This most recent model of the top-tier Fenix adventure timepiece includes a life-saving capability: phone-free messaging and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. It is Garmin's top model and engineered to be the single gadget needed to venture virtually anywhere and monitor every activity.
This positions it as an extremely pricey proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – nearly double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of functionality for your investment, with industry-leading workout, movement and adventure monitoring. Its complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you get lost without 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 dimensions, not the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Real-Time Location
The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, as with other wearables. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, emergency communication is not provided for free.
Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out running, biking or comparable activities – along with emergency satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts via satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering different allowances of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you simply venture the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your family and companions.
Whenever you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally via typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of customisable pre-set responses you can send to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for extended conversations 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 exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for following competition progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned effectively, though the real location has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.
These features are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A guide displays you how to find the line of sight to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial safety feature, however it is important to note that satellite service is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with services available through the customer service portal. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused components. Garmin provides disposal schemes on recent purchases.
Price
The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of signal.
The result is an even more impressive outdoor device for those that desire to be phone-free. 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 accomplishes this without needing anything else.
This is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to provide the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so functions with any make of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Cons: very costly, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial support, voice features are slow, basic smartwatch features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
