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The latest iteration of Garmin's top-tier Fenix outdoor timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving feature: no-phone messaging and SOS messaging using 4G LTE or orbital links.

The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an available advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is Garmin's premier model and designed to be the only tool required to explore virtually anywhere and track every activity.

This makes it an extremely expensive option, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – nearly double the cost of the regular Fenix 8.

You do receive a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor monitoring. The complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly direct you back to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and appear great on the large, sharp and high-luminance display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size found in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as reviewed boasts an additional day of watch battery life despite the screen on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking

Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, SOS communication is not included for no cost.

Instead, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while out jogging, cycling or comparable activities – plus SOS satellite SOS alerts.

Location updates and texts via orbital are then billed additionally, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different allowances of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.

After you have got it set up, you simply head out the door without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, send texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.

Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally using text or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, just a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch works fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of customisable canned responses you can send to expedite communication. Spoken recordings and calls perform OK, though as with most smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts every time you begin an activity, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race performance, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally worked well, though the real location has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

All of these capabilities are accessible 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 send texts, location updates and emergency SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to note that satellite coverage is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is generally serviceable with services available 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 recycled materials. Garmin provides disposal schemes on recent purchases.

Price

This Fenix 8 Pro is priced 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).

Conclusion

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

Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring additional gear.

This is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries a significant cost, 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 dependent on your phone carrier so works with all make of smartphone and network.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, biking or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant expense when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.

Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, voice capabilities are sluggish, limited smartwatch functionality versus competing watches.