The most recent version of the top-tier Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone messaging and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or satellite links.
This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding new cellular technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's top device and engineered to be the only tool needed to venture almost any location and track every activity.
This 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 screen – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
You do receive a lot of features for your investment, with best-in-class workout, movement and adventure monitoring. The full offline maps of the world can automatically guide you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear great on the large, sharp and high-luminance display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an additional day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, as with other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-enabled products, SOS communication is not included for free.
Instead, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while out jogging, cycling or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and texts via satellite are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions including various quotas of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.
After you have completed setup, you just venture the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you are able to place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth using typed or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.
Texting 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 send to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls work acceptably, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to selected contacts every time you start an activity, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally functioned effectively, though the real position has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, however it is essential to note that satellite coverage is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with services available via the customer service portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin offers recycling programs on recent purchases.
Cost
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 cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an even more remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.
It is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED display, monitors all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite functions require ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech features are slow, limited wearable features versus competing watches.
