The most recent version of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a potentially lifesaving capability: no-phone messaging and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or satellite connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. It is Garmin's top device and engineered to be the only gadget required to venture almost any location and track every activity.
This positions it as an very expensive proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – nearly double the price of the standard Fenix 8.
You do receive a lot of features for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. Its full offline maps of the world can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you lose your way absent a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and super-bright display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an additional day of smartwatch battery life even with the display on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Texting, Calls and Live Tracking
The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription service rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, as with other wearables. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, emergency communication is not included for free.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while out running, cycling or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.
Check-ins and texts over satellite are then charged additionally, with more expensive plans including various quotas of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you just venture the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable tasks, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and companions.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth using text or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.
Messaging on the watch works fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of customisable canned replies you can use to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want 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 automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring race performance, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned effectively, although the actual location has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
These capabilities are available 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 on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is essential to note that orbital coverage is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with services offered through the support portal. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any reused components. Garmin provides disposal 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 optional Garmin inReach service plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Verdict
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an even more remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.
It is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to enable the features. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone provider so works with any brand of smartphone and network.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but still desires to be trackable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED display, monitors all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are slow, basic smartwatch functionality compared with competing watches.
