The newest model of the flagship Fenix outdoor watch includes a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone messaging and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or satellite links.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge mobile tech, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. This is the brand's top device and designed to be the only gadget required to explore virtually anywhere and track all your movements.
This positions it as an extremely pricey option, priced from £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 double the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a significant features for your investment, with industry-leading workout, movement and adventure monitoring. Its full offline maps of the world can automatically guide you back to the trail if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear great on the large, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm size available in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an additional day of smartwatch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, like other wearables. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, SOS communication is not provided for no cost.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE text and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while out jogging, cycling or comparable activities – along with SOS satellite SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts over satellite are then billed additionally, with more expensive subscriptions including different quotas of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your family and companions.
When you text 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 back and forth via typed or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of personalizable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls work OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to on its own transmit a link to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally functioned effectively, though the real position has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.
All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays 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 straightforward to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is essential to remember that satellite coverage is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Sustainability
The watch is generally serviceable with services available via the support site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Price
The Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of 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 after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.
This is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it isn’t reliant 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 burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED display, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.
Cons: very expensive, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, speech features are slow, limited smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
