The newest iteration of the premium Fenix adventure timepiece brings a life-saving feature: phone-free communication and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital links.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already outstanding Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an optional advanced microLED display in a limited edition. It is the brand's premier model and engineered to be the single gadget needed to explore almost any location and track every activity.
This positions it as an extremely expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do receive a significant functionality for your money, with best-in-class fitness, movement and outdoor monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you return 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 only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm version found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested does have an additional day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, 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, like other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not provided for free.
Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your contacts or family can keep an eye on you while out jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Location updates and messages via satellite are then charged on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different allowances of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.
After you have completed setup, you simply venture the door minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall 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 reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth via typed or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works fine 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. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, though as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to on its own send a link to selected contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked effectively, though the real location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to note that orbital service is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with services offered via the support site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin offers disposal 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 additional Garmin inReach service packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.
The result is an even more impressive adventure tool for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.
This is very liberating to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so functions with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED display, monitors all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.
Cons: very expensive, LTE and orbital functions require monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank support, speech features are slow, limited wearable functionality compared with competing watches.
