This newest iteration of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, plus an optional advanced microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's premier model and designed to be the only tool needed to venture almost any location and monitor all your movements.
That positions it as an extremely expensive proposition, starting at £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 edition with microLED screen – nearly twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
You do receive a lot of features for your money, with best-in-class fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. The full offline maps of the world can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm size available in other models, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the screen always active, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calls and Real-Time Location
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, like other smartwatches. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, emergency communication is not included for free.
Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE text and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in running, cycling or comparable activities – along with SOS orbital SOS alerts.
Location updates and texts via orbital are then billed on top, with more expensive subscriptions including various allowances of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.
After you have completed setup, you simply head out the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable activities, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth via text or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is enough to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of customisable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform OK, although as with most wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to on its own transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you start an activity, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for following race performance, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked well, though the real position has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to find 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, however it is important to remember that orbital coverage is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with services available via the support site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin provides recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Price
The Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.
It is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and orbital features need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial support, voice features are slow, limited wearable features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
