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This most recent model of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure watch includes a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or orbital connections.

The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile tech, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. This is Garmin's premier model and engineered to be the single gadget required to venture virtually anywhere and track all your movements.

This positions it as an very expensive option, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and climbing to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – almost twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.

Users receive a lot of features for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. The complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly direct you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and look excellent on the large, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm size available in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED version as tested does have an extra day of smartwatch battery life despite the display on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charges.

Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Real-Time Location

Garmin operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than relying on a watch plan tied to your phone carrier, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, emergency communication is not provided for free.

Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which includes limitless LTE text and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in running, cycling or similar pursuits – along with SOS satellite SOS messaging.

Check-ins and messages over satellite are then billed on top, with more expensive plans offering different allowances of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.

After you have got it set up, you simply head out outside without your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and companions.

When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate back and forth using text or voice communications, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of customisable pre-set replies you can send to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls work OK, though as with most wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the audio clarity is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to on its own transmit a URL to selected contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can track your live location on a map. It’s great for monitoring race performance, but it mostly serves as a utility for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically worked well, although the real location has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of good LTE signal.

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

A guide displays you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to note that orbital coverage is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is generally serviceable with options offered through the support portal. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin provides recycling schemes on recent purchases.

Cost

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

Verdict

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.

Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring additional gear.

It is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach service to enable the features. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone provider so functions with any make of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.

Pros: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED screen, monitors everything with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touch.

Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and orbital features need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial support, speech capabilities are slow, basic smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.