🔗 Share this article

The newest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure watch brings a life-saving capability: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or satellite links.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding new mobile technology, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. This is Garmin's top model and engineered to be the single tool needed to venture almost anywhere and track all your movements.

This positions it as an very expensive option, starting at £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 screen – almost double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.

You do receive a significant features for your money, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. Its full offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the sizable, crisp and super-bright display.

The Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version found in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an additional day of smartwatch battery life despite the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.

Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Live Tracking

The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, as with other wearables. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not provided for free.

Rather, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out running, biking or comparable activities – along with emergency satellite SOS messaging.

Location updates and texts via orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive subscriptions offering different quotas of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.

Once you have completed setup, you simply head out outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and companions.

Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth using text or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of customisable canned responses you can use to expedite communication. Voice messages and calls perform acceptably, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to on its own transmit a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring race progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you rely on to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has generally worked effectively, although the actual location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.

These capabilities are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and emergency SOS.

A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the line of sight 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 vital lifeline, however it is essential to remember that satellite coverage is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.

Sustainability

The watch is typically repairable with options offered through the customer service portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused materials. Garmin provides recycling schemes on new purchases.

Price

The Fenix 8 Pro costs 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).

Conclusion

The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.

The result is an even more remarkable adventure tool for those that desire to be phone-free. 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 additional gear.

It is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to enable the service. At least it is not dependent on your phone provider so works with all make of smartphone and network.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but still wants to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.

Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite features need monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, voice features are sluggish, limited wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.