🔗 Share this article

The newest iteration of the premium Fenix adventure watch brings a life-saving feature: no-phone communication and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital links.

The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular technology, plus an available advanced microLED display in a special edition. It is Garmin's premier device and engineered to be the single tool needed to explore almost anywhere and track 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 version and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED display – nearly double the cost of the standard Fenix 8.

Users receive a lot of features for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, activity and adventure tracking. The complete offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, crisp and high-luminance touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the display on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location

Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. But unlike competing satellite-enabled devices, SOS messaging is not included for no cost.

Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE text and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out running, biking or similar activities – plus emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Location updates and texts via orbital are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different quotas of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the service.

Once you have completed setup, you just head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your family and friends.

Whenever you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth via text or voice communications, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.

Texting on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of customisable pre-set replies you can send to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work acceptably, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is less than fantastic.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to automatically send a link to selected contacts every time you begin an activity, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s great for following competition progress, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically functioned effectively, although the real position has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

These features are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and SOS SOS.

A guide shows you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is important to note that satellite service is restricted 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 serviceable with options available through the support portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin provides disposal programs 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 cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Conclusion

This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.

The result is an increasingly impressive outdoor device for those that desire to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.

It is quite liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to enable the service. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so functions with any make of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but still 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 orbital communication, high-luminance OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.

Cons: very costly, LTE and satellite features need monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are slow, basic smartwatch functionality versus competing watches.