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The latest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure watch includes a life-saving capability: phone-free messaging and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or satellite connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, plus an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is the brand's premier model and designed to be the only tool needed to venture virtually any location and monitor every activity.

That positions it as an very expensive option, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.

Users get a significant functionality for your investment, with industry-leading workout, activity and outdoor tracking. The complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the large, crisp and high-luminance display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, 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 does have an extra day of watch battery life even with the display always active, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.

Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location

Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, like other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not included for free.

Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, biking or similar activities – plus SOS satellite SOS alerts.

Check-ins and messages over orbital are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions offering various quotas of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.

After you have got it set up, you simply venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar activities, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and friends.

When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth via typed or spoken communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is enough to register for texts.

Texting on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of customisable canned responses you can send to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the quality is not fantastic.

LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically send a link to selected contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s great for following competition performance, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned effectively, though the actual position has sometimes been delayed 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 areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.

A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, however it is essential to note that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.

Environmental Impact

The watch is generally repairable with options offered via the customer service site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin provides disposal programs on recent purchases.

Cost

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

Verdict

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.

The result is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.

It is quite liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to enable the features. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone provider so works with all make of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED display, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in flashlight, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.

Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite functions require ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch functionality versus competing watches.