My New Favorite Garmin Watch Of All Time Got A Big Satellite Upgrade That's Changed How I Hike

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is disposable successful 2 sizes and 2 show technologies, starting astatine $1,199.99.
• LTE and outer support heighten information and fto you pass without a phone.
• The watch is costly and very thick, and you request a subscription to activate a telephone for emergencies.

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When I spell way running, hiking, aliases sportfishing extracurricular of cellular coverage, I've been taking a Garmin inReach Messenger aliases Mini instrumentality pinch maine to enactment successful touch pinch family and friends while hoping I ne'er person to telephone emergency services. 

It's awesome that I tin now person bid of mind correct connected my wrist pinch nan Garmin Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED, but location are considerations that whitethorn limit its entreaty to galore people.

Also: The champion Garmin watches you tin buy: Expert tested

The Fenix 8 Pro has each of nan cardinal flagship elements of nan Fenix 8 pinch nan enhanced package elements of nan latest Garmin watches, for illustration nan Forerunner 970. In position of hardware improvements, nan superior distinguishing characteristic betwixt nan Fenix 8 and Fenix 8 Pro is nan LTE and outer connectivity. 

Unlike nan Apple Watch Ultra 3, though, to person SOS capacity pinch a Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, you request to person astatine slightest nan Enabled inReach plan, which costs $7.99 per month. The astir costly Premium scheme is $49.99 per month. All inReach Fenix 8 Pro plans see unlimited LTE messaging and calling, on pinch SOS support, and nan value varies depending connected nan allotment of outer messaging buckets.

$7.99 per period for unlimited LTE messaging, sound messaging, sound calls, and location search is really little costly than nan cellular watch scheme I salary for my Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. 

However, for nan value of nan Fenix 8 Pro, Garmin should see SOS capacity for each of its inReach devices without a subscription fee. It is highly uncommon that 1 would person to utilize this service, and nan value of nan instrumentality warrants that benignant of emergency coverage.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The afloat Garmin outer messaging and LTE acquisition is decidedly champion done nan Garmin Messenger smartphone application, truthful it requires a mini spot of effort to get cardinal family and friends to download and instal that free exertion truthful you tin communicate. 

However, I went way moving extracurricular of cellular sum past weekend, and I was capable to nonstop messages and my location to my woman straight to her mobile telephone number. She simply clicked nan nexus to person my location unfastened up successful a Garmin Messenger browser window, wherever she could still reply to me. Garmin will thief nonstop group to download nan Messenger app, and for those times erstwhile I americium disconnected nan grid, it is worthy utilizing that application.

Also: I tried nan Apple Watch Ultra 3 for a week to fig retired who should upgrade - here's my master advice

With nan LTE work connected nan Fenix 8 Pro, a free 30-day proceedings of nan $29.99 Standard plan is included pinch your purchase. You tin nonstop and person messages arsenic overmuch arsenic you want, truthful nan Fenix 8 Pro acts arsenic a emblematic smartwatch moreover if you ne'er usage nan outer messaging capability. 

Calls, however, do require nan different personification to usage nan Garmin Messenger app, truthful that is nan biggest situation for take compared to an Apple Watch that conscionable acts arsenic an hold of your iPhone.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The outer messaging and location acquisition was excellent. The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro walked maine done making nan relationship pinch a circle that appears connected nan watch face. You simply halfway nan circle by moving your limb and wrist to statement up nan outer pinch nan watch. After alignment and a greenish confirmation colour of nan circle, your messages are sent and received. 

I walk a batch of clip successful nan woods of Washington, and I was capable to get a coagulated awesome moreover successful an opening successful nan trees conscionable arsenic wide arsenic a one-lane road, which gave maine assurance successful its expertise to thief maine nonstop a connection if I americium injured.

Also: Why I committedness by this Garmin smartwatch complete competing models (including nan Apple Watch Ultra)

I person alternatively ample wrists and emotion large watches, but beryllium alert that nan 51mm Fenix 8 Pro is astir 2 mm thicker than nan 51 mm Fenix 8. In addition, owed to nan LTE and outer support, location is nary 43mm action of nan Fenix 8 Pro truthful which will limit nan entreaty of nan Fenix 8 Pro to group who bask big, chunky watches. 

Thankfully, I deterioration nan Garmin Index Sleep Monitor to way my sleep, truthful I won't sound my woman retired pinch nan Fenix 8 Pro erstwhile I rotation complete quickly.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The Fenix 8 Pro's maximum brightness is besides double that of nan Fenix 8 AMOLED, and it looks amazing. However, if I americium disconnected nan grid, artillery life is 1 of my superior concerns, and an Enduro Pro with that memory-in-pixel show that includes LTE and outer connectivity would beryllium a awesome action to spot successful nan future.

Matthew Miller/ZDNEt

The Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED is besides expensive, pinch nan smaller 47mm size starting astatine $1,199. However, you nary longer person to acquisition a abstracted inReach device, and if nan watch saves your life aliases provides bid of mind for your family and friends while you research nan world, past it whitethorn beryllium worthy nan cost. 

Garmin besides has a microLED exemplary disposable for $2,000, but pinch shorter artillery life than nan AMOLED model, I don't spot really a spot amended off-angle position is worthy that further $700. Spend that money connected your inReach subscription instead.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED is nan premier sports watch for those who want connectivity everywhere, moreover if they do not battalion a phone. The speaker, microphone, Connect IQ Store, and precocious package intelligibly make this watch a premium smartwatch. 

Every athletics and activity I tin deliberation of is supported connected nan Fenix 8 Pro, and I can't hold to alert fish, way run, hike, camp, alpine ski, boat, and research nan world astir me. I cognize that I tin support my family and friends connected and telephone connected responders if I acquisition a superior emergency.