The newest iteration of the top-tier Fenix outdoor timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving feature: no-phone messaging and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's premier model and engineered to be the single gadget needed to explore almost anywhere and track all your movements.
That makes it an very expensive proposition, 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 display – almost twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant functionality for your investment, with best-in-class workout, activity and adventure tracking. Its full offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear excellent on the large, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm version found in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an additional day of watch battery life despite the screen on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other smartwatches. But in contrast to competing satellite-capable products, emergency communication is not included for free.
Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while out jogging, cycling or similar activities – plus emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Location updates and messages via orbital are then billed on top, with more expensive plans including various allowances of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you just head out the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or comparable tasks, but you are able to place and receive calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your family and companions.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth via text or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of customisable pre-set responses you can send to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, though as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can configure to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s great for following competition progress, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally worked well, although the actual location has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to remember that orbital service is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically serviceable with options offered through the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin provides recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Price
The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an increasingly impressive outdoor device for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
It is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the features. At least it is not dependent on your phone carrier so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still desires to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and offline commands, 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 expensive, LTE and orbital features need monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank support, speech features are sluggish, limited smartwatch features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
