🔗 Share this article

The latest version of Garmin's top-tier Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone messaging and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or satellite links.

This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular technology, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is the brand's top model and designed to be the single gadget needed to explore almost any location and monitor every activity.

That makes it an extremely pricey proposition, priced from £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 edition with microLED display – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.

Users get a significant features for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. The complete offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear excellent on the large, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an extra day of watch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking

The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, like other smartwatches. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.

Instead, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in jogging, cycling or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Check-ins and messages over orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering different quotas of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.

After you have completed setup, you just head out outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your family and friends.

Whenever you message 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 typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch works fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls work OK, although as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to automatically send a URL to chosen contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s great for following race progress, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned effectively, though the actual position has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location updates and emergency SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is important to note that orbital coverage is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is generally repairable with services available via the support portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin provides recycling programs on recent purchases.

Price

This Fenix 8 Pro costs 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

The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.

The result is an increasingly impressive outdoor tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.

This is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to enable the features. At least it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.

Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and satellite functions require ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank support, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.