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The newest model of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure watch includes a life-saving capability: phone-free communication and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or orbital connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an optional advanced microLED display in a special edition. It is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the only tool required to venture virtually any location and track every activity.

That positions it as an very pricey proposition, starting at £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 edition with microLED screen – nearly twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.

Users get a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. Its full offline maps of the world can automatically guide you return to the path if you lose your way without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance display.

The Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an additional day of smartwatch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location

Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription service instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, as with other smartwatches. But in contrast to competing satellite-capable devices, SOS communication is not provided for no cost.

Rather, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE text and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while out jogging, cycling or comparable activities – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.

Check-ins and texts via orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering various quotas of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.

After you have got it set up, you just venture outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your family and friends.

Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth using typed or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of personalizable canned replies you can use to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls work OK, although as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to on its own transmit a URL to chosen contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race performance, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has generally functioned well, although the real location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.

All of these capabilities are accessible 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 emergency SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate 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 crucial lifeline, however it is essential to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is generally repairable with services offered through the support portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin offers disposal programs on recent purchases.

Cost

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

Conclusion

This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.

The result is an even more impressive adventure tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor 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 carries quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to enable the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED display, monitors all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.

Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, voice features are slow, basic smartwatch features compared with competing watches.