The latest model of the premium Fenix adventure timepiece introduces a life-saving feature: no-phone communication and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital links.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's top model and designed to be the single tool required to explore almost any location and monitor every activity.
This positions it as an very expensive proposition, 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 variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
You do get a lot of functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. Its complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly direct you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, crisp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm version available in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an additional day of watch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calls and Real-Time Location
Garmin uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other wearables. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.
Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in jogging, cycling or similar activities – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts over orbital are then billed additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different quotas of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.
After you have completed setup, you just head out the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable tasks, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and companions.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth via text or voice communications, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of personalizable pre-set responses you can use to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls work OK, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts every time you begin an activity, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for following race progress, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has typically worked well, although the actual location has occasionally been delayed 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 locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is important to note that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with services offered through the customer service portal. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin offers recycling programs on recent purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re out of signal.
The result is an increasingly remarkable outdoor device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.
This is quite liberating to be outside 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 service to provide the service. Fortunately it isn’t reliant on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but still desires to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED display, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, voice capabilities are slow, basic wearable features versus competing watches.
