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The newest iteration of the flagship Fenix adventure watch introduces a life-saving feature: no-phone communication and emergency messaging via 4G LTE or orbital links.

The Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile technology, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. This is Garmin's top model and engineered to be the single gadget needed to explore almost any location and track all your movements.

That makes it an extremely expensive option, priced from £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 variant with microLED screen – nearly double the price of the regular Fenix 8.

You do get a significant functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, movement and outdoor tracking. Its complete offline maps of the globe can automatically guide you back to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.

The Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm version found in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an additional day of watch battery life despite the display always active, lasting a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location

The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, as with other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled devices, SOS messaging is not provided for no cost.

Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and voice messages, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your friends or loved ones can monitor you while out running, cycling or similar activities – along with SOS satellite SOS alerts.

Check-ins and messages over orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive subscriptions offering different allowances of orbital usage, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the functionality.

Once you have got it set up, you simply venture outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot use it for playing music or comparable tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your family and companions.

Whenever you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message reciprocally using typed or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.

Texting on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of customisable canned replies you can send to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls work OK, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for extended discussions as the quality is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can configure to automatically send a link to chosen contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for following competition progress, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned well, although the real location has sometimes lagged when moving in and out of strong LTE coverage.

All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate the clear view to the orbital system, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial safety feature, though it is important to remember that satellite service is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.

Environmental Impact

The watch is typically repairable with options available via the support site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on new purchases.

Cost

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

Verdict

The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – along with satellite communication, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.

Outcome is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that desire to be phone-free. 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 requiring anything else.

It is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant price, both in terms of the substantial cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to provide the features. At least it isn’t dependent on your phone provider so works with any make of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier device for someone who hates being burdened by their phone when running, cycling or trekking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with best-in-class GPS, integrated torch, phone and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.

Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and orbital functions require ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are slow, limited smartwatch functionality compared with competing watches.