The latest model of the premium Fenix adventure watch includes a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone communication and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile tech, plus an optional advanced microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's premier device and designed to be the only gadget required to explore virtually anywhere and monitor every activity.
This makes it an very expensive proposition, 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 variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.
Users get a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. Its complete offline maps of the globe can automatically direct you return to the path if you get lost without a phone, and appear great on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm version found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life despite the display always active, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, SOS communication is not provided for free.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out running, cycling or similar pursuits – along with SOS orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and messages via satellite are then charged on top, with higher-tier subscriptions including various allowances of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
Once you have got it set up, you just venture the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable activities, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.
Whenever 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 app, you can then message back and forth via text or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is enough to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work OK, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition performance, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned well, though the actual position has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide displays you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, however it is important to remember that orbital service is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with services available via the customer service portal. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.
This is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries quite a price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so works with all make of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED screen, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and satellite functions need monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are sluggish, limited smartwatch features compared with competing watches.
