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This latest model of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, plus an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's top device and designed to be the single tool needed to explore almost any location and track every activity.

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

Users receive a significant features for your money, with best-in-class fitness, activity and adventure monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the globe can automatically guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the large, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm size found 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 smartwatch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.

No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location

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

Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – along with SOS orbital SOS messaging.

Location updates and texts over orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans including 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 test out the service.

Once you have completed setup, you just venture the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.

Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone 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 text or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable pre-set replies you can send to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls work OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to on its own send a link to selected contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition progress, but it mostly acts as a utility for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, though the real position has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.

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

A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is important to remember that satellite service is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is typically repairable with services offered via the customer service portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused components. Garmin offers disposal programs on new purchases.

Price

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 begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Conclusion

The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.

Outcome is an increasingly impressive outdoor device for those that desire to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.

This is quite liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to provide the service. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so functions with any make of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.

Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital functions require monthly subscription, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, speech features are sluggish, limited wearable functionality versus competing watches.