The latest iteration of the premium Fenix adventure watch brings a life-saving feature: phone-free communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is the brand's premier model and engineered to be the single tool required to venture virtually any location and monitor all your movements.
That makes it an extremely expensive option, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do get a significant functionality for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. Its full offline maps of the world can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the large, crisp and high-luminance display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm version found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life despite the display always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, as with other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-enabled products, SOS messaging is not provided for no cost.
Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, cycling or comparable pursuits – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts via satellite are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions including different quotas of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
Once you have got it set up, you simply head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can make and take calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your family and friends.
Whenever you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth via typed or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch functions adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of customisable pre-set responses you can send to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform OK, though as with most wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for extended discussions as the quality is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to selected contacts every time you begin an activity, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring race progress, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked well, though the actual position has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays 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 surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital lifeline, though it is essential to note that orbital coverage is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally serviceable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin offers recycling programs on recent purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable 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 middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.
This is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to enable the features. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone provider so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED display, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely costly, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech capabilities are slow, basic smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
