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This latest model of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a life-saving feature: phone-free communication and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding new mobile technology, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is the brand's top model and engineered to be the single gadget needed to explore almost any location and track every activity.

This positions it as an very expensive option, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED display – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.

Users get a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor monitoring. Its complete offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly direct you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and look great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an additional day of smartwatch battery life even with the display always active, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location

Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription service rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your phone provider, like other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, SOS communication is not provided for free.

Rather, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or similar activities – plus emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Location updates and messages over satellite are then billed additionally, with higher-tier plans including different allowances of orbital usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.

After 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 streaming music or comparable activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your family and companions.

When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth via typed or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is enough to register for texts.

Texting on the watch works fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of customisable pre-set responses you can use to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls perform acceptably, though as with most wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to automatically send a link to selected contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally functioned well, though the actual location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

These features are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.

A guide displays you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is important to note that satellite service is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is typically serviceable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any recycled 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 optional Garmin inReach subscription plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Verdict

This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.

The result is an increasingly impressive adventure tool for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while running out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.

It is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to enable the service. At least it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so functions with any make of smartphone and network.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when running, cycling or hiking, but still desires to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.

Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED display, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touch.

Cons: very expensive, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech features are sluggish, basic smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.