This most recent iteration of the flagship Fenix adventure timepiece brings a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or satellite connections.
This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously impressive 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 single gadget needed to venture almost anywhere and monitor every activity.
This makes it an extremely expensive proposition, priced from £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 variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.
Users receive a lot of features for your investment, with best-in-class workout, movement and outdoor monitoring. Its full offline maps of the world can automatically guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.
This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the more compact 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.
No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking
The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, like other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-enabled products, SOS communication is not included for no cost.
Instead, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or family can monitor you while out jogging, cycling or comparable pursuits – along with SOS satellite SOS messaging.
Location updates and texts via orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans including different quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.
Once you have completed setup, you just venture outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your family and friends.
When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth using typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.
Texting on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of customisable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Voice messages and calls perform acceptably, although as with most wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than ideal.
LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to on its own transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s great for following competition progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally worked effectively, though the actual location has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.
All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins 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, however it is important to note that orbital service is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.
Environmental Impact
The watch is generally repairable with services offered via the support site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin provides recycling programs on new 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 subscription plans cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
Conclusion
This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.
Outcome is an increasingly remarkable outdoor tool for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.
This is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t reliant on your phone provider so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.
This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.
Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, monitors all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.
Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial support, speech capabilities are slow, basic smartwatch features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.