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The latest version of the premium Fenix outdoor timepiece introduces a life-saving capability: no-phone messaging and SOS alerts using 4G LTE or orbital links.

The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile technology, plus an optional advanced microLED screen in a special edition. It is Garmin's top model and designed to be the single gadget needed to venture almost any location and monitor all your movements.

That makes it an extremely expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and climbing to a substantial £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 get a lot of features for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, activity and adventure tracking. Its complete offline mapping of the world can automatically direct you return to the trail if you get lost absent a phone, and look great on the sizable, sharp and super-bright display.

The Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm size available in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as tested boasts an extra day of watch battery life even with the display on all the time, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charging.

Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Real-Time Location

Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription plan rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable products, emergency communication is not provided for no cost.

Instead, subscriptions start at £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or family can monitor you while engaged in jogging, biking or similar activities – plus emergency satellite SOS alerts.

Check-ins and texts over satellite are then charged on top, with higher-tier plans including different allowances of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.

Once you have got it set up, you just head out outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and companions.

Whenever you text someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth using typed or voice messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile 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 tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of personalizable canned replies you can send to speed things up. Voice messages and calls work acceptably, though as with most smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for extended discussions as the quality is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s great for following race progress, but it mostly acts as a utility for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically worked well, although the actual position has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of good LTE signal.

All of these capabilities are available 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 transmit texts, location check-ins and emergency SOS.

A on-screen assistance displays you how to find the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is essential to remember that orbital service is restricted to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Environmental Impact

The watch is generally repairable with services available via the customer service site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its original power after two years of regular charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin offers recycling schemes on new purchases.

Price

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

Conclusion

This Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent adventure watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without signal.

The result is an even more impressive adventure tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.

This is very liberating 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 fee of the inReach service to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t reliant on your phone carrier so functions with all brand of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but still desires to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.

Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED screen, monitors all activities with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touchscreen.

Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite features require ongoing payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, speech capabilities are slow, limited wearable features versus competing watches.