The latest model of the premium Fenix outdoor watch includes a life-saving capability: no-phone messaging and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or orbital links.
The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. It is the brand's top device and engineered to be the only gadget required to explore virtually anywhere and monitor all your movements.
That makes it an very expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – almost twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.
You do get a significant functionality for your money, with best-in-class workout, activity and adventure tracking. Its complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly direct you return to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the large, crisp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm size available in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the display always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription plan instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other smartwatches. But unlike competing satellite-capable products, SOS messaging is not included for free.
Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, cycling or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.
Check-ins and messages via satellite are then billed on top, with more expensive plans including different quotas of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.
Once you have got it set up, you just venture the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you are able to place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth using typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is enough to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of personalizable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls perform acceptably, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not ideal.
LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to automatically send a link to chosen contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition progress, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has generally worked well, although the real position has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance shows you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is essential to note that orbital coverage is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Sustainability
The watch is typically serviceable with services available through the support portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.
Cost
This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach subscription plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly impressive outdoor device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.
It is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so functions with all brand of smartphone and network.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated torch, phone and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.
Cons: very costly, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are sluggish, basic wearable functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
