The screenless tracker space is starting to heat up, with Fitbit launching the Air to compete with Whoop, and now Garmin joining the space with its new CIRQA smart brand. The big difference? CIRQA doesn’t require a subscription.
The screen-free tracker captures advanced fitness and wellness stats, including 80+ activities. It pairs with the Garmin Connect app and can run for up to 10 days per charge.
You get 24/7 health monitoring, including heart rate, stress, Body Battery, Pulse Ox, skin temperature, and more. There’s also detailed sleep tracking, including sleep score and personalized sleep coaching as well as naps, breathing variations, and a smart wake alarm via gentle vibrations. You also get women’s health tracking, Garmin Coach (with a Garmin Connect+ plan).
Automatic activity tracking adapts over time, recognizing workouts and improving activity classification as you confirm or edit workouts. Advanced fitness insights include Vo2 max, heart rate variability (HRV) status, training readiness, and recovery guidance. It works with connected GPS via connection to your smartphone, and there’s a wheelchair mode along with wheelchair workouts with a Garmin Connect+ plan.
With lifestyle logging, you can log things like caffeine and alcohol intake and nutrition to see reports about how your habits impact your overall health and wellness. There are also meditations and mindful breathing exercises with a Garmin Connect+ plan.
The Garmin CIRQA Smart Band will be available to order starting July 24 for $280. It comes in S-M and L-XL sizes and in four colours: Black, Captain Blue, French Gray, Mauve.
Considering the two biggest competitors in this space, Fitbit and Whoop, require subscriptions, the Garmin CIRQA could really shake things up in this space. There are few other screenless trackers without a subscription, like the Amazfit Helio Strap and upcoming Luna Band. Garmin’s entry solidifies the space as one to watch this year.
That said, there are still some features behind a paywall with the Garmin Connect+ plan. But most of the advanced tracking features are free, while Garmin Connect+ includes more niche options for those who wish to go further.
Though the tracker itself is more than twice the cost of the Fitbit Air, being able to access everything without a subscription will be a huge plus for those who won’t a distraction-free, passive tracking experience.