The newest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a life-saving capability: phone-free messaging and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. It is Garmin's premier model and engineered to be the single tool needed to venture virtually anywhere and track every activity.
This positions it as an extremely pricey proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED display – almost double the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of functionality for your investment, with industry-leading workout, movement and adventure monitoring. The full offline maps of the globe can automatically direct you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and appear great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an extra day of watch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, like other wearables. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, SOS communication is not provided for free.
Rather, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or family can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, biking or similar activities – along with SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts via orbital are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different quotas of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.
After you have completed setup, you simply head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your family and companions.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth via typed or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable pre-set replies you can send to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls perform OK, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is not 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 activity, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for following 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 worked well, although the actual location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial safety feature, however it is essential to remember that satellite service is limited 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 typically repairable with options available via the customer service site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Price
The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service plans 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 texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite messaging, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
This is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so functions with any brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still wants to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED screen, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite functions need monthly payment, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, voice features are sluggish, limited smartwatch functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
