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This most recent iteration of the flagship Fenix adventure watch includes a life-saving capability: no-phone messaging and emergency messaging using 4G LTE or satellite connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, plus an available advanced microLED display in a special edition. This is the brand's top device and designed to be the single tool required to explore almost any location and track every activity.

That makes it an very expensive option, 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 variant with microLED screen – almost double the price of the regular Fenix 8.

Users receive a significant features for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the globe can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.

The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an additional day of watch battery life even with the screen 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 subscription service instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other wearables. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, SOS communication is not provided for free.

Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in running, biking or comparable pursuits – along with emergency satellite SOS messaging.

Location updates and messages over orbital are then billed additionally, with higher-tier plans offering different allowances of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.

After you have completed setup, you just head out 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, send texts and overall stay connected with your family and companions.

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

Messaging on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable pre-set replies you can send to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls work acceptably, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can set it up to on its own send a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it mostly acts as a utility for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically functioned well, though the actual position has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of good LTE signal.

All of these capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and SOS SOS.

A guide displays you how to locate the clear view 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, however it is essential to remember that satellite coverage is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is generally repairable with services available through the support site. The battery is rated to retain 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 new 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

The Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of signal.

The result is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while running out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.

It is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to enable the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.

Pros: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.

Cons: extremely costly, LTE and orbital functions need ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech capabilities are slow, limited wearable functionality versus competing watches.