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This latest version of the premium Fenix adventure watch brings a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or orbital connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by adding cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an optional advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. This is the brand's top model and engineered to be the only tool required to venture almost any location and monitor all your movements.

That positions it as an extremely pricey proposition, starting at £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 display – almost twice the cost of the regular Fenix 8.

Users receive a lot of features for your investment, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. Its complete offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you return to the trail if you get lost without a phone, and look great on the sizable, crisp and high-luminance touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, not the more compact 43mm size available in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the screen always active, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.

Phone-Free Messaging, Calls and Real-Time Location

Garmin uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service plan instead of relying on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, like other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, emergency communication is not included for no cost.

Rather, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides unlimited LTE text and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack position tracking – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while engaged in running, biking or comparable activities – plus SOS orbital SOS alerts.

Check-ins and messages via orbital are then charged on top, with more expensive plans including different quotas of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited plan. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service.

Once you have completed setup, you simply venture 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 place and receive calls, send texts and overall stay connected with your family and friends.

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

Messaging on the watch functions adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a set of personalizable canned replies you can use to expedite communication. Spoken messages and calls perform OK, although as with the majority of smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than ideal.

LiveTrack is the handiest function. You can configure to on its own send a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can track your real time location on a map. It’s great for following race performance, but it mostly acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned effectively, although the real position has occasionally lagged when transitioning in and out of strong LTE coverage.

These features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you carry your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and SOS SOS.

A guide displays you how to find the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to remember that satellite coverage is restricted to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe except for regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is typically repairable with options offered via the customer service portal. The battery is rated to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin provides disposal schemes on new purchases.

Cost

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

Verdict

The Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with satellite messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.

Outcome is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that want to be phone-free. If you wish to have someone monitor you remotely while exercising after dark or in the remote areas, the Garmin does so without needing additional gear.

It is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries a significant price, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. At least it is not reliant on your phone provider so functions with all brand of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be locatable and reachable. For other users, it is a lot of money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.

Drawbacks: extremely expensive, LTE and satellite features need ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial compatibility, speech capabilities are slow, limited smartwatch functionality compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.