This newest version of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a life-saving feature: no-phone messaging and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or satellite links.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. It is Garmin's top device and designed to be the single gadget needed to explore almost anywhere and monitor all your movements.
That makes it an extremely 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 display – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of functionality for your investment, with industry-leading workout, activity and adventure monitoring. Its full offline maps of the globe can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the large, sharp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an additional day of watch battery life even with the display always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, emergency communication is not included for no cost.
Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while out running, biking or similar activities – plus emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and messages over orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans offering different quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.
Once you have got it set up, you simply venture outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth using text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of customisable pre-set responses you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform OK, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to automatically send a link to selected contacts every time you begin an activity, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s great for following competition progress, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked effectively, though the real position has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide displays you how to find the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is essential to note that satellite coverage is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with options offered via the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin provides 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 additional Garmin inReach service packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re out of signal.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable outdoor device for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries quite a price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still desires to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED display, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touchscreen.
Cons: very costly, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial support, voice capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
