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This newest version of the flagship Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or orbital links.

This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular technology, plus an optional advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is the brand's premier model and engineered to be the only tool needed to explore almost any location and monitor every activity.

This makes it an very expensive proposition, priced from £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.

Users receive a lot of functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor monitoring. Its complete offline maps of the globe can automatically guide you return to the path if you lose your way absent a phone, and look great on the sizable, sharp and super-bright display.

The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm size found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.

Phone-Free Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location

Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, as with other wearables. However unlike competing satellite-capable devices, emergency messaging is not included for no cost.

Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in running, biking or similar pursuits – plus emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Location updates and messages over orbital are then charged on top, with higher-tier plans including various allowances of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.

After you have completed setup, you just venture outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you can make and take calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your family and friends.

Whenever you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth via text or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is enough to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a collection of customisable pre-set replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls work OK, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is not fantastic.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to on its own transmit a link to selected contacts whenever you begin an exercise, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s great for monitoring race performance, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned effectively, although the real position has occasionally lagged when moving in and out of good LTE signal.

These capabilities are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location updates and SOS SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight to the orbital system, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is essential to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.

Sustainability

The watch is generally serviceable with services available through the support site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any reused components. Garmin offers recycling programs on new purchases.

Price

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

Verdict

The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.

The result is an even more impressive outdoor device for those that want to be phone-free. If you want 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 anything else.

This is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the monthly subscription of the inReach service to enable the service. At least it isn’t reliant on your phone provider so works with all make of smartphone and network.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, phone and standalone voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.

Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite features need ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay bank compatibility, speech features are slow, basic smartwatch functionality compared with competing watches.