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The latest model of Garmin's flagship Fenix outdoor watch introduces a life-saving capability: no-phone communication and SOS messaging via 4G LTE or satellite links.

This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge cellular technology, along with an optional advanced microLED display in a limited edition. It is the brand's premier model and designed to be the single gadget required to explore almost any location and monitor every activity.

That positions it as an extremely pricey 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 display – almost double the price of the standard Fenix 8.

You do receive a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading workout, movement and adventure monitoring. The full offline maps of the world can automatically direct you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.

The Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, omitting the smaller 43mm version available in other devices, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as reviewed does have an additional day of smartwatch battery life despite the screen on all the time, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.

No-Phone Texting, Calling and Live Tracking

The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than depending on a watch plan linked to your phone carrier, like other smartwatches. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, emergency messaging is not provided for no cost.

Rather, subscriptions start at £7.99 or similar a month, which includes unlimited LTE SMS and voice messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack location tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – plus emergency satellite SOS alerts.

Check-ins and texts over orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive plans offering various allowances of orbital use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the functionality.

After you have got it set up, you just head out the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for playing music or similar tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall stay connected with your relatives and friends.

When you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random phone number, which they can respond to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth via text or spoken messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.

Texting on the watch functions fine but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable canned responses you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform OK, though as with the majority of wearables, you’re not going to want to use it for lengthy discussions as the quality is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can configure to automatically send a link to selected contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring race progress, but it mostly serves as a tool for someone you trust to be aware of your whereabouts in case something happens. It has typically worked effectively, though the real position has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

All of these features are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and SOS SOS.

A guide shows you how to find the line of sight to the orbital system, 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 essential to remember that orbital coverage is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees north.

Sustainability

The watch is generally serviceable with options available through the customer service site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin provides 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 optional Garmin inReach service packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Conclusion

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite communication, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re out of signal.

The result is an increasingly impressive outdoor device for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you from afar while running out at night or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing anything else.

This is very liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries quite a price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to provide the features. Fortunately it isn’t dependent on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but nevertheless desires to be locatable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.

Pros: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated flashlight, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.

Cons: very expensive, LTE and satellite functions need ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech features are sluggish, limited wearable functionality versus competing watches.