The latest model of the premium Fenix outdoor timepiece includes a life-saving capability: phone-free communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or satellite connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. This is Garmin's premier device and engineered to be the only gadget needed to venture almost anywhere and monitor all your movements.
This makes it an very expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant features for your money, with best-in-class workout, movement and adventure tracking. The complete offline mapping of the globe can automatically direct you back to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the large, sharp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen always active, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, as with other wearables. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, emergency communication is not included for no cost.
Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while out running, biking or comparable pursuits – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and messages via orbital are then charged on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering various allowances of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the service.
Once you have completed setup, you simply head out outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you are able to place and receive calls, send texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.
Whenever you message 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 message reciprocally using typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of customisable pre-set responses you can use to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls work OK, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to chosen contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s great for monitoring race progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically worked well, although the real position has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these features are available on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to find 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 lifeline, though it is essential to note that orbital service is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with services available through the support site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin provides 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 plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an increasingly impressive outdoor device for those that desire to be phone-free. If you wish 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.
It is quite freeing 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 monthly fee of the inReach plan to enable the features. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with all make of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but still wants to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks everything with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Cons: very expensive, LTE and satellite features require ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are sluggish, limited smartwatch features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
