The newest version of the premium Fenix adventure timepiece includes a life-saving feature: no-phone communication and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital links.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular technology, plus an available advanced microLED display in a limited edition. This is the brand's premier model and designed to be the only gadget required to explore almost anywhere and track all your movements.
That makes it an extremely pricey proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – nearly double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
You do receive a significant features for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and adventure tracking. Its full offline maps of the world can automatically guide you return to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and look great on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location
Garmin uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription service rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, like other smartwatches. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, emergency communication is not included for free.
Rather, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, cycling or similar activities – plus SOS orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and messages over satellite are then billed additionally, with more expensive subscriptions offering different quotas of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.
After you have completed setup, you just venture outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally via typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of personalizable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Voice messages and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts every time you start an activity, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked effectively, although the real location has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A guide displays you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is essential to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically serviceable with services available via the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes 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 subscription plans cost 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 adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of signal.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
This is very liberating to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED display, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and orbital functions need monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are slow, limited wearable features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
