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The most recent iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure watch introduces a potentially lifesaving capability: phone-free messaging and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or satellite links.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new cellular technology, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's premier device and designed to be the only tool required to venture virtually anywhere and monitor all your movements.

That positions it as an extremely expensive proposition, 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 display – almost twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.

Users get a lot of functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. Its complete offline mapping of the world can automatically direct you back to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location

The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile carrier, like other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-enabled products, SOS messaging is not included for free.

Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while out jogging, biking or similar activities – plus emergency orbital SOS messaging.

Check-ins and texts over orbital are then billed on top, with more expensive plans including different allowances of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.

Once you have completed setup, you simply venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and friends.

When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth using typed or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of customisable canned replies you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls work OK, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to on its own transmit a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s great for monitoring race progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically worked well, although the actual location has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

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

A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the clear view to the orbital system, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a crucial safety feature, however it is essential to remember that satellite coverage is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is generally serviceable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin provides recycling 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 additional Garmin inReach subscription plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Verdict

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of signal.

The result is an increasingly impressive adventure tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.

This is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so functions with any make of smartphone and network.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but still wants to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.

Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, phone and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.

Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features need ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech capabilities are sluggish, basic smartwatch features versus competing watches.