The latest model of Garmin's top-tier Fenix adventure watch introduces a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular tech, plus an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is the brand's top device and engineered to be the only gadget required to explore virtually anywhere and monitor all your movements.
This makes it an very expensive 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 – almost double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
You do get a lot of features for your money, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. The full offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly direct you return to the path if you lose your way without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, crisp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version found in other devices, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, like other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-enabled devices, SOS messaging is not provided for free.
Rather, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out jogging, biking or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts over satellite are then billed on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering different quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.
After 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 activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your family and companions.
Whenever you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random 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 typed or voice 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 enough to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of personalizable pre-set responses you can send to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls perform acceptably, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically send a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s great for following competition progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally worked effectively, though the actual position has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to find the clear view to the orbital system, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital lifeline, though it is important to note that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with options offered via the customer service portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any reused components. Garmin offers disposal schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced 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 standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.
The result is an even more remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while running out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.
It is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the features. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone provider so functions with any brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or trekking, but still desires to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and satellite functions need monthly payment, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech capabilities are slow, limited wearable functionality versus competing watches.
