This newest iteration of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure watch brings a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new cellular tech, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is Garmin's premier device and designed to be the single tool needed to venture almost anywhere and monitor all your movements.
That positions it as an extremely pricey 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 variant with microLED screen – almost double the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of features for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. The complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and super-bright display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the more compact 43mm size found in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an additional day of watch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not provided for free.
Rather, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in jogging, cycling or similar pursuits – plus SOS satellite SOS messaging.
Check-ins and messages over satellite are then charged additionally, with more expensive plans including different quotas of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.
After you have completed setup, you just venture the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you can make and take 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 number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth using typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a set of personalizable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls work acceptably, though as with most wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to on its own send a link to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for following race progress, but it primarily serves as a utility for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically functioned well, though the actual position has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide shows you how to find the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital lifeline, though it is important to note that orbital service is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally serviceable with services offered through the customer service portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin offers disposal schemes on new purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach subscription packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an increasingly remarkable outdoor tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.
This is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so works with any make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors everything with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Cons: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital functions require ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are sluggish, limited smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
