The latest iteration of the flagship Fenix adventure watch includes a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free messaging and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, along with an available advanced microLED display in a special edition. It is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the single tool required to venture almost anywhere and track every activity.
This makes it an very pricey proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
You do get a lot of features for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and adventure monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the globe can automatically direct you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and look excellent on the large, crisp and high-luminance touchscreen.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size available in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life despite the screen always active, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Messaging, Calls and Real-Time Location
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, as with other wearables. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, SOS messaging is not provided for no cost.
Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in running, biking or comparable pursuits – plus SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and messages via orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive plans offering various quotas of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.
After you have got it set up, you just venture the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally using typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of customisable pre-set responses you can use to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls work 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 less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to on its own send a link to chosen contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned effectively, although the real location has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A guide 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 lifeline, however it is essential to note that satellite coverage is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is typically repairable with options offered via 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 provides recycling programs on new purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an increasingly impressive outdoor device for those that desire to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while running out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing 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 price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to enable the service. At least it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with all make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and orbital functions require ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are slow, limited smartwatch functionality compared with competing watches.
