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This most recent version of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving capability: phone-free messaging and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or orbital links.

The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a special edition. This is Garmin's top model and engineered to be the single gadget required to venture almost anywhere and monitor all your movements.

This makes it an very expensive proposition, 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 edition with microLED screen – almost double the cost of the standard Fenix 8.

Users receive a significant features for your money, with best-in-class workout, activity and outdoor monitoring. Its full offline mapping of the globe can automatically direct you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the more compact 43mm version available in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an additional day of watch battery life despite the display always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.

Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location

The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, like other wearables. But in contrast to competing satellite-enabled devices, SOS communication is not included for no cost.

Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE SMS and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while engaged in running, biking or comparable activities – plus emergency satellite SOS messaging.

Location updates and texts over orbital are then charged on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different allowances 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 simply head out outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your family and companions.

When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally via text or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.

Texting on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of customisable canned replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, although as with most smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.

LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can configure to automatically 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 race performance, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically worked well, although the real location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.

These features are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital lifeline, though it is essential to note that satellite coverage is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is typically serviceable with services available via the customer service site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused materials. Garmin provides recycling programs on recent purchases.

Price

The Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Verdict

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.

Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.

It is very liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach plan to enable the features. At least it is not dependent on your phone provider so functions with any brand of smartphone and network.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED display, monitors all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.

Cons: extremely expensive, LTE and orbital features require monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, voice features are sluggish, limited wearable functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.