The latest version of the premium Fenix adventure watch brings a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free messaging and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or satellite links.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular technology, plus an optional advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is the brand's premier model and engineered to be the only tool required to venture almost any location and monitor every activity.
This positions it as an very pricey option, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – nearly double the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
Users get a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, activity and adventure tracking. Its complete offline maps of the globe can automatically direct you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm size found 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 despite the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other smartwatches. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, SOS communication is not provided for no cost.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while out jogging, biking or similar pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts via orbital are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions offering various allowances of satellite use, 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 completed setup, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth via typed or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of customisable pre-set replies you can send to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls perform OK, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can configure to automatically send a link to selected contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally worked effectively, though the real location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate 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 crucial lifeline, though it is essential to remember that orbital coverage is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically serviceable with services available through the support site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin offers disposal programs on new purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.
Outcome is an even more impressive outdoor tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing anything else.
This is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to enable the service. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED display, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite features require ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech capabilities are sluggish, basic smartwatch functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
