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This latest version of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure timepiece includes a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an optional advanced microLED screen in a special edition. This is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the only tool needed to explore virtually anywhere and monitor 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 version and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED screen – almost twice the price of the standard Fenix 8.

You do get a significant functionality for your investment, with industry-leading fitness, movement and adventure monitoring. The complete offline maps of the globe can automatically direct you return to the path if you get lost without a phone, and appear great on the sizable, sharp and super-bright display.

The Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm size found in other devices, 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 screen always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking

Garmin uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service service rather than relying on a watch plan linked to your mobile carrier, like other smartwatches. But unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, SOS communication is not provided for no cost.

Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and audio messages, call functionality and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, biking or similar pursuits – along with emergency orbital SOS alerts.

Location updates and messages via orbital are then charged on top, with higher-tier plans offering various quotas of orbital use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.

After you have completed setup, you just head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or similar activities, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your family and friends.

Whenever you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then message back and forth via text or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, only a phone number is sufficient to sign up for texts.

Texting on the watch works adequately but typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a set of personalizable canned replies you can send to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls perform OK, though as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re not going to want to use it for extended conversations as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.

LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can set it up to automatically send a URL to chosen contacts every time you begin an exercise, so they can track your live position on a map. It’s great for following competition performance, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you trust to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked well, although the real location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.

These features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE does not reach, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and emergency SOS.

A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the clear view 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 crucial safety feature, however it is important to remember that satellite service is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and most of Europe except for parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is generally serviceable with services offered through the customer service site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled materials. Garmin offers 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 optional Garmin inReach service packages begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Conclusion

The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and adds LTE for texting, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without coverage.

Outcome is an increasingly remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you wish to have someone monitor you from afar while running after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring additional gear.

It is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality comes at quite a price, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach service to provide the service. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with all brand of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer device for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when running, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and contactable. For other users, it is a lot of expense when the excellent Fenix 8 is already available.

Advantages: LTE and satellite communication, super-bright OLED screen, monitors everything with best-in-class GPS, integrated flashlight, phone and offline commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, physical controls and touchscreen.

Drawbacks: very costly, LTE and orbital functions require ongoing payment, limited Garmin Pay financial compatibility, voice features are sluggish, basic smartwatch features compared with competing watches.