This latest iteration of the top-tier Fenix adventure timepiece brings a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or orbital links.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, along with an optional advanced microLED display in a limited edition. This is the brand's premier model and designed to be the single gadget required to explore virtually anywhere and monitor all your movements.
That makes it an extremely expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – almost double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
Users get a significant features for your money, with best-in-class fitness, movement and adventure tracking. Its complete offline maps of the world can automatically direct you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and appear great on the large, crisp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version available in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the display always active, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Live Tracking
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, as with other wearables. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, emergency communication is not provided for free.
Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE text and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or family can monitor you while engaged in running, cycling or comparable activities – along with SOS orbital SOS alerts.
Check-ins and messages over orbital are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering various allowances of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
After you have completed setup, you just head out the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable tasks, but you can make and take calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally via text or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is enough to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable canned replies you can send to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls work OK, although as with most wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is not fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can configure to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, although the actual position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of good LTE signal.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is essential to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with options available through the customer service site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin offers 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 optional Garmin inReach subscription packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.
The result is an even more impressive outdoor tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.
This is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to provide the service. Fortunately it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still desires to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and satellite functions require ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay bank support, voice features are slow, limited wearable features versus competing watches.
