This latest iteration of Garmin's top-tier Fenix adventure watch introduces a potentially lifesaving feature: no-phone communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or satellite connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular technology, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's top model and engineered to be the single gadget required to venture virtually any location and monitor every activity.
This positions it as 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 double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
You do get a lot of functionality for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. The complete offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you lose your way without a phone, and appear great on the large, sharp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an additional day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other wearables. However in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, SOS messaging is not included for free.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in running, biking or comparable activities – along with SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts via orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive plans offering different allowances of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.
Once you have completed setup, you simply venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your family and friends.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth using typed or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of personalizable pre-set replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to on its own transmit a link to selected contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race performance, but it mostly acts as a utility for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has typically worked effectively, though the real location has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these features are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide shows you how to locate 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 lifeline, though it is important to note that orbital coverage is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with options available via the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
It is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to provide the service. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so works with any make of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, voice features are slow, limited wearable functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
