The Garmin fenix 8 Pro adventure watch was announced this week, and it’s the brand’s first to include LTE connectivity and Garmin’s InReach satellite communicator. Not only that, the new watch is notable for a battery life that’s measured in days rather than hours, unlike most mainstream LTE watches, though the tech does come at a price.
No need to lug your smartphone
In a first for a Garmin watch, the Garmin fenix 8 Pro allows you to send texts, make and receive voice calls, and share your real-time location via Garmin LiveTrack thanks to built-in LTE hardware. Without the need to carry a separate smartphone for communication, bikepackers and adventurers can lighten their load and also reduce the number of devices that need to be charged. Many riders adopted the original Hammerhead Karoo cycling GPS specifically because it was one of the only units to offer cellular data built into the device, although the latest version did away with that capability. No bar-mounted Garmin devices currently feature LTE connectivity.
For those times when riders are truly off the grid and unable to access cellular data networks, the fenix 8 Pro can send and receive satellite text and voice messages. You can also send location data and request emergency assistance anywhere in the world. Garmin offers a number of InReach satellite-capable devices, though the fenix 8 Pro is the first that is wrist-based. None of the other InReach devices are handlebar-mountable out of the box.
LTE and satellite data plans are priced starting at $7.99 per month, and all include unlimited LTE texting and phone calls.
A brighter screen option and battery life for days
Garmin is offering the fenix 8 Pro with two different screen options: AMOLED or MicroLED. Both screens deliver a 454×454 pixel resolution, and the AMOLED display specs are similar to the display used in the new Garmin Forerunner 970 that Singletracks reviewed. The MicroLED display dials viewability up a notch, delivering up to 4,500 nits of brightness. Is that a lot of nits? Apparently so, as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 only claims 3,000 nits max.
The Garmin fenix 8 Pro with AMOLED is offered in two different case sizes — 47mm and 51mm — while the MicroLED only comes in a 51mm case size. Pricing for the watches is steep: the AMOLED watch starts at $1,199, while the MicroLED version costs an eye-watering $1,999.
Both cost significantly more than the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which is priced starting at $799. But when it comes to battery life, there really is no comparison. With battery-saving options enabled, Garmin claims the AMOLED version gets up to 27 days of battery life with regular smartwatch use; the Apple Watch Ultra 2 claims just 72 hours in “Low Power Mode.” With GPS tracking enabled, the fenix 8 Pro battery life drops to about 78 hours, and if you go with the MicroLED (which has a brighter screen), the battery life is lower still. The fenix 8 Pro has several different battery-saving modes, including one called “Expedition GPS” that can extend battery life up to 24 days, which could be a boon for bikepackers.
The Garmin fenix 8 Pro is available for purchase at Garmin.com.
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