it an extremely expensive proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED display – nearly double the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant features for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. The full offline maps of the world can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, sharp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an additional day of watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, as with other wearables. However unlike competing satellite-enabled products, SOS communication is not provided for free.
Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or family can monitor you while out jogging, cycling or similar pursuits – plus emergency satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and messages via satellite are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different quotas of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. 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 venture outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth via typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls work OK, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to on its own send a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case something happens. It has typically functioned effectively, although the actual position has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to find 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 vital lifeline, however it is important to note that orbital service is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with options offered via the support portal. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling programs on recent purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro is priced 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).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.
It is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to provide the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone provider so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, voice capabilities are sluggish, limited smartwatch features compared with competing watches.
