The newest iteration of the top-tier Fenix adventure timepiece brings a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or satellite connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. It is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the single tool required to venture almost anywhere and track all your movements.
This positions it as an extremely expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model 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 regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant functionality for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. The full offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.
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 big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an additional day of smartwatch battery life despite the display always active, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Live Tracking
The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your phone 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 messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – plus emergency orbital SOS alerts.
Location updates and texts over orbital are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions 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 evaluate the functionality.
After you have completed setup, you just venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your family and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond 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 make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable pre-set replies you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for extended discussions as the quality is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to on its own send a link to chosen contacts every time you begin an activity, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring race progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has typically functioned effectively, although the real location has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to find the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is important to remember that satellite coverage is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with services available through the customer service portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. 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 service plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
The result is an increasingly remarkable outdoor tool for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is quite freeing 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 monthly subscription of the inReach service to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but still wants to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated torch, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital functions need monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are sluggish, limited smartwatch features versus competing watches.
