Garmin reveals Fenix 8 Pro, an ultra hardcore $2,000 smartwatch

On Wednesday, Garmin announced its new flagship smartwatch, the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, which arrives with some groundbreaking features, including a first-of-its-kind microLED display. Conveniently announced just days before Apple’s launch event, Garmin's latest wearable is designed for hardcore outdoor athletes, and it comes with a hardcore price tag. 

The Fenix 8 Pro comes in two models. The first features an AMOLED display and comes in 47mm and 51mm sizes, priced at $1,199.99 and $1,299.99, respectively. Opt for the model with the microLED display (which comes in 51mm only) and the price goes up to $1,999.99.

Garmin makes some of the most rugged smartwatches on the market, including some of our favorite fitness trackers, and the Fenix 8 Pro seems ready-made to compete with the soon-to-be-released Apple Watch Ultra 3. (Apple's new Ultra wearable is also rumored to have a microLED display.)

The Garmin's microLED display is pretty impressive. It’s comprised of more than 400,000 LEDs, which gives it a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits. That makes it the brightest smartwatch display on the market by a fairly wide margin. For reference, the Apple Watch Series 10 features a 2,000 nit display, and the Galaxy Watch 8 sports a 3,000 nit display. Like other Garmin smartwatches, it also sports an LED flashlight, also handy for hikers and outdoor athletes.

Among other things, the biggest draw for the Fenix 8 Pro is its connectivity. Per Garmin, the smartwatches will feature a mix of satellite and cellular connectivity. That, combined with Garmin’s inReach technology, will allow watch owners to summon emergency services, communicate via Garmin’s Messenger app, and even send their location to other Garmin inReach users. Voice calls are also possible, although the other person has to be using a Garmin inReach-compatible device as well. 

This brings smartwatch owners another step closer to being able to leave the smartphone at home while hiking. The cellular connectivity isn’t quite as good as the latest offerings from Samsung and Apple, but the inclusion of satellite connection definitely helps when out in the wilderness, where cell towers are much less abundant. 

For emergencies, the watch sends a signal to Garmin’s Response Center, which will then assist in rescue efforts. The inReach system is a subscription service that starts at $7.99 per month. The new Fenix 8 Pro watches are available on Garmin’s website and will be available starting Sept. 8, just one day before Apple’s launch event.