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The newest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure watch introduces a life-saving capability: no-phone messaging and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or orbital connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular tech, along with an optional advanced microLED display in a limited edition. It is the brand's top device and designed to be the single tool needed to venture virtually anywhere and track every activity.

That makes it an extremely pricey option, starting at £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 price of the standard Fenix 8.

You do receive a lot of functionality for your investment, with industry-leading workout, movement and outdoor tracking. Its complete offline maps of the world can automatically direct you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.

No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location

Garmin uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-capable devices, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.

Rather, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.

Location updates and messages over orbital are then charged additionally, with more expensive subscriptions including various quotas of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.

After you have got it set up, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable activities, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.

Whenever you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate reciprocally via typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is enough to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of personalizable pre-set replies you can send to expedite communication. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition progress, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically functioned effectively, although the real location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.

These capabilities are available on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and SOS SOS.

A on-screen assistance shows you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to remember that orbital 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 site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin provides disposal schemes on new purchases.

Price

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

Conclusion

The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.

The result is an increasingly remarkable outdoor device for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing anything else.

This is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant cost, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to provide the features. At least it isn’t reliant on your phone provider so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.

Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED display, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.

Cons: very costly, LTE and satellite features require monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank support, speech capabilities are sluggish, basic smartwatch functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.