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The most recent version of the premium Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or satellite links.

This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular tech, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a limited edition. This is Garmin's premier device and designed to be the single tool needed to venture almost anywhere and track all your movements.

This positions it as an extremely pricey proposition, 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 display – nearly twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.

Users receive a significant functionality for your money, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. Its full offline mapping of the world can seamlessly direct you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and look great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an additional day of watch battery life even with the screen always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.

Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location

Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, like other wearables. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, SOS communication is not included for free.

Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in running, biking or comparable pursuits – along with emergency satellite SOS alerts.

Location updates and texts via orbital are then billed on top, with more expensive subscriptions including different quotas of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.

After you have completed setup, you simply venture outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and companions.

When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then message reciprocally using text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a set of customisable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls perform acceptably, although as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case something happens. It has generally worked well, although the actual location has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.

These features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and SOS SOS.

A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the clear view 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 crucial lifeline, however it is essential to note that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.

Sustainability

The watch is typically repairable with options available through the support 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 offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.

Cost

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

Conclusion

This Fenix 8 Pro takes a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.

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

It is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to enable the features. At least it is not reliant on your phone carrier so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.

Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED display, tracks everything with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, voice and offline commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.

Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and orbital functions need monthly payment, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech capabilities are sluggish, basic smartwatch features compared with competing watches.