Garmin Fenix 8 Pro Review: Built-in LTE and Satellite Connectivity for Phone-Free Messaging

This latest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure watch brings a life-saving feature: no-phone messaging and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or orbital links.

The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding new cellular technology, plus an optional advanced microLED display in a special edition. It is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the single tool needed to explore virtually any location and track every activity.

This positions it as an extremely pricey option, 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 – almost double the price of the regular Fenix 8.

You do get a significant functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. The complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and appear great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the display always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.

Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking

The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-enabled devices, SOS messaging is not included for free.

Instead, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, cycling or comparable pursuits – plus emergency satellite SOS alerts.

Check-ins and messages over orbital are then billed on top, with higher-tier plans offering different quotas of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.

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 comparable tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your family and friends.

Whenever you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message back and forth via text or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is enough to register for texts.

Texting on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable pre-set replies you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls perform acceptably, although as with most wearables, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically transmit a link to selected contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned well, although the real location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.

These features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.

A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is essential to remember that satellite coverage is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is typically serviceable with services offered via the customer service portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin provides disposal schemes on recent purchases.

Price

The 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).

Verdict

The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.

Outcome is an even more impressive adventure tool for those that want to be phone-free. 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 does so without requiring additional gear.

It is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries quite a cost, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. 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 running, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless 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 orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED display, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.

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