🔗 Share this article

The latest model of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure watch brings a life-saving feature: phone-free communication and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.

The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular technology, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. It is the brand's premier device and designed to be the only tool needed to explore almost anywhere and monitor every activity.

That makes it an extremely pricey proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – nearly double the price of the standard Fenix 8.

Users receive a lot of features for your money, with best-in-class fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the world can automatically guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an additional day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.

No-Phone Texting, Calls and Live Tracking

The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription plan instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, like other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-capable devices, emergency messaging is not included for free.

Instead, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, cycling or similar pursuits – plus SOS orbital SOS messaging.

Location updates and messages over satellite are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans offering different allowances of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.

After you have completed setup, you simply head out outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can make and take calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and friends.

When you message 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 communicate reciprocally using text or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of personalizable pre-set responses you can use to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work OK, though as with most wearables, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to on its own send a link to chosen contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can follow your live 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 location in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, though the actual position has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.

All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and SOS SOS.

A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets messages 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 satellite service is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.

Sustainability

The watch is typically repairable with options available through the support site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin provides 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).

Conclusion

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.

Outcome is an even more impressive outdoor tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.

It is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries a significant price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to enable the features. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so works with any make of smartphone and carrier.

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 desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Pros: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED display, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.

Cons: very costly, LTE and satellite features require ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are sluggish, basic smartwatch functionality versus competing watches.