Garmin has launched the Cirqa, a new screenless smart band designed to offer advanced fitness and wellness features. Unlike many competitors, the Cirqa does not require a subscription for its core functionalities, a key distinction from products like the Whoop 5.0, which is subscription-only starting at $199/year, and Google's Fitbit Air, which costs $99 with an optional $99/year Google Health Premium subscription.
The Cirqa, priced at $199.99, tracks metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature using a combination of sensors. It provides detailed sleep breakdowns, including sleep stages and heart rate, and helps women track menstrual cycles through skin temperature monitoring. The device can monitor over 80 activities, with data accessible via the Garmin Connect app, which also offers insights into training progress and recovery.
The smart band boasts a battery life of up to 10 days, a significant advantage over the Fitbit Air's seven days, though Whoop offers up to 14 days. While the Cirqa is pricier than the $99 Fitbit Air, it is more affordable than Whoop's subscription model. An optional Garmin Connect Plus plan is available for $69.99 annually or $6.99 monthly, offering AI-powered insights, nutrition tracking, and Garmin Coach, but it is not necessary for most users to access the device's main features.
