This most recent version of the flagship Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a potentially lifesaving feature: no-phone messaging and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile technology, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. It is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the only tool required to venture virtually anywhere and monitor all your movements.
This makes it an very expensive proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – nearly twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of features for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. The full offline mapping of the globe can automatically direct you return to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and look great on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm size available in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
Garmin uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other wearables. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled products, emergency communication is not included for no cost.
Rather, 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 engaged in jogging, biking or similar activities – along with emergency satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts over satellite are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different quotas of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.
After you have got it set up, you just venture outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you are able to place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your family and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth using text or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of customisable canned replies you can send to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls work acceptably, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to on its own send a link to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition performance, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked well, although the real location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location updates and SOS SOS.
A guide shows you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is essential to remember that orbital service is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with services offered through the support 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 reused components. Garmin offers recycling schemes on new purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced 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 builds on a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an even more impressive adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring additional gear.
This is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it is not reliant on your phone carrier so functions with all brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.
Cons: very expensive, LTE and satellite features need monthly payment, limited Garmin Pay financial support, speech features are slow, basic smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
