The newest version of the flagship Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a life-saving feature: phone-free communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new cellular technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. This is the brand's top model and designed to be the single gadget required to explore virtually any location and monitor all your movements.
That positions it as an very expensive option, 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 display – nearly double the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant functionality for your money, with best-in-class fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. Its complete offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and look great on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an extra day of watch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Texting, Calling and Live Tracking
The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, as with other smartwatches. But in contrast to competing satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not provided for free.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out jogging, biking or similar activities – along with SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts over orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans offering various quotas of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you simply venture outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your family and companions.
When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth via text or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of customisable pre-set responses you can use to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls perform acceptably, although as with most smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically transmit a link to chosen contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s great for following competition progress, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned well, though the actual position has sometimes lagged when transitioning 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 kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is important to note that satellite coverage is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with options offered via the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. 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 packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable outdoor tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is quite liberating to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, cycling or hiking, but still desires to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital features need monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, voice features are sluggish, limited smartwatch features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
