Garmin has unveiled the Fenix 8 Pro, which comes with heaps of smartwatch-firsts and a predictably hefty price tag to match.
Alongside an AMOLED option, the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is the first of its kind to be fitted with a MicroLED screen.
Made up of 400,000 individual LEDs, the MicroLED can deliver up to a whopping 4,500 nits of brightness, which Garmin claims makes it the “brightest smartwatch ever”.
This, Garmin promises, results in a display that produces rich colours, wide viewing angles and “superior readability”, all even in direct sunlight.
How much?
However, such a revolutionary display doesn’t come cheap. The MicroLED option is available in just one 51mm size and will set you back an eye-watering $1999.99. Fortunately the AMOLED alternative is slightly cheaper, starting at $1199.99 for the 47mm model.
That’s not the only pioneering feature found in the Fenix 8 Pro series, as it’s the first smartwatch series to feature Garmin’s inReach technology, allowing you to leave your smartphone at home while staying connected.
With satellite connectivity, the Fenix 8 Pro lets users exchange texts with those using the Garmin Messenger app and send location check-ins to friends and family too.
When connected to an LTE network, you can also make calls, exchange 30-second voice notes and check the weather forecast while on the road too. With LiveTrack, loved-ones can also follow your journey on their smartphones too.
SOS
Although these features are undoubtedly brilliant, perhaps the headline benefit of inReach is its SOS capability. Essentially, when an SOS is triggered, the Fenix 8 Pro will send a message over satellite or cellular connectivity to the Garmin Response center, where emergency response coordinators will respond appropriately.
All of these new smartwatch features can be found alongside Garmin’s health, fitness and wellness tracking tools, including the ECG app, sleep coach, GPS routing and more.