This newest model of the premium Fenix adventure watch brings a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free communication and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. This is Garmin's top model and designed to be the only tool required to venture virtually anywhere and track all your movements.
This positions it as 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 edition with microLED screen – almost twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do receive a significant functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. Its complete offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the more compact 43mm size 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 on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, SOS communication is not included for free.
Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position tracking – so your contacts or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or similar pursuits – plus SOS orbital SOS alerts.
Location updates and texts via orbital are then billed on top, with more expensive plans including different quotas of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.
Once you have completed setup, you just head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth using text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable canned replies you can use to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls work OK, although as with most smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the audio clarity is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s great for monitoring race progress, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has typically functioned well, although the actual location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the line of sight 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 crucial lifeline, though it is important to note that orbital coverage is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with services available via the support site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any reused components. 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 optional Garmin inReach service plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
The result is an even more remarkable outdoor tool for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.
This is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to enable the features. At least it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.
Cons: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite functions require monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are slow, basic wearable features versus competing watches.
