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The most recent version of the premium Fenix outdoor watch includes a life-saving capability: phone-free communication and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or satellite connections.

The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile tech, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. This is Garmin's top device and engineered to be the only tool required to explore almost any location and track every activity.

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

You do get a lot of functionality for your money, with industry-leading workout, movement and adventure monitoring. Its complete offline maps of the globe can automatically direct you back to the trail if you lose your way absent a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance touchscreen.

This 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 big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an additional day of watch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.

No-Phone Texting, Calls and Live Tracking

The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription service rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, like other wearables. However in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.

Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or family can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, biking or similar pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Check-ins and texts via orbital are then charged additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions offering various allowances of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive 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 without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable activities, but you are able to place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and friends.

When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally via typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable canned replies you can send to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls perform acceptably, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for extended discussions as the quality is not fantastic.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned well, though the actual position has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.

These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE does not reach, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and SOS SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate the clear view to the satellite, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is essential to remember that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.

Environmental Impact

The watch is typically repairable with options offered via 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 reused components. Garmin provides disposal schemes 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

The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.

Outcome is an increasingly remarkable outdoor tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.

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

The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but still wants 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 screen, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, 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 need ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are slow, limited smartwatch features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.