The most recent iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor watch includes a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or satellite links.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding new mobile tech, along with an optional advanced microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's top model and designed to be the only tool needed to explore almost any location and monitor every activity.
This makes it an extremely pricey option, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – nearly double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do receive a significant functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. The complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested does have an additional day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location
The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, as with other wearables. However in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not included for free.
Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or family can monitor you while out running, cycling or comparable pursuits – along with SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with higher-tier subscriptions including various quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.
After you have completed setup, you just venture outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you can make and take calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and friends.
Whenever you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth via text or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable pre-set replies you can use to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls work acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically send a URL to selected contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s great for following race progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked effectively, though the real position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of good LTE signal.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital lifeline, though it is important to note that orbital coverage is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally repairable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused components. 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 service plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable outdoor device for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.
This is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to provide the service. At least it is not dependent on your phone carrier so functions with any brand of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors everything with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial support, speech features are sluggish, basic wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
