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The newest model of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a potentially lifesaving feature: no-phone messaging and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.

The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an available advanced microLED display in a special edition. This is Garmin's premier device and engineered to be the single gadget needed to venture almost any location and monitor all your movements.

That makes it an very expensive 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 display – nearly twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.

Users get a significant features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. Its complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you return to the path if you get lost without a phone, and appear great on the large, crisp and high-luminance display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an additional day of watch battery life even with the display always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.

Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Live Tracking

Garmin uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, like other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-capable products, SOS communication is not provided for no cost.

Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or comparable activities – along with SOS satellite SOS messaging.

Check-ins and texts via orbital are then billed additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions including various allowances of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.

After you have completed setup, you simply head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your family and friends.

Whenever you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth using typed or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is enough to register for texts.

Texting on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of personalizable canned replies you can use to expedite communication. Voice messages and calls work OK, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the quality is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can configure to automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you start an activity, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has typically worked well, although the real position has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and emergency SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital lifeline, though it is important to remember that orbital service is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is typically serviceable with services available through the customer service site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin provides recycling programs on recent purchases.

Cost

This Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Conclusion

The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.

Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.

This is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to provide the service. At least it is not reliant on your phone carrier so functions with any make of smartphone and network.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or hiking, but still wants to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Pros: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED display, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, built-in flashlight, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.

Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and orbital features require monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, voice features are slow, limited smartwatch features versus competing watches.