🔗 Share this article

The newest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor watch includes a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free communication and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or satellite connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular technology, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's top device and designed to be the only gadget required to venture almost anywhere and track every activity.

This positions it as an extremely pricey option, priced from £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 display – almost double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.

You do receive a significant features for your investment, with best-in-class workout, activity and outdoor tracking. The full offline mapping of the world can automatically guide you back to the path if you lose your way without a phone, and appear great on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking

The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, as with other wearables. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, SOS messaging is not provided for free.

Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Check-ins and messages over satellite are then billed on top, with higher-tier plans offering different allowances of satellite use, 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.

After you have completed setup, you just head out the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your family and friends.

Whenever you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally via typed or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is enough to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of customisable pre-set responses you can send to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls work acceptably, though as with most wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for extended discussions as the quality is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to automatically send a link to selected contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has generally worked effectively, although the actual location has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.

All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and SOS 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 crucial lifeline, though it is important to remember that satellite coverage is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is generally repairable with options available via the customer service portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused materials. Garmin offers recycling programs on recent purchases.

Price

The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Conclusion

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.

The result is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while running out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.

This is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries quite a price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so functions with all brand of smartphone and network.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.

Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED display, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.

Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite features need monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, speech features are sluggish, limited smartwatch features compared with competing watches.