The newest model of the flagship Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving feature: no-phone communication and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile tech, along with an available advanced microLED display in a limited edition. It is Garmin's premier device and engineered to be the only tool needed to venture virtually any location and monitor every activity.
This makes it an very 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 display – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
You do get a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading workout, movement and adventure tracking. The full offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you back to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and look excellent on the large, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm size found in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location
Garmin uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, as with other smartwatches. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, emergency communication is not included for free.
Rather, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or similar activities – along with emergency satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and messages via orbital are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions including various quotas of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes 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 comparable tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your family and companions.
When you text 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 app, you can then message back and forth via typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable pre-set replies you can send to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, although as with most wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can configure to automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for following competition progress, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has generally functioned well, though the real position has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A guide displays you how to find the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is important to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally repairable with options available through the customer service site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks 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 subscription plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an even more remarkable outdoor tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night 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 functionality comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it is not dependent on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED screen, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.
Cons: very expensive, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank support, voice features are sluggish, basic smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
