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This latest iteration of the top-tier Fenix adventure watch includes a life-saving capability: no-phone messaging and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or satellite connections.

The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an available state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. It is the brand's top model and engineered to be the only gadget required to venture virtually anywhere and monitor every activity.

That makes it an extremely pricey proposition, starting at £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 edition with microLED display – almost twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.

Users get a lot of functionality for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. The full offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look great on the sizable, sharp and high-luminance display.

The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm size available in other models, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an extra day of watch battery life even with the display always active, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charging.

No-Phone Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location

Garmin operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite subscription plan rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-capable devices, SOS messaging is not provided for free.

Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes unlimited LTE text and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in running, biking or comparable activities – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Check-ins and messages via satellite are then billed on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering different quotas of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the functionality.

Once you have completed setup, 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 comparable tasks, but you can make and take calls, send texts and generally stay connected with your family and companions.

When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally using typed or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is enough to sign up 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 canned replies you can send to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls work OK, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not fantastic.

LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can configure to on its own transmit a link to selected contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it primarily acts as a utility for someone you trust to know your location in case something happens. It has generally worked effectively, although the real position has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

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

A on-screen assistance shows you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is important to remember that orbital service is limited to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is typically repairable with options offered via the support site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin provides recycling schemes on recent purchases.

Cost

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

Verdict

This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of coverage.

The result is an even more remarkable outdoor device for those that want to be unplugged. If you wish 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 needing anything else.

It is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that capability comes at quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to enable the features. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so functions with any make of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or hiking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.

Cons: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features require ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech features are sluggish, limited wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.