The newest model of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure timepiece introduces a life-saving capability: no-phone messaging and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or satellite links.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an optional advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's top device and designed to be the single gadget required to explore almost any location and monitor all your movements.
That positions it as an extremely expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – nearly double the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
You do get a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure tracking. Its complete offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear great on the large, crisp and high-luminance display.
The 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 big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an additional day of watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription plan rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, as with other wearables. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled products, emergency communication is not included for free.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while out jogging, cycling or comparable activities – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts over orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans offering various quotas of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.
After you have got it set up, you simply head out the door minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and friends.
Whenever you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message reciprocally via text or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of personalizable canned responses you can use to expedite communication. Voice messages and calls work acceptably, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to automatically send a link to selected contacts every time you start an activity, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition progress, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has typically functioned effectively, although the real position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to find the clear view to the orbital system, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is important to remember that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically serviceable with options offered through the support site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Price
The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
The result is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to provide the features. At least it is not dependent on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED display, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and satellite functions require ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, voice features are slow, basic wearable functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
