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This newest iteration of Garmin's premium Fenix adventure watch includes a life-saving capability: phone-free communication and emergency alerts via 4G LTE or satellite connections.

The Fenix 8 Pro builds upon the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by adding new mobile tech, plus an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a limited edition. This is the brand's premier model and designed to be the only gadget needed to explore almost anywhere and monitor all your movements.

That makes it an very pricey proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm edition with microLED display – almost twice the price of the regular Fenix 8.

You do get a significant functionality for your money, with best-in-class fitness, activity and adventure tracking. The full offline maps of the world can automatically direct you return to the path if you get lost without a phone, and appear great on the sizable, crisp and super-bright touchscreen.

The Fenix 8 Pro is exclusively offered in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm size available in other models, so it is a big watch for larger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life despite the screen always active, enduring a reliable eight to nine days between charging.

No-Phone Messaging, Calls and Live Tracking

The company uses its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital service service rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, like other smartwatches. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-capable devices, SOS messaging is not provided for no cost.

Instead, subscriptions begin from £7.99 or equivalent a month, which provides limitless LTE text and voice messages, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your contacts or loved ones can monitor you while engaged in running, cycling or comparable activities – along with SOS orbital SOS messaging.

Location updates and texts via satellite are then charged on top, with more expensive plans offering different quotas of satellite usage, climbing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch includes a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate the service.

After you have completed setup, you just venture outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can place and receive calls, send texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and companions.

When you message someone, Garmin dispatches them an SMS from a random number, which they can respond to back to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate back and forth via typed or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your recipient does not need a Garmin profile to use the Messenger application, only a phone number is enough to sign up for texts.

Messaging on the watch functions fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is slow. It includes a collection of personalizable pre-set responses you can use to speed things up. Spoken messages and calls perform OK, although as with most wearables, you’re unlikely going to want to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is not fantastic.

LiveTrack is the most useful feature. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to chosen contacts every time you start an exercise, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for following competition performance, but it mostly acts as a utility for someone you rely on to know your location in case something happens. It has generally functioned well, although the actual location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of good LTE coverage.

All of these features are accessible on other Garmin watches if you carry your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to send texts, location check-ins and SOS SOS.

A guide shows you how to locate 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 important to note that orbital service is limited to the US mainland, the majority of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.

Sustainability

The watch is typically repairable with services available via the support site. The battery is rated to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch lacks any reused materials. Garmin offers disposal programs on new purchases.

Cost

The Fenix 8 Pro is priced from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The optional Garmin inReach service plans begin from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Verdict

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a fantastic adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and adds LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, check-in and SOS SOS for when you’re without coverage.

The result is an even more remarkable adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you from afar while exercising out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring anything else.

This is quite liberating to be outdoors without a phone, but that functionality carries quite a cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach service to enable the service. Fortunately it is not reliant on your phone carrier so works with all make of smartphone and network.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when running, cycling or hiking, but nevertheless desires to be trackable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a lot of money when the superb Fenix 8 is already available.

Advantages: LTE and orbital communication, high-luminance OLED screen, tracks everything with premier GPS, integrated torch, voice and standalone commands, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, complete offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touchscreen.

Cons: extremely costly, LTE and satellite features need monthly payment, restricted Garmin Pay financial support, voice capabilities are slow, limited wearable features versus competing watches.