Garmin Beats Apple to Market with Satellite-Connected Smartwatch (macrumors.com)
(Wednesday September 03, 2025 @11:30PM (BeauHD)
from the can-you-hear-me-now dept.)
- Reference: 0178996926
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/09/03/2038216/garmin-beats-apple-to-market-with-satellite-connected-smartwatch
- Source link: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/03/garmin-satellite-smartwatch/
Just days before Apple's expected launch of the satellite-enabled Apple Watch Ultra 3, Garmin [1]unveiled its Fenix 8 Pro -- the company's first smartwatch [2]with built-in inReach satellite and cellular connectivity , SOS features, and a blindingly bright 4,500-nit microLED display. MacRumors reports:
> With inReach, the Fenix 8 Pro can send location check-ins and text messages over satellite using the Garmin Messenger app. There is also included cellular connectivity, so the smartwatch can make phone calls, send 30-second voice messages, and provide LiveTrack links and weather forecasts when an LTE connection is available.
>
> LiveTrack is a feature that allows the wearer's family and friends to keep track of their location during an activity or adventure. For emergencies, there is an SOS feature that will send a message to the Garmin Response center over a satellite or cellular connection. Garmin Response will then communicate with the user, their emergency contacts, and search and rescue organizations to provide help. Garmin says that its Response team has supported over 17,000 inReach incident responses across over 150 countries.
The Fenix 8 Pro smartwatch launches September 8, with the AMOLED model starting at $1,200 and the 51mm microLED version priced at $2,000. Both require a paid inReach satellite plan beginning at $7.99 per month for full functionality.
[1] https://www.garmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-release/wearables-health/introducing-fenix-8-pro-the-first-ever-smartwatches-from-garmin-with-inreach-technology-for-satellite-and-cellular-connectivity/?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&zebratwo=CJ&cjevent=84d59087890511f081eb001d0a1cb827&utm_source=CJ&utm_medium=Text
[2] https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/03/garmin-satellite-smartwatch/
> With inReach, the Fenix 8 Pro can send location check-ins and text messages over satellite using the Garmin Messenger app. There is also included cellular connectivity, so the smartwatch can make phone calls, send 30-second voice messages, and provide LiveTrack links and weather forecasts when an LTE connection is available.
>
> LiveTrack is a feature that allows the wearer's family and friends to keep track of their location during an activity or adventure. For emergencies, there is an SOS feature that will send a message to the Garmin Response center over a satellite or cellular connection. Garmin Response will then communicate with the user, their emergency contacts, and search and rescue organizations to provide help. Garmin says that its Response team has supported over 17,000 inReach incident responses across over 150 countries.
The Fenix 8 Pro smartwatch launches September 8, with the AMOLED model starting at $1,200 and the 51mm microLED version priced at $2,000. Both require a paid inReach satellite plan beginning at $7.99 per month for full functionality.
[1] https://www.garmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-release/wearables-health/introducing-fenix-8-pro-the-first-ever-smartwatches-from-garmin-with-inreach-technology-for-satellite-and-cellular-connectivity/?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&zebratwo=CJ&cjevent=84d59087890511f081eb001d0a1cb827&utm_source=CJ&utm_medium=Text
[2] https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/03/garmin-satellite-smartwatch/
Dude! my watch solves Kepler's equation! (Score:2, Funny)
by RightwingNutjob ( 1302813 )
Bro, that's nothin'! My toaster uses a satellite link to text me a toast emoji when my toast is done!
Garmin needs a new hit (Score:2)
by Kevin108 ( 760520 )
For nearly a decade, I have subscribed to the Delorme/Garmin inReach service for satellite communication in the middle of nowhere. Starting with the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, this feature was included for free. While I don't expect the Apple service to be free forever, moving it to a camera-enabled device I already have, plus saving me ~$15 a month, I have canceled my Garmin subscription. There's nothing wrong with the device, but saving almost $200 a year and building emergency coms into the USB C-chargeab
Re: (Score:2)
There is still a middle class. It is very small, but it does exist. Companies are charging enough for these high-end doodads that they don't have to sell very many. Their name is very good. They have a well-developed reputation for quality, admittedly with some flubs, but who's perfect? $1200 is not that much these days if you have a decent salary. The number of people who think that they do but actually don't is simply very large.
Re: (Score:2)
The nordic countries seem to have it figured out. They have a capitalist economy based on selling oil and use that wealth to pay for social programs to benefit citizens.
Re: (Score:3)
Agreed, those price points are crazy. For $2k, I'd rather buy a TAG and a personal locator beacon that probably has better range.
Re:$1,200 (Score:4, Interesting)
The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro (47mm AMOLED) has amazing battery life in comparison to the latest Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Fenix 8 Pro (47mm AMOLED) claims 15 days or 8 days wiith always on screen. The best the latest Apple Watch Ultra 2 can muster is 3 days in low power mode, otherwise 36 hours in normal mode. So unless Apple has a battery breakthrough, it won't compare to Garmin.