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The most recent iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or orbital links.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding new mobile tech, plus an available advanced microLED display in a special edition. It is Garmin's top device and engineered to be the single tool needed to explore almost anywhere and track every activity.

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

You do get a lot of functionality for your money, with best-in-class fitness, activity and adventure monitoring. The full offline mapping of the world can automatically direct you return to the path if you lose your way without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the screen on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.

No-Phone Texting, Calling and Live Tracking

The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, as with other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-capable products, SOS messaging is not included for free.

Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE text and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while out jogging, biking or similar pursuits – along with emergency satellite SOS messaging.

Check-ins and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with higher-tier subscriptions including various quotas of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.

Once you have got it set up, you just head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and friends.

Whenever you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally using text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, only a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of personalizable canned replies you can use to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls work OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest 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 live location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically worked well, though the real position has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.

All of these capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and SOS SOS.

A guide displays you how to find the line of sight to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is important to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is generally serviceable with services available through the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused materials. Garmin provides recycling programs on recent purchases.

Cost

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

Conclusion

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

The result is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.

This is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to enable the features. At least it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so functions with any brand of smartphone and network.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.

Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.

Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial support, voice capabilities are sluggish, basic wearable functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.