This newest version of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a life-saving capability: phone-free messaging and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. It is Garmin's top device and engineered to be the only tool required to explore virtually any location and track every activity.
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 colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – nearly twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of features for your investment, with industry-leading workout, movement and outdoor tracking. The complete offline maps of the world can automatically direct you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and look great on the sizable, crisp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm version found in other devices, so it is a big 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, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.
Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or family can monitor you while out jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and texts over orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans offering different allowances of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
After you have completed setup, you simply head out the door minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, send texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and friends.
Whenever you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth using typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the quality is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you start an activity, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned well, although the real location has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight 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 crucial safety feature, however it is essential to note that orbital coverage is limited 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 generally repairable with options offered through the support site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled 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 optional Garmin inReach subscription packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.
Outcome is an increasingly impressive adventure device 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 additional gear.
It is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but still desires to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED display, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and satellite features require monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech features are sluggish, limited smartwatch functionality compared with competing watches.
