The newest model of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure watch introduces a potentially lifesaving feature: no-phone communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an available advanced microLED display in a special edition. It is the brand's premier model and designed to be the single gadget required to explore almost anywhere and monitor all your movements.
This makes it an very expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
You do receive a lot of functionality for your investment, with best-in-class workout, movement and outdoor tracking. The full offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you lose your way without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm version found in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an additional day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-capable products, SOS communication is not provided for no cost.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while out running, biking or similar pursuits – along with SOS satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and messages via satellite are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans offering various quotas of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you just venture the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and friends.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally via text or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of customisable pre-set replies you can use to expedite communication. Spoken recordings and calls work OK, although as with most wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to automatically transmit a link to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned effectively, though the actual position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.
These features are available on other Garmin watches if you bring 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 emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is essential to note that satellite service is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with services available via the support portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused materials. Garmin provides disposal schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.
This is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it isn’t reliant on your phone provider so functions with any make of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED display, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and orbital functions need monthly payment, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, speech features are slow, limited smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
