The most recent iteration of the top-tier Fenix adventure timepiece brings a life-saving feature: no-phone messaging and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or satellite connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. This is Garmin's top device and designed to be the only tool required to venture virtually any location and monitor all your movements.
This makes it an extremely expensive 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 variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of features for your money, with best-in-class workout, movement and adventure tracking. The full offline maps of the world can automatically guide you back to the trail if you get lost 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 dimensions, not the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an additional day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, like other wearables. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, SOS messaging is not provided for no cost.
Instead, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out running, biking or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.
Location updates and messages over orbital are then charged additionally, with more expensive subscriptions offering various allowances 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 service.
After you have completed setup, you just venture the door minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar activities, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your relatives 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 install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally via text or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of personalizable pre-set replies you can use to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls perform OK, although as with most wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for extended discussions as the quality is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to automatically send a link to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for following race progress, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has generally functioned effectively, although the actual position has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of good LTE signal.
All of these features are accessible 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 on-screen assistance shows you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is important to remember that satellite service is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with services available via the customer service portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin provides disposal schemes on new purchases.
Cost
The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re out of signal.
Outcome is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.
It is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries quite a price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to provide the service. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so functions with any make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but still wants to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.
Cons: very expensive, LTE and satellite features need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank support, speech features are slow, basic wearable features versus competing watches.
