This most recent iteration of the premium Fenix outdoor watch includes a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free communication and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, along with an optional advanced microLED display in a special edition. It is the brand's top model and designed to be the only gadget needed to venture almost anywhere and track all your movements.
That makes it an very 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 get a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. Its full offline maps of the world can automatically guide you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and look great on the large, sharp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm version available in other models, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an additional day of watch battery life even with the display always active, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, as with other wearables. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, SOS communication is not provided for free.
Instead, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in running, cycling or similar activities – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.
Location updates and messages via orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans offering various allowances of orbital usage, 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 just venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your family and companions.
Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate reciprocally using text or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is enough to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of customisable pre-set replies you can use to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to on its own send a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s excellent for following race performance, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, though the real location has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.
These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.
A guide displays you how to locate the line of sight 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 crucial safety feature, however it is important to remember that satellite service is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused 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 plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an even more remarkable outdoor tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.
This is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to enable the features. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so functions with any brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED screen, monitors everything with premier GPS, integrated torch, phone and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite features require ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are slow, basic wearable functionality compared with competing watches.
