The newest model of the premium Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a life-saving capability: phone-free communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding new cellular tech, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's premier model and engineered to be the single gadget required to venture virtually any location and track every activity.
That 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 edition with microLED screen – nearly twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of features for your investment, with industry-leading workout, activity and adventure tracking. Its full offline maps of the globe can automatically guide you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear great on the large, sharp and high-luminance display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the more compact 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large 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, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, SOS messaging is not included for free.
Instead, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while out running, biking or comparable activities – plus SOS orbital SOS alerts.
Location updates and texts over orbital are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions including various allowances of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have got it set up, you just venture the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth using text or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of personalizable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls work acceptably, although as with most smartwatches, 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 send a link to selected contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s great for following competition progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally worked effectively, though the real position has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and SOS SOS.
A guide displays you how to find the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is important to remember that satellite service is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally repairable with services offered via the customer service portal. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin offers disposal schemes on new purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.
This is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries 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. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but still wants to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and satellite features require monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, speech capabilities are sluggish, basic smartwatch features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
