Garmin Fenix 8 Pro with LTE, SatCom and MicroLED display is here
Google recently released the Pixel Watch 4, the first smartwatch with satellite SOS. Garmin thought we could do it too, and here it is: The first watch with LTE and satellite connectivity is here: the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro. Thanks to LTE, it makes voice calls and sends text messages independently of the smartphone. Furthermore, the LiveTrack location sharing feature works over LTE and provides weather forecasts—all without a phone.
Note that this uses the Garmin Messenger app on the watch and requires a subscription through Garmin, not your mobile provider (this is a package with inReach satellite messaging). Interestingly, the watch uses an LTE-M connection, which is designed for low-power operation.
And when you’re outside of the cellular network, Garmin’s inReach system kicks in – it has been further developed in recent years and now allows you to send not only text messages but also two-way voice messages. Google, by the way, has partnered with Garmin to provide the satellite SOS function.
There’s another new feature here: The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is equipped with a MicroLED display. This is set to be the next big trend after OLED. The MicroLED display offers a brightness of up to 4,500 nits, which is significantly more than the OLED displays of the Pixel Watch 4 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, each with 3,000 nits.
This all comes at the expense of battery life, however. The MicroLED version is only available in the 51mm Garmin Fenix 8 Pro. It lasts up to 4 days with the Always-On Display (AOD) enabled. For comparison: The OLED version of the Fenix 8 Pro is available in 47 mm and 51 mm sizes and lasts up to 8 and 15 days, respectively, with AOD enabled.
Garmin smartwatches are known for their solar-powered versions, which could solve this problem. Unfortunately, the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro doesn’t appear to have such a version, at least for the time being.
Apart from LTE and inReach, the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro appears to be identical to the regular Fenix 8. These include advanced health and fitness features, as well as excellent offline navigation, whether on foot, by bike, on the water, or on skis.
Garmin Fenix 8 Pro Prices
And now it’s time for the bad news: The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro costs $1,200 for a 47mm version and $1,300 for the 51mm model, $100 more than the base Fenix 8. But that’s nothing compared to the MicroLED version, for which Garmin charges a whopping $2,000.
Then there’s the question of the subscription. First, check the LTE coverage in your area—satellite messaging works virtually everywhere in the world. Then choose a plan – “Consumer: Enabled” costs $8 per month and offers basic Emergency SOS. However, check-in messages cost $0.10 per month, satellite text messages cost $0.50, and satellite voice messages cost $1.00. Even with this basic plan, you get unlimited texts, voice messages, and voice calls over LTE, plus unlimited location sharing. Over satellite, this costs $0.10 per update.
You can also upgrade to the Consumer: Essential plan. For $15 per month, you get unlimited check-ins, plus 50 texts and 10 voice messages over satellite. More expensive plans are available, with higher allowances up to unlimited texts. As the name suggests, there are also plans for teams and businesses. Further details can be found here.
