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The latest version of Garmin's premium Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a life-saving feature: phone-free communication and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or satellite connections.

The Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile technology, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. This is the brand's top device and engineered to be the single gadget needed to venture virtually anywhere 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 version and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – nearly double the cost of the standard Fenix 8.

You do get a lot of features for your money, with industry-leading fitness, activity and adventure monitoring. Its complete offline mapping of the world can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you get lost absent a phone, and appear excellent on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm size found in other models, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location

Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other smartwatches. However in contrast to competing satellite-capable products, emergency communication is not provided for no cost.

Rather, plans start at £7.99 or similar a month, which provides limitless LTE text and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can keep an eye on you while out jogging, cycling or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Location updates and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering various allowances of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.

After you have got it set up, you simply venture the door minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your family and companions.

When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth via typed or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.

Texting on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of customisable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work OK, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is not fantastic.

LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can set it up to automatically send a link to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your location in case something happens. It has typically functioned well, although the real position has sometimes been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE signal.

All of these features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry 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 find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital lifeline, however it is essential to note that satellite service is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is generally repairable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin provides recycling programs on recent purchases.

Cost

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

Verdict

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

Outcome is an even more remarkable adventure device for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without needing additional gear.

It is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability carries quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so functions with any brand of smartphone and network.

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

Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.

Cons: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite functions require ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay bank support, voice features are sluggish, limited wearable features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.