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The latest model of the flagship Fenix adventure watch brings a life-saving feature: no-phone messaging and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or satellite links.

The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. This is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the only tool needed to venture almost anywhere and track every activity.

That positions it as an very pricey option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – nearly twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.

Users receive a significant functionality for your investment, with best-in-class workout, activity and adventure tracking. Its complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly direct you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.

The Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version available in other models, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an additional day of watch battery life even with the screen always active, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking

The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription service instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, as with other wearables. However in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, emergency messaging is not provided for no cost.

Rather, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and audio messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, cycling or similar activities – plus SOS satellite SOS alerts.

Location updates and messages over satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive plans including different allowances of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.

After you have completed setup, you simply venture the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and companions.

Whenever you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate reciprocally using typed or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.

Messaging on the watch works fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable pre-set responses you can use to expedite communication. Spoken recordings and calls work acceptably, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the quality is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to selected contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s great for following competition performance, but it mostly acts as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has typically functioned well, though the actual location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

All of these features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.

A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the clear view to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets messages 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 orbital service is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.

Environmental Impact

The watch is generally repairable with options available via the customer service site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin offers disposal schemes on recent purchases.

Price

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

Conclusion

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.

Outcome is an increasingly impressive adventure tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.

It is quite liberating to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with any make of smartphone and network.

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

Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED display, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touchscreen.

Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite features require ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are sluggish, basic wearable functionality compared with competing watches.