I’ve been on a bit of a roll with Garmin lately. With the brand stacking their new product releases, my summer has been spent navigating off-road with their Tread 2: Overland and, more recently, on the trail with their GPSMap H1i Plus. I have also been wearing and enjoying their Instinct 3 watch since the end of January. To say I’m tuned into what Garmin is all about right now would be a fair statement.
On September 3rd, Garmin launched its Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED. Generally speaking, the purpose behind the brand’s wearable tech is to keep you informed. Now, by adding LTE and satellite communications to the Fenix line, they’re keeping you connected as well. As an added bonus, they’re keeping your loved ones up to date on where you are and what you’re doing in your adventurous life as well.
With watches like the recently released Google Pixel Watch 4 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, the Fenix 8 Pro isn’t alone in the world of watches that have satellite communication built in. However, due to its other features, build, and battery life, it might be the best one – all around.
General Specs
Overall Size: 51 x 51 x 16.5 mm
Display Size: 1.4 in
Display Resolution: 454 x 454 pixels
Overall Weight: 65 g
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Battery Life: up to 27 Days
Memory: 32GB
Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi, LTE-M, GPS, GLONASS, GALILIEO, QZSS, BEIDOU
Price (AMOLED, 51mm): $1300
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
Where all of the Fenix watches can stand on their own, you won’t get the full features of them without using some of Garmin’s apps. Anyone familiar with these watches is probably used to using Connect, Explore, and ConnectIQ, but for the 8 Pro, the Messenger app is paramount to utilize the functionality of the watch.
Connect exists as your information station. You can access your statistics as well as your activity feed and the feeds of people you follow. This is where you can manage activities and settings as well as the overall connection to the watch.
Explore is where you can map out routes and access the ones you saved. It pairs really well with the Outdoor Maps+ service which gives you expanded details like topo and satellite imagery and information as well as access to boundaries: state land, hunting land, campgrounds, and even LTE coverage maps. Explore is also your basecamp, allowing you to plan things off-line and off-grid so you can be prepared ahead of time.
ConnectIQ is Garmin’s app store. This is where you can access apps, see what’s trending, and even find new watch faces to amplify your experience with your Fenix 8 Pro and other Garmin devices.
Messenger allows you to set up your contacts, manage your subscription, send and receive messages, and send check-in’s to let people know where you are. It’s also a great place to get a detailed forecast for your current location.
In addition to those apps, if you’re using other Garmin devices, some of that information will be shared through these apps to keep you informed and connected. Most notable being any waypoints, trails, or courses you create. These all get stored in Explore and can be accessed from one device to the other.
Premium Connectivity
The big idea behind the LTE and Satellite technology baked into the Fenix 8 Pro is to allow you to leave your phone behind when you’re out and about. We’ve seen this LTE feature on other smartwatches for a few years now, but pairing it with satellite is new – across brands adopting it – for 2025.
On the Fenix 8 Pro, you’ll need to pay to access these features. Thankfully, it’s not very expensive. In fact, it’s cheaper than your favorite latte at Starbucks. Additionally, there’s no need
Starting at $8 a month, you have access to unlimited LTE tracking, voice calls, and messaging. You also get unlimited SOS messaging over satellite, but need to pay extra for features like satellite messaging. What’s the difference between SOS messaging and standard satellite messaging? SOS messaging is canned responses similar to inReach where standard satellite messaging is full texting and images sent to and from your contacts.
Photo by Nick LeFort
I opted for the $15 Essential Plan which gives me access to everything the $8 Enabled plan did, but with the addition of 50 standard satellite text messages. I am not outside of cell service or Wifi in my day to day life, but there are a multitude of times where I’m either off-grid on foot or in 4WD where a simple plan like this will benefit me.
The only catch to all of this is the limitations of the LTE and satellite coverage based on where you are on the planet. In regards to LTE, most of the world is covered. However, with regard to satellite coverage, if you’re in Canada, Finland, Norway or Sweden, only certain areas will have coverage. If you’re in Alaska or Hawaii, you won’t get any.
Making and Receiving Calls
Where the 8 Pro can make or receive phone calls, it does not do it over satellite – but you can send messages and voice memos over satellite. Additionally, with LTE, you can either make calls with or without your smartphone and transfer them from one device or another.
Photo by Nick LeFort
In order to make calls on the Fenix 8 Pro, however, you need to first add your contacts in the Messenger app so they can be accessed from the watch. This being the case – at some point you’re going to need your phone to have full access – unless you spend the time to set up contacts as well as things like map routes.
As I said earlier, this watch will function without a smartphone or apps – but you’ll get more features from it using the other techno-gadgets you have.
That all being said, I leave my watch on “LTE: Auto Standby” to save battery life. This keeps me disconnected from LTE until my phone is out of reach and the Fenix 8 Pro cannot access its cellular network. It’s a bit of a genius toggle. But if you’re someone who always leaves their phone behind, you may just want to keep it on “LTE: On Using Phone” where it will prioritize the watch over your phone for calls and messages.
The Watch, Itself
To date, I have tested and relied on the Fenix 6, Fenix 7, and Instinct 3 in terms of watches from Garmin. I also used an Apple Watch Ultra 2 for an extended period of time. So, I’ll make this statement now to get it out of the way: If Apple ever found a way to match Garmin’s battery life, Garmin would have a challenge on its hands.
