The newest iteration of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor watch introduces a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or orbital links.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new mobile technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. It is Garmin's premier device and designed to be the single gadget required to venture virtually any location and monitor every activity.
This positions it as an very expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of features for your investment, with best-in-class workout, activity and adventure monitoring. The complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you lose your way absent a phone, and look great on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm version found in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an extra day of watch battery life even with the display always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, like other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-enabled devices, emergency communication is not included for free.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out running, biking or similar activities – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts over satellite are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions including various quotas of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
After you have completed setup, you simply venture the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your family and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate reciprocally via text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of customisable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls work OK, although as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to automatically send a link to selected contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned well, although the real position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is essential to remember that orbital coverage is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with options offered through the support portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin offers recycling schemes on new purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro costs 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 takes a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
The result is an even more remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing anything else.
This is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to provide the features. At least it is not dependent on your phone provider so works with any make of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital features require ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
