Garmin Quatix 8 Pro first look — Who would’ve thought they’d have LTE

Tags: Presentation | Garmin | Smart

14.1.2026 | 2 MIN

Communication up to 80 km offshore, remote control of onboard systems, and EN 13319 dive certification. Garmin Quatix 8 Pro isn’t just a smartwatch but a fully fledged tool for life at sea.

Sometimes I try to write witty headlines, but this time I went with one that really sums up what’s new about the Quatix 8 Pro—and yes, if you only read the headline, you’ll basically know everything you need to know. Still, let’s unpack it a bit.

A quick recap to start. Garmin Quatix 8 have always been interesting because they:

• are functionally almost indistinguishable from the flagship Fenix
• add extra marine features
• let you remotely control the boat
• display key sailing data
• meet EN 13319 dive certification
• support BlueChart G3 marine charts
• look genuinely great

No phone needed — even up to 80 kilometers offshore

In recent years, Garmin has tied the “Pro” moniker to one thing: LTE support. Quatix 8 Pro is no exception and supports inReach satellite and LTE communication, which often lets you stay connected even beyond the reach of conventional networks.

That means you can communicate straight from the watch, share your location, send an SOS... But you’ll of course need an active subscription, which comes in at nearly €10 per month.

My first thought was the signal range on the open sea, and Garmin explicitly states “up to 80 kilometers” in its materials.

Give your knees a break—control the boat from your lounger

Another major advantage of Quatix is the ability to remotely control the chartplotter, autopilot, audio system, or a Force trolling motor.

Of course, Quatix isn’t only for marine use. It’s just as useful on land, with features like:

• making and taking calls, including hands-free (when in range of your phone)
• contactless payments
• music playback
• health monitoring, including sleep, stress, heart rate, and more
• tracking dozens of other sports
• up to 15 days in smartwatch mode or 44 hours with GPS.

Photo credits:

• Garmin.com