This newest iteration of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor timepiece includes a life-saving feature: no-phone communication and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile tech, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. This is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the single gadget needed to explore almost anywhere and track every activity.
This makes it an extremely 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 screen – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
You do get a lot of functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor monitoring. Its full offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you return to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and look great on the sizable, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size available in other models, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an extra day of watch battery life despite the screen always active, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, like other wearables. 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 equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out running, cycling or similar pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with higher-tier plans offering different quotas of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
After you have completed setup, you simply venture the door without 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, send texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.
When you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth via 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 enough to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable pre-set replies you can use to expedite communication. Voice messages and calls work acceptably, although as with most wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to on its own transmit a link to chosen contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has typically functioned well, although the real position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the clear view to the orbital system, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to note that orbital coverage is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally serviceable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin offers disposal programs on recent purchases.
Cost
This 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
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an increasingly impressive adventure tool for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
It is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t reliant on your phone provider so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED display, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite features require ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, voice capabilities are slow, limited wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
