This most recent model of the premium Fenix adventure timepiece brings a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile tech, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is the brand's top model and designed to be the single tool needed to venture almost any location and monitor every activity.
This makes it an very pricey option, priced from £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 variant with microLED display – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
You do get a lot of functionality for your money, with industry-leading workout, activity and outdoor tracking. The complete offline mapping of the world can automatically guide you back to the trail if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the large, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an additional day of watch battery life even with the display always active, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Live Tracking
Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, SOS communication is not provided for no cost.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, biking or similar pursuits – plus SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Location updates and messages over orbital are then charged on top, with higher-tier plans offering different allowances of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the service.
Once you have completed setup, you just head out outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your family and companions.
Whenever you text 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 application, you can then message back and forth via text or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of customisable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls work OK, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition progress, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned effectively, although the real location has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.
These features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, 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 line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is essential to note that orbital coverage is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically serviceable with options offered via the customer service site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin provides disposal programs on recent purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro costs 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).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an increasingly remarkable adventure device 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 remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.
It is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to provide the service. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so works with any make of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and orbital functions require monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, voice capabilities are sluggish, basic wearable features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
