The most recent model of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure timepiece brings a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone messaging and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or satellite connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular tech, plus an available advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the only gadget required to venture virtually any location and track all your movements.
This positions it as an very 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 screen – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a significant features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. The complete offline maps of the world can automatically direct you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and look great on the sizable, crisp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an additional day of watch battery life despite the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, like other wearables. However in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, SOS communication is not included for free.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, cycling or similar activities – plus emergency satellite SOS messaging.
Check-ins and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive plans including various allowances of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.
After you have got it set up, you simply venture outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your family and companions.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally via text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, 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 collection of personalizable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls work acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to automatically transmit a link to chosen contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has typically worked well, though the real position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these features are available 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, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A guide shows you how to find the line of sight 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 vital safety feature, however it is important to remember that orbital coverage is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with options offered through the customer service portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any reused components. Garmin provides recycling programs on new purchases.
Price
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 outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an even more impressive adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.
This is very liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to provide the features. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier 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, biking or trekking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite features require monthly payment, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice capabilities are sluggish, basic smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
