The most recent iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free communication and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular technology, plus an optional advanced microLED display in a limited edition. This is the brand's premier model and engineered to be the only gadget required to explore virtually anywhere and monitor all your movements.
That positions it as an very pricey proposition, starting at £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 display – nearly twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
You do get a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure tracking. The complete offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the large, sharp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life even with the display always active, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Live Tracking
The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, as with other smartwatches. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not provided for free.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE text and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or comparable activities – along with SOS orbital SOS messaging.
Location updates and messages over satellite are then billed additionally, with higher-tier plans including different allowances of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.
Once you have got it set up, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your family and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message reciprocally via typed or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of personalizable pre-set responses you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to on its own transmit a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition progress, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked well, though the actual location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.
These capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the line of sight 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 crucial safety feature, however it is essential to remember that orbital coverage is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically serviceable with options available through the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.
This is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so works with any brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, tracks everything with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and satellite functions require monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, voice capabilities are sluggish, basic wearable functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
