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This newest version of Garmin's flagship Fenix adventure timepiece includes a potentially lifesaving feature: no-phone messaging and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge mobile technology, plus an available state-of-the-art microLED display in a special edition. It is the brand's premier model and designed to be the only gadget required to venture virtually any location and monitor all your movements.

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

Users get a significant functionality for your money, with best-in-class fitness, movement and adventure tracking. The complete offline maps of the world can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and super-bright display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the more compact 43mm size found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed does have an additional day of watch battery life even with the screen always active, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charges.

Phone-Free Texting, Calls and Live Tracking

The company operates its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, as with other smartwatches. However unlike competing satellite-enabled products, emergency messaging is not provided for no cost.

Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your contacts or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, biking or comparable activities – along with SOS satellite SOS messaging.

Location updates and texts via orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive plans including different quotas of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive subscription. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the service.

After you have completed setup, you simply head out the door without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You cannot 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 message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally using typed or spoken communications, and make voice calls. Your contact does not need a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is enough to register for texts.

Texting on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of customisable canned responses you can send to expedite communication. Voice recordings and calls work OK, although as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for extended conversations as the quality is not ideal.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can configure to automatically send a link to selected contacts whenever you start an activity, so they can follow your real time position on a map. It’s excellent for monitoring competition performance, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned well, although the real position has sometimes lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.

These capabilities are available on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and emergency SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate the line of sight to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, though it is important to note that satellite service is limited to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is generally repairable with options available through the customer service portal. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any reused materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on new 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 begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Verdict

The Fenix 8 Pro takes a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.

The result is an even more impressive outdoor tool for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while running out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.

This is quite freeing to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries quite a price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring subscription of the inReach plan to provide the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so functions with all make of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, cycling or trekking, but still desires to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a lot of expense when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.

Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in flashlight, phone and offline voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touch.

Drawbacks: very expensive, LTE and satellite features require monthly subscription, limited Garmin Pay financial support, voice features are slow, basic smartwatch functionality compared with competing watches.