Garmin just announced its Fenix 8 Pro series of smartwatches, which adds both cellular and satellite connectivity via the company’s InReach tech. The Fenix 8 Pro series also adds a MicroLED display version that gets a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits. The catch is the watches will start at $1,199.99, with the MicroLED version going for an eye-watering $1,999.99.
The big news here is adding cellular and satellite connectivity means Fenix 8 Pro users won’t need to carry their phones. There are, however, a few caveats as Garmin will be utilizing LTE-M networks. According to its website, that means these watches will have “a data connection but not a phone number, and cannot make traditional voice calls or send SMS messages.” For those capabilities, you’ll have to either call other Fenix 8 Pro users or people who have downloaded the Garmin Messenger app, which was introduced last year.
That said, cellular connectivity does let you send 30-second voice messages via the Messenger app, allow users to send LiveTrack location sharing, and access real-time weather forecasts. Similarly, satellite connectivity will allow users to send and receive text messages via Garmin Messenger and location check-ins. SOS requests can be sent over both satellite and cellular via the Garmin Response center, which will then forward that information to emergency services, search and rescue organizations, and emergency contacts.
And of course, cellular and satellite connectivity will require an active subscription, which will start at $7.99 per month. Garmin spokesperson Natalie Miller told The Verge that the InReach activation fee would be waived for Fenix 8 Pro owners, and there will be a free 30-day trial for first-time users. But LTE network access and satellite coverage aren’t available in all countries. (You can check where coverage is available here.)
Smartwatch connectivity has been one area where Garmin has struggled to compete with competitors like the Apple Watch Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. While Garmin has the better reputation among athletes for durability, training features, and battery life, Apple and Samsung could offer phone-free experiences and safety assurances thanks to cellular. Garmin’s implementation here isn’t perfect, but it makes sense given the difficulty smaller companies experience when negotiating deals with carriers. This method relies mostly on Garmin’s existing InReach infrastructure and at least starts to address that gap. Previously, the only Garmin watches that offered any connectivity was the Forerunner 945 LTE, which was released in 2021, and its Bounce kids tracker.
On the hardware side of things, the Fenix 8 Pro series will come in two sizes: 47mm and 51mm. The OLED versions of the watches will get an estimated 27 days of battery life. The 47mm will cost $1,199.99 and the 51mm will cost $1,299.99. The $1,999.99 MicroLED version will only be available in the 51mm size, and will get up to 10 days of battery life. All three watches will be available starting September 8th.