As it stands, Apple, even with all the ruggedness and connectivity claims they back into and support their Ultra line with, they’re still a lifestyle watch where the Fenix line is aimed at adventure. Even the Google Pixel Watch 4, which is boasting similar connectivity to the Fenix 8 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra 3, is still just a lifestyle watch. That being said, all three watches will get the job done for the majority of us.
Photo by Nick LeFort
Where the Fenix 8 Pro edges ahead, aside from battery life, is durability and reliability. I appreciate the ability to manipulate and change the data fields on the watch face to show me what I need when I want it, but that’s not exclusive to Garmin. However, Garmin does it the best. At a glance, I can see everything from the time and date to the weather, sunrise and sunset, the steps I’ve taken, the calories I’ve burned, and my heart rate – all without needing to swipe through screens or press any buttons. And, if I want more details on any of those data points, I can access them with the push of a button.
Then there’s the flashlight. If I had to pick out any of the “extras” that I use more than any other on this watch it would be the weather, the compass, and the flashlight. Prior to experiencing it on the Instinct 3, I thought it was a bit of a gimmick. That is the farthest from the truth. So far from it that I used the flashlight to navigate back down to a trailhead the other night.
AMOLED vs. MicroLED
Part of smart gadgets is the user interface. In launching the Fenix 8 Pro, Garmin also launched a new screen innovation; MicroLED. Boasted as being the “brightest smartwatch ever built” the Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED improves not only on screen brightness, but also clarity and viewing angles.
Photo by Nick LeFort
From the images and videos I have seen, the MicroLED screen, with its 400,000 LEDs, looks great. However, the trade off is battery life. Where the AMOLED model is capable of 15-27 days on a single battery charge, the MicroLED variant is good for 4-10 days.
Yes, I love things that look good when I stare into them. I love to be wowed by contrast and depth – but for $2000, I need something with better battery life. Granted, it’s still better than an Apple Watch Ultra 3.
The Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED provides all of the light, vibrance, depth, and viewing at odd angles that I need. I picked the AMOLED model because I want all the battery life I can get.
Other Notable Features
In the last month, I’ve really taken a shine to the Fenix 8 Pro. Its interface and menus aren’t much different than the Instinct 3’s, however, the built quality of the 8 Pro is in a league of its own. With that being said, there are a few features on the 8 Pro that I’ve come to rely on – or at least enjoy – day to day.
Morning and Evening Reports
These simple informative round-ups let me know how I slept or how my day was and the amount of sleep I should be aiming for to be recharged to take on the next day. These can be modified to show you as little or as much as you want from a preset collection of data points.
Photo Nick LeFort
Spotify
You can access a few different music services directly from the Fenix 8 Pro. I thought the whole idea of this was silly – then I mowed the lawn and left my phone in the house. With this feature, I have full access to my Spotify library while I am out and about taming half an acre with an old walk behind mower. This allows you to listen to music right through the watch speaker or pair it with your bluetooth earbuds. Note, the music doesn’t stream – instead, you download it on to the watch ahead of time.
Satellite Messaging
A few years back I probably would have complained about having so much access to someone while I was in the middle of nowhere, or them having so much access to me. However, now I see the benefit in it as I find myself seeking to be in more off-grid places, without being disconnected from loved ones. This is more than likely due to not wanting to miss anything from my kids, but it’s nice to know I am connected if an emergency arises.
My Journey, Thus Far (Conclusion)
In the course of the last five years, I have gone back and forth between Garmin and Apple for my watches. However, during my time with Apple, I was relying on other apps or products to do the job that the Garmin does on its own, with the help of its apps. I am never without my phone, so I can appreciate being tethered to it, even with a device that can function without it as long as I plan ahead.
Photo by Nick LeFort
That said, being that I am using other Garmin devices while wearing and using the Fenix 8 Pro, I am benefitting from what I have coined the “Garmin Suite”. Because of the apps and the shared technology between the different gizmos, I have access to information across them. I think that’s a terrific feature. Though, not as important to me as the flashlight on the watch!
I love the fact that Garmin has essentially baked their once-stand-alone inReach unit into their premium products. Having the ability to stay connected, off-grid, is great. Though I don’t see myself making or taking calls from the Fenix 8 Pro all the time, it’s there when I need it – which makes the ability to choose between connection plans incredible.
The one thing I will say to people looking at investing in a watch like this – make sure you’re going to use it. $1300 is a mortgage payment for some people and if you’re just looking for pretty colors and a lot of data, your money might be better spent elsewhere. But, if you want to stay connected, stay informed, and have your loved ones stay informed about your whereabouts, the Fenix 8 Pro is an incredible choice.
At the time of writing, I only charged the watch twice – right out of the box. So, I am getting 20-22 days out of each charge. I have gone on numerous hikes and plotted just as many courses. I have also invested time into setting up my contacts in Messenger, editing the menus on the watch to be what I want them to be, and — in the end —creating an experience that serves me best.
The Most Reliable Watch On The Planet: Garmin Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED (51mm) originally appeared on Gear Institute.