As the first Garmin smartwatch with inReach technology¹, the fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch brings extra peace of mind to your adventures. An active inReach subscription planlets you keep in touch with friends and family from on- or off-grid locations — using either LTE or satellite connectivity.

With an LTE connection and using the Messenger Calls app on your fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch, you can call any other fēnix 8 Pro device or anyone who has downloaded and set up the Garmin Messenger app on their compatible smartphone. In order to use the messaging feature on your fēnix 8 Pro, you'll need to set up the Garmin Messenger app on your compatible smartphone. Garmin Messenger provides an easy way for friends and family to stay in touch. Leave your phone behind during an activity, and use the fēnix 8 Pro's inReach® technology¹ for voice calls and LiveTrack™ location sharing when you have an LTE network connection. Or, access two-way messaging and interactive SOS capabilities from either an LTE connection or off-grid satellite link.

When you're venturing into off-grid locations, the inReach technology provided by fēnix 8 Pro allows you to send messages and get location check-ins — once you've established a satellite link — with no phone connection required.

The fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch uses satellite technology that connects to Skylo satellites. Skylo satellites are geostationary, which means they sit in a fixed position in the sky. fēnix 8 Pro has a pointing interface that will guide you to point the watch face in the direction of the satellite by turning to the correct compass heading and then tilting your wrist to the correct elevation angle. Because the satellite is in a fixed position, if you cannot make a connection due to obstructions such as trees, terrain or buildings, you'll need to move to a new location where you have a clear view to the satellite. Once pointed in the correct direction, it takes approximately 30 seconds of good signal strength to connect. Messages send quickly — generally in less than 10 seconds, provided the watch is still oriented toward the satellite.

Once you connect and send your first message, the watch will download any queued messages that people have sent you. It will then return you to the on-device Garmin Messenger app user interface, where you can send additional messages. fēnix 8 Pro will leave the communications link on for about a minute and then shut it off to save power.

fēnix 8 Pro provides coverage in the continental U.S., parts of Canada and most of Europe. Skylo geostationary satellites appear lower on the horizon as you move farther north. As the satellite gets lower in the sky, trees and other obstructions may block the signal. See the map on the coverage page for areas where the satellite will be 20 degrees above the horizon. As you move farther north from those areas, the satellite will be even lower on the horizon. It may be possible to connect if you have a clear view in the direction of the satellite (generally to the south and west), such as in a large field, on the open water or on a mountaintop. Skylo provides signal up to 50 miles offshore for any country listed as having satellite coverage on the coverage page.

The fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch uses LTE cellular networks, designed for lower power operation than traditional cellular phones. It's able to provide superior coverage while maximising the battery life of your watch. Most towers that support regular cellular connections on compatible networks will also support LTE, and coverage is expanding across the world. Like traditional LTE or 5G technologies, LTE coverage may be affected by large buildings, particularly those made of concrete or steel.

LTE coverage on fēnix 8 Pro provides you with a data connection but not a phone number, and it cannot make traditional voice calls or send SMS messages. Garmin provides services on top of the data connection, including voice calling, messaging and LiveTrack location sharing.

The fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch leverages LTE networks from multiple roaming providers worldwide. This means that network availability and performance are not under Garmin control. Features that rely on cellular connectivity, as well as battery life, may vary depending on coverage and signal quality. For a full list of countries that currently have LTE coverage on fēnix 8 Pro, visit the coverage page.

fēnix 8 Pro will seamlessly use LTE, when available, to keep your LiveTrack session going — maintaining connectivity if the device loses its connection to the phone while you are doing an activity. When starting a LiveTrack session on your fēnix 8 Pro, you can designate friends and family members to be notified, so they can follow along as your journey progresses. This also alerts these contacts that they can use the Garmin Messenger app if they need to reach you during your trip.