This newest version of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving feature: no-phone communication and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or satellite connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an optional advanced microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's premier device and designed to be the single tool needed to explore virtually any location and monitor all your movements.
This makes it an very expensive proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – almost double the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure tracking. The full offline mapping of the globe can automatically direct you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and look excellent on the large, sharp and super-bright display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm version available 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 watch battery life despite the display always active, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other wearables. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, emergency messaging is not provided for no cost.
Instead, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides 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 – along with SOS satellite SOS messaging.
Check-ins and texts over orbital are then charged on top, with higher-tier plans including various quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.
Once you have got it set up, you simply head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth using text or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, only a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch works fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of personalizable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls work acceptably, although as with most wearables, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to automatically send a link to selected contacts every time you start an activity, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race performance, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked well, though the real location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location updates and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, however it is important to note that orbital service is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with services offered through the support portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin offers disposal schemes on new purchases.
Price
The Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while running after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring additional gear.
This is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to enable the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so functions with all make of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but still desires to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.
Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and satellite functions need monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank support, speech features are slow, basic smartwatch functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
