The newest iteration of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free communication and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.
The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new mobile technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's top model and designed to be the only tool needed to venture virtually anywhere and track all your movements.
This positions it as an extremely expensive proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – almost twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.
You do get a significant functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. The complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the large, sharp and super-bright display.
The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version found in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.
Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Live Tracking
Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. However in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, SOS messaging is not included for no cost.
Rather, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your contacts or family can keep an eye on you while out jogging, cycling or similar pursuits – along with SOS orbital SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering various quotas of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
After you have got it set up, you just venture the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or comparable tasks, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and companions.
When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally via text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch functions adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of personalizable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls work acceptably, though as with most wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to on its own send a link to chosen contacts every time you begin an activity, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s great for following race progress, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, though the actual location has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.
These features are available on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and emergency SOS.
A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the line of sight 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 lifeline, however it is essential to remember that satellite service is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally serviceable with options offered via the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin provides recycling schemes on new purchases.
Price
The 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
The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.
Outcome is an even more impressive outdoor device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want 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.
This is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone provider so works with any make of smartphone and carrier.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.
Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and orbital features require monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are sluggish, limited wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
