The latest model of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a life-saving capability: no-phone messaging and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. This is the brand's top model and engineered to be the single tool required to explore virtually anywhere and monitor all your movements.
That makes it an very expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – almost twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. Its full offline mapping of the world can seamlessly direct you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the large, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm size found in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an additional day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, as with other wearables. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, cycling or similar pursuits – plus emergency orbital SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts over orbital are then charged additionally, with higher-tier plans including various allowances of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
Once you have got it set up, you just head out the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your family and companions.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally using typed or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable canned responses you can use to expedite communication. Spoken recordings and calls work OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own send a link to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition progress, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned effectively, though the real position has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.
All of these features are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location updates and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows 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 straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is essential to note that orbital service is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with options offered via the customer service site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin provides recycling 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 optional Garmin inReach subscription packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
The result is an even more remarkable outdoor device for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing anything else.
This is quite liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to enable the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks everything with premier GPS, built-in torch, phone and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay bank support, speech capabilities are slow, basic wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
