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This newest model of the flagship Fenix adventure timepiece includes a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or orbital links.

This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, along with an available advanced microLED display in a special edition. It is Garmin's top model and engineered to be the single gadget needed to venture almost any location and track every activity.

That positions it as an extremely pricey 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 edition with microLED screen – nearly twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.

Users get a significant features for your money, with best-in-class workout, movement and adventure monitoring. The full offline mapping of the world can automatically direct you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance display.

The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the more compact 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the display always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking

The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, as with other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-capable devices, SOS messaging is not included for free.

Instead, plans start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while engaged in running, biking or comparable pursuits – plus SOS satellite SOS messaging.

Check-ins and texts via satellite are then charged additionally, with more expensive subscriptions offering various quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.

Once you have got it set up, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and companions.

When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally using typed or voice communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a set of personalizable pre-set responses you can send to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls perform OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to on its own transmit a link to chosen contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has generally worked effectively, although the actual position has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.

These features are available 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, position updates and SOS SOS.

A guide displays you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is essential to remember that satellite coverage is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is generally repairable with options offered through the customer service portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.

Cost

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

Conclusion

The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.

Outcome is an even more remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing anything else.

It is quite liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to provide the service. At least it is not dependent on your phone provider so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but still desires to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.

Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED display, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated torch, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.

Cons: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite functions require monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, speech capabilities are sluggish, basic wearable functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.