This most recent model of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a life-saving capability: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an available advanced microLED display in a limited edition. This is the brand's top model and designed to be the only tool required to venture virtually anywhere and track all your movements.
This makes it an very pricey proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version 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.
You do receive a lot of features for your money, with best-in-class fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. Its full offline maps of the globe can automatically guide you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and look great on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm version available in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, like other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-enabled products, emergency communication is not provided for no cost.
Instead, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in running, cycling or similar activities – plus emergency satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive plans offering different quotas of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.
Once you have completed setup, you just venture the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or comparable activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin sends 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 reciprocally via text or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a collection of customisable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls perform OK, though as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically send a link to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race performance, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned effectively, though the actual position has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of good LTE signal.
These capabilities are available on other Garmin watches 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 send texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight to the orbital system, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, however it is important to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with services available via the customer service portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin offers disposal programs on recent purchases.
Price
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 begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while running after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing anything else.
It is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to enable the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with any make of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital features need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are sluggish, limited smartwatch functionality versus competing watches.
