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The most recent version of the flagship Fenix adventure timepiece brings a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or satellite links.

The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. It is the brand's premier model and engineered to be the only tool needed to explore almost any location and monitor all your movements.

That positions it as an extremely pricey option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.

Users receive a significant features for your investment, with best-in-class workout, movement and outdoor monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the large, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.

The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of watch battery life despite the screen on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.

Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location

The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, as with other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not provided for free.

Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out running, biking or comparable activities – along with SOS orbital SOS alerts.

Check-ins and texts via satellite are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans offering different quotas of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.

After you have completed setup, you simply head out the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and companions.

When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally via text or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a mobile number is sufficient to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch functions adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable canned responses you can use to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls perform OK, 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 automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has typically functioned well, although the actual location has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.

These features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.

A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the line of sight to the orbital system, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is important to note that satellite coverage is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is generally serviceable with services available through the customer service portal. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused components. Garmin provides recycling schemes on new purchases.

Cost

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

Verdict

This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.

Outcome is an even more remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.

It is very freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to provide the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still wants to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.

Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.

Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite features require monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, voice features are sluggish, limited wearable functionality versus competing watches.