The latest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor watch brings a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free messaging and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or orbital links.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. This is Garmin's premier device and engineered to be the only tool needed to venture almost any location and track all your movements.
This positions it as an extremely pricey 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 double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a significant functionality for your investment, with industry-leading workout, movement and outdoor monitoring. Its full offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly direct you return to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the large, crisp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Live Tracking
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. However in contrast to competing satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not included for free.
Instead, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or family can keep an eye on you while engaged in running, biking or comparable activities – plus SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Location updates and texts via orbital are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions including different allowances of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you simply head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and companions.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth using text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of customisable pre-set replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls perform OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically send a link to selected contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case something happens. It has typically worked effectively, though the actual location has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these features are available on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, however it is essential to note that satellite service is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally serviceable with services available via the support portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin provides recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
The 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 adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
The result is an even more remarkable outdoor device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.
This is very liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so works with all brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or trekking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite features need ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are sluggish, limited wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
