The newest iteration of the flagship Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or satellite connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge mobile technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. This is Garmin's top device and engineered to be the only gadget required to venture virtually anywhere and track all your movements.
This makes it an very expensive proposition, starting at £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 screen – nearly double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of features for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. Its full offline maps of the world can automatically guide you return to the trail if you lose your way absent a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, SOS communication is not provided for free.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while out running, cycling or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and messages over orbital are then billed on top, with more expensive subscriptions including various allowances of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.
After you have got it set up, you just head out the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your family and friends.
Whenever you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth using text or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable pre-set replies you can use to speed things up. Voice messages and calls perform OK, although as with most smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s excellent for following race performance, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked well, although the real position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these capabilities 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 transmit texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to find the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is essential to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically serviceable with services offered via the customer service site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin offers recycling schemes on new 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 service plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an even more impressive outdoor tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.
This is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries a significant cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so functions with any make of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and orbital functions require monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial support, speech features are sluggish, basic smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
