Garmin’s screen-less Whoop competitor could cost five times as much as the Fitbit Air
Here's everything we know about the Garmin Cirqa so far
Garmin is rumored to be working on a diminutive, screen-less, potentially subscription-free fitness tracker to rival the popular Whoop 5.0. Sound familiar? Google just launched a similar product in the form of the Fitbit Air.
However, unlike the $99 Fitbit Air, the forthcoming Garmin Cirqa could be anything but wallet-friendly, if recently leaked pricing information turns out to be true. Here’s everything we think we know about the Garmin Cirqa so far.
Garmin Cirqa could be 5x the cost of the Fitbit Air
According to a recent leak from a Ukrainian retailer and first reported on by Notebookcheck, the forthcoming Garmin Cirqa will cost 22,399 Ukrainian hryvnia, or roughly $500 USD when it debuts.
That’s five times the cost of the Fitbit Air for a device that’s rumored to offer a similar set of health and fitness tracking features. That’s also pricier than the Whoop 5.0, which costs between $199 and $239 per year, depending on your membership tier. Those prices include the device itself.
Garmin Cirqa potential features and specs
Rumors of a new Garmin fitness tracker called the Cirqa began popping off when the device briefly appeared on one of the brand’s regional websites. Initially spotted by the5krunner, concrete details are frustratingly limited. Even still, a recent filing for the ‘CIRQA’ by Garmin with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seems to confirm the wearable’s existence.
That filing suggests that the rumored Cirqa, if that even is its name, could come in two sizes and feature a heart rate sensor. However, we don’t know what other onboard tech it may offer. Given its likely small/lightweight design, an onboard GPS seems unlikely. Then again, for $500, perhaps Garmin will manage to squeeze one in.
Other potential onboard tech could include a blood oxygen and/or body temp sensor. I also expect battery life to be good for at least a week or more per charge, given the Fitbit Air is rated for seven days of battery life and the Whoop 5.0 lasts for 14 days per charge.
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Garmin Cirqa launch date prediction
With no credible launch date rumors to go off of, the best we can do is guess when the Garmin Cirqa might debut. Given the brand just launched two new devices this week, the entry-level Forerunner 70 and mid-tier Forerunner 170 running watches, we may have to wait a little while for another new Garmin.
With that in mind, a summer or fall debut for the Garmin Cirqa screen-less fitness tracker seems entirely possible. Here’s hoping that Garmin manages to knock the launch price down by a few hundred dollars before then.
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Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. With 15 years of experience as a consumer technology journalist testing everything from Oura Rings to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others.
An avid outdoor adventurer, Dan is based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where he takes advantage of the beautiful surroundings every chance he gets. A lover of kayaking, hiking, swimming, biking, snowboarding and exploring, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions. When not assessing the sleep tracking and heart rate accuracy of the latest tach gadgets, you can find him photographing Seattle’s vibrant underground music community.
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