The most recent iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new mobile tech, along with an optional advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the single gadget required to venture almost anywhere and track all your movements.
That makes it an very expensive option, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of functionality for your money, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. The complete offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you return to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, like other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not included for free.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or family can keep an eye on you while out jogging, cycling or comparable activities – plus SOS orbital SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts via orbital are then charged additionally, with more expensive subscriptions offering various allowances of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.
Once you have got it set up, you simply head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and companions.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth using text or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is enough to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch works fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable pre-set responses you can send to expedite communication. Voice messages and calls perform OK, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s great for following competition progress, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has generally functioned well, although the real position has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide shows you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is important to remember that satellite service is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with options offered via the support 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.
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 takes a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an even more impressive outdoor tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.
This is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to provide the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features require ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, voice features are slow, basic smartwatch features compared with competing watches.
