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The latest version of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor watch includes a life-saving capability: phone-free communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or orbital links.

This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new mobile technology, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. It is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the only tool needed to venture virtually anywhere and monitor every activity.

This positions it as an extremely pricey option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED display – almost twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.

You do receive a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor monitoring. Its full offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly guide you return to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.

The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size found in other models, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an extra day of watch battery life despite the display always active, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.

Phone-Free Messaging, Calls and Real-Time Location

The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other wearables. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, emergency communication is not included for free.

Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in running, cycling or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.

Location updates and messages over orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans including different allowances of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.

After you have got it set up, you simply head out the door minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and friends.

When you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth via typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable canned replies you can send to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work OK, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not fantastic.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to automatically send a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s great for following race performance, but it primarily serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has generally worked well, although the real location has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

These capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.

A guide displays you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital lifeline, though it is essential to remember that orbital service is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.

Sustainability

The watch is generally serviceable with options available through the support site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin provides disposal schemes on recent purchases.

Price

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

Conclusion

The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.

Outcome is an increasingly impressive outdoor tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring additional gear.

This is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it is not dependent on your phone provider so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.

Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.

Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite features require ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial support, speech features are slow, basic smartwatch features compared with competing watches.