The latest model of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure timepiece brings a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an available advanced microLED display in a special edition. This is Garmin's top device and engineered to be the single gadget needed to explore almost any location and monitor all your movements.
This positions it as an very expensive option, 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 edition with microLED screen – nearly double the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant features for your investment, with best-in-class workout, activity and outdoor tracking. Its full offline mapping of the world can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and look great on the large, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm size found in other models, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an additional day of smartwatch battery life even with the screen on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, like other wearables. But in contrast to competing satellite-capable products, emergency communication is not provided for free.
Rather, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out jogging, cycling or comparable pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts over satellite are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions including different allowances of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.
Once you have completed setup, 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 are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your family and friends.
Whenever you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to directly 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 contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable canned replies you can send to expedite communication. Voice messages and calls work OK, although as with most wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to automatically send a link to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s great for following race performance, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you rely on to know your location in case something happens. It has generally functioned well, although the actual location has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A guide displays you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is essential to remember that orbital service is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with options offered through the support site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling programs on new purchases.
Price
The Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach subscription packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an increasingly impressive outdoor device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to enable the features. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features need monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, voice capabilities are sluggish, basic wearable features compared with competing watches.
