New Hint at Fenix 8 PRO as more device types mentioned on inReach
Source: @PeterN, thank you
The Garmin Messenger App gives seamless messaging over Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite when paired with an inReach device. Whether on-grid or off, it still works.
More: Fenix 8 Pro microLED leaked
New Device Types for Garmin Messenger
Garmin Messenger currently connects to inReach satellite communicators like inReach Mini 2 and indirectly to some watches (Fenix 8) via a smartphone’s Bluetooth for basic messaging. A new leak today, shown in the image above, hints at upcoming “satellite-enabled” watches as a new device-type that will link directly to Messenger.
Massive Leak Reveals Garmin’s LTE and Satellite Plan, Likely with New Devices
Emerging: Satellite-Enabled Watches could include
- Fenix 8 Pro: This would be a hoped-for autumn/fall 2025 release with built-in LTE and Iridium satellite connectivity for SOS and perhaps also for direct two-way messaging and LiveTrack without phone or separate inReach. The Messenger app will act as a hub for setup, syncing, and easier typing/media sharing, even if the watch operates independently.
- Potential Others: Venu 4 or updated handhelds like Montana 770i may follow, integrating hybrid LTE+satellite.
This expands Messenger beyond add-ons, making watches standalone for off-grid use, with the app optional for advanced features.
Garmin Fenix SATELLITE Technology is feasible – proven today by Google
Presumably livetrack over LTE would destroy the battery but would be suitable for marathon and even iron man distance triathlon on the 47 and 51mm. Given my experience of losing tracking with an inReach in forested mountains, I’m certain satellite tracking would be totally unreliable to the point of useless. I think it would only be for messaging and maybe only SOS. I imagine you would have to stop and align your arm to the sky.
yes i’m assuming satellite SOS only at first on the watch
yes i assume lte would destry the battery by 10’s of percent points.
I guess we will see the F8Pro passing the 1500$ threshold…or maybe it comes combined the with microled display for better energy efficiency …and then we are in Marq territory. I don’t need LTE or satellite…but it will be very interesting to see how it works and how reliable it is.
i dont think we’ll see microled and lte released together with both being new.
my current thoughts re that f8 pro will add the comms (lte and satellite) then microled will be a separate device, probably a separate announcement date.
The point of uLED will be improving the battery life or making the device thinner by reducing the battery size for the same range. Or some combination.
That’s why they’ve introduced the “E” line. Looks like I’ll be a customer of the lowest model as well, and even then it’ll be overpowered for the sort of training I do.
I think we will see live tracking when running (as on the 945lte), uploading to GC, communicating while running (messages and voice), SOS with lte and satellite.
Garmin needs to beat Apple with this, otherwise Apple will continue to win market share.
A coach could come with motivation, connected smart glasses could give you realtime stats.
And the wild one:
agreed.
i also think there will be different services for different conenctivity types. will b einteresting to see how they market and explain that.
Garmin can have full on LTE on their watches free of messenger if they release it for Android phones only. It’s Apple that’s the issue.
Wow, the idea of a Fenix 8 Pro with built-in LTE and satellite is wild 🤯. I’ve been messing around with different apk app installs just to get extra features on my older Garmin, so having it all native would be a game-changer. Would you actually ditch your phone for off-grid trips if the watch could handle it all?
not sure i would .
but i do ditch my phone for pretty much every exercise wand use appple watch ‘s LTE for that. i’d rather not wear two watches!
My Galaxy watch uses about 15% per hour with LTE and GPS activated, but if I make calls, it uses roughly 1% per minute. I suspect if it had something like livetrack it would be inbetween 15% and 60% per hour, probably closer to the 15%, lets guess 20%.
Would still be 5h, so absolutely sufficient for MY usecase: Running without a phone.
And maybe / probably they’ll add something like “livetrack light”, where the LTE activates each x minutes and sends one datapoint. Or just “LTE when fall detected” or similar, which would dramatically increase battery life and still offer safety.
Let’s say you’d set “Activate LTE on incident detection” -> No incident, no extra battery drainage but still the possibility to activate just in case.
agreed.
livetrack can’t be per-second. so it has to do some other sort of polling frequency. hwoever the issue then can be theat the chip needs to be powered up to some degree to re-find the signal…sometimes it can use less power to leave it on (for non-lte ie gps services)
I’d be ok with a semi live track, longer runs such as Half and Fulls are the ones where I’m trying to share progress with others.
If I’m in a race with a course, uploading my progress every 5 mins and projecting path should be plenty to allow the family to get to meeting points
Would inclusion of LTE instantly make it a non-triathlon watch?
I thought the same….didn’t they ban LTE watches from certain competitions? I wonder if they combine Connect+ and the subscription for LTE/iR somehow, IOT boost C+…and if you get messaging “only” or maybe weather updates too. Interesting times indeed.