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This most recent iteration of the premium Fenix outdoor watch brings a life-saving feature: phone-free communication and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital links.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already impressive Fenix 8 by incorporating cutting-edge mobile tech, along with an optional advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. It is Garmin's top device and engineered to be the single tool needed to venture virtually anywhere and track every activity.

This positions it as an very expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a substantial £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – nearly double the price of the standard Fenix 8.

You do receive a lot of functionality for your money, with best-in-class fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. The complete offline maps of the world can automatically direct you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and look excellent on the sizable, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm size available in other models, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. But the 47mm OLED version as reviewed boasts an extra day of smartwatch battery life even with the display on all the time, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charging.

No-Phone Texting, Calling and Live Tracking

The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service instead of depending on a watch plan tied to your phone provider, like other smartwatches. However unlike Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, SOS communication is not provided for free.

Rather, plans start at £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 keep an eye on you while out running, biking or similar activities – along with emergency orbital SOS messaging.

Location updates and messages via orbital are then billed on top, with higher-tier subscriptions offering different quotas of satellite usage, increasing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.

After you have completed setup, you simply venture outside without your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you are able to make and take calls, send texts and generally keep in touch with your relatives and companions.

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

Texting on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is slow. It has a collection of personalizable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Voice recordings and calls perform acceptably, although as with the majority of wearables, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for lengthy discussions as the audio clarity is less than fantastic.

LiveTrack is the handiest feature. You can configure to on its own transmit a link to selected contacts whenever you begin an activity, so they can follow your live position on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you rely on to know your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically worked effectively, although the actual location has occasionally been delayed when moving in and out of good LTE coverage.

All of these features are accessible on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, position updates and SOS SOS.

A guide shows you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a crucial lifeline, though it is essential to note that satellite service is restricted to the US continent, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia above 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is typically repairable with options offered through the customer service site. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any recycled components. Garmin provides disposal schemes on recent purchases.

Price

This 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 builds on a fantastic outdoor watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital communication, location update and emergency SOS for when you’re without signal.

The result is an increasingly impressive adventure device for those that desire to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while exercising after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.

It is quite liberating to be outside without a phone, but that functionality comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to enable the service. At least it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with any brand of smartphone and carrier.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a top-tier gadget for someone who dislikes being burdened by their phone when jogging, biking or hiking, but nevertheless wants to be trackable and contactable. For other users, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED screen, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and offline voice control, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline maps and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre diving, buttons and touchscreen.

Cons: very costly, LTE and orbital functions require ongoing subscription, restricted Garmin Pay bank support, voice features are slow, basic wearable features versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.