This newest version of the premium Fenix adventure watch includes a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free communication and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or orbital links.
This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new mobile technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. This is the brand's top model and engineered to be the only tool needed to explore virtually any location and track every activity.
This makes it an extremely expensive proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – almost double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
Users get a lot of functionality for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, activity and adventure monitoring. Its full offline maps of the globe can automatically direct you return to the trail if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the more compact 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an extra day of watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Live Tracking
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, like other wearables. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, SOS communication is not included for no cost.
Instead, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or family can monitor you while engaged in running, cycling or similar activities – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.
Check-ins and messages over orbital are then billed on top, with more expensive plans offering various quotas of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the service.
Once you have got it set up, you just head out the door minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your family and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth via text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Texting on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of personalizable canned replies you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls perform OK, though as with most wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to on its own send a link to selected contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s excellent for following race performance, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has typically functioned effectively, though the real location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is important to note that orbital service is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is typically repairable with options available via the customer service portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Price
This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
The result is an increasingly impressive outdoor device for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on 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 outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to provide the service. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, monitors everything with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay bank support, speech features are slow, basic wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
