Garmin’s $200 Cirqa Takes on Whoop Without a Subscription

Garmin is pushing into the screenless wearable category with the Cirqa Smart Band, a $200 fitness tracker that takes direct aim at Whoop and Google’s Fitbit Air. Unlike Whoop, Garmin’s new band requires no subscription, making it a notable entrant in a segment that has increasingly split on recurring fees.

The Cirqa uses a fabric wristband and comes in blue, light red, or gray. Garmin will also sell an optional armband for people who do not want to wear it on their wrist. The tracker measures heart rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen levels, while also tracking sleep and more than 80 different activities, according to Garmin.

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Activities are tracked automatically, but Garmin says users can also press the side button to force the device to start tracking an assigned workout. When paired with a smartphone, the band can use the phone’s GPS to map rides and runs.

Because the device has no screen, all collected data is handled through Garmin’s companion app, similar to Whoop and Fitbit. Garmin is bringing over several software features from its broader wearable lineup, including:

• Sleep Coach for improving sleep
• Training Readiness Score to gauge workout recovery
• Menstrual cycle tracking and period predictions

As Gizmodo notes, the sensors and health metrics offered by smartwatches and fitness trackers have become increasingly standardized, putting more weight on software and pricing. Garmin may lack some of Google’s AI-powered features and the deeper athlete-focused metrics offered by Whoop, but its one-time purchase model could make it an appealing middle ground.

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The Garmin Cirqa Smart Band will be available to order on July 24. It comes in two sizes — S-M and L-XL — and in blue, light red, or gray.