Garmin is launching the Garmin CIRQA, its first smart band without a display. The wristband tracks fitness, sleep, and health around the clock, lasts up to ten days according to the manufacturer, and requires no subscription for most of its features. The price is 199.99 euros.
Key facts at a glance:
- Screenless smart band; all data is synced to the Garmin Connect app
- Up to 10 days of battery life; can be worn on the wrist or upper arm
- Heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature, and stress tracked around the clock
- Over 80 sports with automatic recognition, but no built-in GPS
- No subscription required for core features; price: 199.99 euros
Garmin CIRQA: Tracking That Doesn’t Distract
The basic concept behind the Garmin CIRQA is unusual for the industry: The band has no display at all. It features only a physical side button that lets you start a favorite activity right from your wrist. If you want to see your metrics, just grab your smartphone and open the Garmin Connect app. That’s exactly where all the data collected by the band ends up.
The concept is very reminiscent of Whoop, but it costs a one-time purchase price of 199.99 euros instead of a recurring subscription. CIRQA also maintains a low-key aesthetic: The fabric wristband is available in two sizes and in black, blue, beige, and red. It can be worn on the wrist or as a band on the upper arm, depending on your activity or sleep habits.
Health and Sleep Around the Clock
To take these measurements, the CIRQA features an optical heart rate sensor, an SpO2 sensor for oxygen saturation, a skin temperature sensor, and an accelerometer. This allows the band to track steps, calories burned, stress levels, and Body Battery—Garmin’s energy balance indicator—throughout the day.
At night, CIRQA automatically analyzes sleep, including sleep stages, sleep score, heart rate variability, breathing, and nap detection. A smart alarm wakes you up via vibration up to 30 minutes before the set time as soon as a light sleep phase is detected. Women can also track their cycle and pregnancy; skin temperature data collected during sleep can be used to improve period predictions, and the data can be synced with the Natural Cycles app.
Over 80 sports, but no built-in GPS
During workouts, the band tracks more than 80 activities and automatically recognizes many sport profiles. This means you don’t necessarily have to start a workout manually in the app. It also offers more advanced metrics such as Training Readiness, HRV status, VO2max, and training status—features Garmin typically includes in its smartwatches, such as the Fenix series.
The biggest limitation: It lacks its own GPS module. If you want to track running routes or bike rides, you’ll need to start the workout manually and have a paired smartphone with you, whose GPS the band will then use. LiveTrack, for sharing your location in real time, also only works with a smartphone.
Garmin CIRQA: Technical Specifications at a Glance
| Feature | Garmin CIRQA |
|---|---|
| Display | None (Screenless) |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 days |
| Sensors | Heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature, accelerometer |
| GPS | Connected GPS only (via smartphone) |
| Activities | 80+ with automatic detection |
| Health | Body Battery, sleep analysis, stress, cycle tracking |
| Wear Options | Wrist or upper arm |
| Compatibility | iPhone & Android (Garmin Connect) |
| Subscription | Not required for core features |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Beige, Red (2 sizes) |
| Price | 199.99 euros |
Whoop alternative without a subscription
The real selling point is that there’s no subscription requirement. With Whoop, you pay a recurring membership fee just to be able to use the data at all. Garmin flips that on its head: buy it once, and use the core features for free forever. This makes CIRQA significantly cheaper over the years than a subscription-based band.
But there’s an even cheaper option: If you want to try out the “fitness tracker without a display or subscription” concept for less money, the Amazfit Helio Strap (around 100 euros) is a noticeably more affordable alternative that also offers 24/7 tracking and about ten days of battery life. When it comes to feature set and sensor technology, however, Garmin is in a league of its own.
Price and Availability
The Garmin CIRQA is now available for 199.99 euros in the Garmin online store, in two sizes and four colors. The band is compatible with both iPhones and Android smartphones. If you already use a Garmin device—for example, following the latest update to the Vivoactive 5—you can seamlessly integrate CIRQA into the same Connect app.
Conclusion
The Garmin CIRQA hits the mark: a discreet fitness tracker with long battery life, solid health sensors, and no monthly fees. The lack of GPS and the fact that it’s operated exclusively via the app are the trade-offs you’ll have to accept. For anyone looking for Whoop-like features without a subscription, the band is still one of the most exciting wearables of the year.
