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This latest iteration of the top-tier Fenix outdoor timepiece brings a potentially lifesaving feature: phone-free communication and SOS alerts via 4G LTE or orbital links.

This Fenix 8 Pro upgrades the previously outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new cellular technology, plus an optional advanced microLED screen in a limited edition. This is Garmin's top model and designed to be the single gadget needed to venture almost anywhere and track every activity.

That positions it as an very pricey 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 variant with microLED screen – nearly twice the cost of the standard Fenix 8.

You do get a significant functionality for your money, with industry-leading fitness, activity and outdoor tracking. The full offline maps of the globe can seamlessly guide you back to the path if you get lost without a phone, and appear excellent on the large, sharp and high-luminance touchscreen.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only offered in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the more compact 43mm version found in other models, so it is a large watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested does have an extra day of watch battery life despite the display always active, lasting a reliable eight to nine days between charges.

Phone-Free Messaging, Calling and Live Tracking

The company operates its own inReach LTE (4G) and orbital subscription service instead of depending on a watch plan linked to your mobile provider, as with other wearables. But in contrast to Apple or Google's satellite-enabled products, SOS communication is not provided for free.

Instead, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE SMS and audio messaging, calls and LiveTrack position sharing – so your friends or loved ones can keep an eye on you while out jogging, biking or comparable pursuits – along with SOS orbital SOS alerts.

Check-ins and messages via satellite are then billed on top, with more expensive plans offering various allowances of satellite use, climbing to a £50 a month all-inclusive plan. The watch includes a 30-day trial period so you can evaluate the service.

Once you have completed setup, you just head out outside minus your phone and the watch will link to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or comparable activities, but you can place and receive calls, dispatch texts and generally stay connected with your relatives and companions.

When you message someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a arbitrary phone number, which they can reply to back to your watch. If they download the Garmin Messenger application, you can then communicate reciprocally using text or voice communications, and make voice calls. Your recipient is not required to have a Garmin account to use the Messenger app, just a phone number is sufficient to register for texts.

Texting on the watch works fine but composing texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It includes a set of customisable pre-set replies you can use to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform OK, though 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 most useful function. You can set it up to automatically transmit a URL to selected contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your real time location on a map. It’s great for monitoring competition performance, but it primarily serves as a tool for someone you rely on to know your location in case an incident occurs. It has generally functioned well, though the actual position has occasionally been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.

These features are available on other Garmin watches if you bring your phone with you, but in areas where LTE lacks coverage, the satellite activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position updates and emergency SOS.

A on-screen assistance displays you how to locate the line of sight to the orbital system, which then transmits and gets communications within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly straightforward to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is essential to remember that orbital coverage is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and the majority of Europe excluding regions of Scandinavia above 65 degrees north.

Environmental Impact

The watch is typically serviceable with services offered via the customer service portal. The battery is certified to maintain at least 90% of its initial power after two years of regular charging. The watch lacks any recycled materials. Garmin offers recycling schemes on recent purchases.

Price

This Fenix 8 Pro costs 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).

Verdict

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent outdoor watch in the standard Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for texting, call functionality and LiveTrack – plus orbital messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for when you’re out of signal.

The result is an even more impressive adventure device for those that desire to be unplugged. If you want to have someone monitor you remotely while running after dark or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin does so without requiring additional gear.

It is quite freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability carries a significant price, both in terms of the substantial price of the watch and the recurring fee of the inReach plan to enable the features. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with any make of smartphone and carrier.

The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who hates being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but still wants to be locatable and contactable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and satellite messaging, super-bright OLED display, tracks all activities with premier GPS, built-in torch, voice and standalone voice control, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and navigation, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre underwater use, buttons and touchscreen.

Cons: very costly, LTE and satellite functions require ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are sluggish, limited smartwatch features compared with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.