It’s a busy season Smart watch At the press conference, Garmin is ensuring athletes and outdoor adventurers don’t feel excluded. The company’s new Fenix 8 Pro is by far the most advanced multi-sport watch, making its debut on LTE and satellite-connected along with what Garmin calls a miniature LED display, the smartest smartwatch ever. Combining it with Fenix’s signature 27-day battery life, you have a potentially life-saving tool that can keep up with endurance athletes and outdoor enthusiasts even in the most distant conditions.
Starting at $1,200, it’s even a few hundred dollars more than the most expensive sports watches. The price tag also sets it above the mainstream, universal smartwatch and makes it a serious investment for athletes who really need their propriety performance and potentially life-saving features, even if they don’t have a grid.
Fenix 8 Pro Pricing and Availability
Fenix will be ordered on Monday, September 8th, with the $1,200 for the 47mm version and $1,300 for the 51mm option (both AMOLED screens). That bright mini dominant display also has a $2,000 51mm option.
Garmin charges $8 per month for LTE and INREACH (satellite) connectivity and subscription fees, no activation fees and a free 30-day trial fee to start. Messages sent via satellite are charged separately for each use.
The Fenix 8 Pro has satellite and LTE connectivity for bidirectional communication in remote areas beyond the cellular range.
Fenix 8 Pro LTE Connection and Satellite Communications
The title feature of the Fenix 8 Pro is what Garmin calls a “uncompromising connection.” The watch debuted on Garmin’s built-in Inreach technology with both LTE and satellite connectivity. This means you can send text or voice messages, share your live location, or trigger SOS messages, even if you are not in the LTE range and your phone is dead or has no cell signal.
Different Google’s Pixel Watch 4Emergency-only satellite messaging has recently been introduced, and Garmin takes a step forward through two-way satellite communications. This also allows you to check the grid with your loved ones as well.
In the event of an actual emergency, SOS alerts go directly to Garmin’s Global Response Center, sharing key details such as your location, current activity and known medical information to help responders take action quickly. The response team manages communication with rescuers and family members in multiple languages.
The Fenix 8 Pro can make or receive calls using its LTE connectivity.
To use satellite messaging, you need to bring your watch toward an unquestioned view of the sky to create a clear connection.
You can also make and receive calls via LTE, send voice messages, view weather forecasts and share livetrack links, so contacts can follow your live location during outdoor adventures.
While you can send messages to anyone, the experience is smoother when both parties use Garmin’s Messenger app and voice calls are limited to other Garmin Messenger users.
Garmin’s Global Response Center can handle emergency communications with rescuers and loved ones.
Fenix 8 Pro Battery Life
Three versions of the Fenix 8 Pro, 47mm and 51mm AMOLED versions, and 51mm versions, with an upgraded mini screen. Garmin says the AMOLED version of the Fenix 8 Pro (51mm variant) promises up to 27 days in smartwatch mode, while the miniature LED version charges up to 10 days – well beyond the maximum of one or two days you get from mainstream smartwatches Samsung Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.
The Pro 8 runs on Garmin’s proprietary LTE-M network, a low-power LTE connection that helps save energy compared to traditional LTE. In theory, you can track your workouts for 19 consecutive hours on LTE, although Garmin recommends turning off the feature if you want to get close to 27 days of battery commitment on standard settings.
Fenix 8 Pro Design and Build
The Fenix 8 Pro keeps the familiar durable, premium look that Garmin fans enjoy. It has a titanium bezel, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal display and action buttons that can be easily navigated with sweat or gloves’ hands. It is waterproof up to 100 meters, allowing it to dive, train on open water or underwater activities.
This year, the Micro-LED version used 400,000 LEDs, reaching peak brightness of up to 4,500 Nits, which Garmin says is the brightest brightness of any smartwatch available. This should translate into better daytime visibility, even in demanding sunlight or from an awkward viewing point of view, whether you’re checking stats on a mid-width or on a trail running.
The bezels remain slightly raised to protect the screen from jingles during durability, while Garmin’s quick release system swap belt means you can easily switch between silicone belts for training and advanced leather or metal choices for everyday wear.
Fenix 8 Pro bottom line
With its two-way satellite message, Ultrabright screen and multi-week battery life, the Fenix 8 Pro is the new standard for a solid sports watch on paper at least. Although expensive, it could be a life-saving feature for endurance athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who want more protection in their adventures on and under the grid. I’m looking forward to testing the Fenix 8 Pro when I’m able to get in touch with a Pro.
