The latest iteration of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's top model and engineered to be the single tool needed to explore virtually anywhere and track every activity.
This makes it an extremely expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – almost double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant features for your investment, with industry-leading workout, activity and adventure monitoring. Its complete offline maps of the globe can automatically guide you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and appear great on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription service instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, SOS messaging is not provided for free.
Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, biking or comparable activities – plus SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts via satellite are then billed on top, with more expensive plans including different allowances of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
After you have got it set up, you simply venture outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your family and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message reciprocally using text or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is enough to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of customisable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work OK, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can configure to automatically transmit a link to chosen contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it primarily serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, although the real location has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance 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 easy to use and could be a crucial safety feature, however it is essential 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.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with services available via the support site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin provides recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.
The result is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that desire to be unplugged. 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.
It is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to enable the features. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so works with any brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and satellite features require monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
