Garmin’s Entry into the Screenless Smart Band Market
Garmin has finally launched its first screenless smart band, the Cirqa, which is now available for purchase at a price of $199.99. This device marks Garmin’s entry into the increasingly crowded arena of screenless smart band fitness trackers, a space dominated by popular brands such as Fitbit and Whoop.
Source: lifehacker.com
The Cirqa is positioned as a middle ground between the Fitbit Air and Whoop, offering a range of features that cater to the needs of fitness enthusiasts and athletes. On paper, the Cirqa seems to strike a balance between the two, offering 24/7 monitoring of heart rate, stress, Body Battery, Pulse Ox, and skin temperature, all viewable after the fact in the Garmin Connect app.
Source: lifehacker.com
The device automatically detects and classifies your workouts, and gets better at that classification over time as you go into the Garmin Connect app and confirm or correct what it thinks you were doing. The Cirqa also comes with a side button that allows users to physically interact with the device, which is a departure from the typical buttonless design of screenless trackers.
Source: lifehacker.com
No Subscription Required for Now
One of the notable features of the Cirqa is that it does not require a subscription to access its features. Garmin has confirmed that there are no plans to introduce a paid tier that would restrict access to existing features. Any future paid tier would be additive, with new features available behind a subscription, rather than existing stuff pulled behind a paywall.
This approach is consistent with Garmin’s general behavior with Connect+, where users can access a range of features and insights without the need for a subscription. The no-subscription model is a major selling point for the Cirqa, particularly for users who are already invested in the Garmin ecosystem.
The Optical Sensor Inside the Cirqa
The optical sensor inside the Cirqa is Garmin’s older Elevate Gen 4 hardware, which is not the same as the Gen 5 sensor found in Garmin’s newer watches. While this may seem like a disappointment to some users, the Cirqa still offers a range of features that are crucial for women’s health tracking and Garmin’s Natural Cycles partnership.
The addition of skin temperature to the older Gen 4 base makes it functionally similar to a Gen 4-plus, which is a significant improvement over the original Gen 4 sensor. While the lack of a Gen 5 sensor may be a drawback for some users, the Cirqa’s optical sensor still delivers accurate and reliable data.
Is the Cirqa a Good Value?
The price of the Cirqa is a premium $199.99, which is consistent with Garmin’s brand identity. However, this price point is not without its drawbacks, particularly for users who are not already invested in the Garmin ecosystem.
When compared to other devices in the market, such as the Fitbit Air and Amazfit Helio Strap, the Cirqa’s price point is higher. However, Garmin’s pitch is that by buying the Cirqa once, users will match a full year of Whoop’s cheapest plan, with nothing more owed.
Ultimately, whether the Cirqa is a good value depends on how deeply embedded users are in the Garmin ecosystem. For users who are already invested in the Garmin world, the Cirqa’s features and no-subscription model may be worth the premium price. However, for users who are shopping for a screenless tracker without any existing Garmin gear, the competition from cheaper devices may make the Cirqa a harder sell.
The Cirqa is available for purchase now, and users can choose from four colors: Black, ‘Captain’ (navy) blue, French Gray, and Mauve. The device comes with fabric straps in S/M and L/XL sizes, and features a Velcro-style design to adjust sizing.
Garmin has also confirmed that the Cirqa’s sensor is compatible with the Garmin Connect app, which allows users to view their data and insights in a range of formats. The app also offers a range of features and tools that can help users optimize their fitness and athletic performance.
In conclusion, the Cirqa is a significant addition to the Garmin ecosystem, offering a range of features and benefits that cater to the needs of fitness enthusiasts and athletes. While the premium price may be a drawback for some users, the Cirqa’s no-subscription model and optical sensor make it a compelling choice for users who are already invested in the Garmin world.
