Fans have been clamouring for years for Garmin to release a screen-free fitness tracker in the vein of Whoop. A passive fitness tracker that could be worn on different parts of the body and continuously monitor recovery, sleep and strain without the distraction of a screen – now, it might actually be made a reality.
In January this year, references to a “Garmin Cirqa” smart band briefly appeared on a number of regional Garmin pages and product support pages before being quickly pulled. The listings, which were discovered by Gadgets & Wearables, revealed a bunch of information about the product.
Garmin described the Cirqa as a “smart band”, with sizing options in S/M and L/XL, as well as colour variants in black and French grey. While that was the only information about the device available, the product pages did state that it would ship in 4-5 months, suggesting it could launch in May or June.
Then in February, an FCC filing surfaced, giving Garmin fans more to go on. While it didn’t explicitly name the Cirqa, analysis of the documents by the5krunner indicated the product could be a strap-based wearable with optical heart rate tracking and no built-in display.
Now, according to the5krunner, citing a Garmin source and reliable insider DC Rainmaker, a major Garmin product announcement is expected this week – and it could very well be the Cirqa. When approached for comment, a Garmin spokesperson said: “Garmin does not provide forward-looking comments on product roadmap or feature compatibility with existing or future products”.
We’ll be watching Garmin very closely this week to see if the rumours are true. Although a launch may not be without issue. In October 2025, Whoop filed a lawsuit against fellow fitness firm Polar, alleging trade dress infringement over its screen-free band design. The company claimed its minimalist, display-free form factor was distinctive enough to be legally protected – something that could have wider implications if Garmin is planning a similar device.
For more, we’ve rounded up the best Garmin watches for every kind of athlete
