This most recent version of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure watch includes a life-saving capability: phone-free messaging and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's premier device and designed to be the only tool required to venture virtually anywhere and monitor every activity.
That positions it as an extremely pricey option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure tracking. The complete offline maps of the globe can automatically guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed 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 Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, as with other smartwatches. However in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, emergency messaging is not provided for no cost.
Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE text and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or family can keep an eye on you while out running, cycling or comparable pursuits – plus SOS satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and messages over orbital are then charged additionally, with more expensive plans including various quotas of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.
After you have got it set up, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and companions.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth via typed or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of customisable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls work acceptably, though as with most wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to chosen contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally worked well, though the actual position has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to find the line of sight 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 crucial lifeline, however it is important to remember that orbital coverage is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with services available through the customer service site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused components. Garmin provides disposal 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 service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.
It is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so works with any make of smartphone and carrier.
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 wants to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated 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 diving, physical controls and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and satellite features require ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial support, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch features versus competing watches.
