This latest iteration of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving capability: no-phone messaging and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. It is Garmin's premier device and engineered to be the single gadget needed to venture virtually anywhere and track every activity.
That makes it an extremely expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – nearly double the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
You do receive a lot of functionality for your investment, with industry-leading workout, movement and outdoor monitoring. The full offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm version found in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an additional day of watch battery life despite the display on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription service instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, as with other smartwatches. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, emergency messaging is not provided for free.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while engaged in running, biking or comparable pursuits – along with SOS orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and messages over satellite are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions including different quotas of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the service.
After you have got it set up, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot 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 directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally using typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a set of personalizable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls perform OK, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts every time you begin an activity, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring race progress, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, although the real position has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.
These features are available on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A guide 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 surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is important to remember that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is generally serviceable with options available via the support portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any reused components. Garmin provides recycling schemes on new purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring additional gear.
It is very liberating to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to provide the service. At least it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but still desires to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED display, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.
Cons: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite functions need monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, speech capabilities are sluggish, basic smartwatch functionality compared with competing watches.
