This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you may go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/21/garmin-fenix-8-pro-review-built-in-lte-satellite-phone-free-messaging
and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us
The newest replace to Garmin’s class-leading Fenix journey watch provides one thing that would save your life: phone-free communications and emergency messaging on 4G or by way of satellite tv for pc.
The Fenix 8 Pro takes the already improbable Fenix 8 and provides within the new mobile tech, plus the choice of a cutting-edge microLED display screen in a particular version of the watch. It is Garmin’s prime mannequin and designed to be the one instrument you have to more-or-less go wherever and monitor something.
That makes it a particularly dear proposition beginning at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED model and stretching to a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm model with microLED show – virtually twice the value of the common Fenix 8.
You do get a number of watch to your cash with best-in-class exercise, exercise and journey monitoring. The full offline maps of the globe can routinely information you again on to the path for those who get misplaced with out a cellphone, and look nice on the massive, sharp and super-bright touchscreen.
The Fenix 8 Pro solely is available in 47mm or 51mm case sizes, not the smaller 43mm model Garmin gives in different fashions, so it’s a huge watch for giant wrists. But the 47mm OLED model as examined does have an additional day of smartwatch-use battery life even with the display screen on on a regular basis, lasting a strong eight to 9 days between prices.
Garmin has its personal inReach LTE (4G) and satellite tv for pc subscription service as an alternative of counting on a watch plan linked to your cellphone supplier, like different smartwatches. But in contrast to Apple or Google’s satellite-capable units, emergency SOS messaging is just not included totally free.
Instead, plans begin at £7.99 or equal a month, which offers limitless LTE textual content and voice messaging, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your folks or family members can regulate you whereas out operating, biking or comparable – plus emergency satellite tv for pc SOS messaging.
Check-ins and texts over satellite tv for pc are then charged on prime, with dearer plans together with varied allowances of satellite tv for pc use, climbing to a £50 a month limitless plan. The watch comes with a 30-day free trial so you may take a look at out the service.
Once you’ve got it arrange, you merely head out the door with out your cellphone and the watch will hook up with LTE. You cannot use it for streaming music or comparable, however you can also make and take calls, ship texts and usually be in contact with your loved ones and pals.
When you textual content somebody, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random cellphone quantity, which they’ll reply to again to your watch. If they set up the Garmin Messenger app, you may then message backwards and forwards by way of textual content or voice messages, and make voice calls. Your recipient doesn’t want a Garmin account to make use of the Messenger app, only a cellphone quantity is ample to register for texts.
Messaging on the watch works high quality however typing out texts on the tiny on-screen keyboard is gradual. It has a set of customisable canned responses you may ship to hurry issues up. Voice messages and calls work OK, although as with most smartwatches, you’re not going to wish to use it for prolonged conversations as the standard is just not improbable.
LiveTrack is probably the most helpful characteristic. You can configure it to routinely ship a hyperlink to chosen contacts each time you begin an exercise, to allow them to comply with your actual time location on a map. It’s nice for following race progress, however it principally serves as a instrument for somebody you belief to know your whereabouts in case one thing occurs. It has typically labored properly, although the actual location has typically lagged when shifting out and in of excellent LTE sign.
All of those options can be found on different Garmin watches for those who carry your cellphone with you, however within the locations the place LTE doesn’t attain, the satellite tv for pc kicks in on the Fenix 8 Pro to ship texts, location check-ins and emergency SOS.
A information exhibits you the best way to discover the road of sight to the satellite tv for pc, which then sends and receives messages inside about 10 to 30 seconds. It was surprisingly simple to make use of and may very well be a vital lifeline, although you will need to notice that satellite tv for pc protection is restricted to the US mainland, most of Canada, and most of Europe apart from elements of Scandinavia above 65 levels north.
The watch is mostly repairable with choices available via the support site. The battery is rated to keep up at the least 90% of its authentic capability after two years of weekly charging. The watch doesn’t include any recycled supplies. Garmin gives recycling schemes on new purchases.
The Fenix 8 Pro prices from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The non-obligatory Garmin inReach subscription plans price begins from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).
The Fenix 8 Pro takes a improbable journey watch within the common Fenix 8 and provides LTE for messaging, calls and LiveTrack – plus satellite tv for pc messaging, check-in and emergency SOS for once you’re out of sign.
The result’s an much more spectacular journey instrument for those who wish to be phone-free. If you wish to have somebody regulate you remotely whereas operating out at night time or in the midst of nowhere, the Garmin does so while not having anything.
It is kind of releasing to be outdoors with out a cellphone, however that functionality comes at fairly a price, each by way of the colossal value of the watch and the month-to-month subscription of the inReach plan to supply the service. At least it isn’t dependent in your cellphone supplier so works with any model of smartphone and community.
The Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for somebody who hates being weighed down by their cellphone when operating, biking or mountaineering, however nonetheless desires to be trackable and contactable. For everybody else, it’s some huge cash when the superb Fenix 8 already exists.
Pros: LTE and satellite tv for pc messaging, super-bright OLED display screen, tracks all the things with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, cellphone and offline voice management, 8+ day battery life, Garmin Pay, full offline mapping and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre water resistance and 40-metre diving, buttons and contact.
Cons: extraordinarily costly, LTE and satellite tv for pc options want month-to-month subscription, restricted Garmin Pay financial institution help, voice options are gradual, restricted smartwatch options in contrast with Apple/Google/Samsung watches.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you may go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/21/garmin-fenix-8-pro-review-built-in-lte-satellite-phone-free-messaging
and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you'll…