Garmin could be preparing a new wrist-based smart band, after references to an unannounced “Cirqa Smart Band” briefly surfaced on the company’s Canadian website before being removed.
The discovery matters because it signals Garmin’s potential move into the minimalist fitness band category, an area currently dominated by subscription-driven products such as the Whoop 5.0.
The Cirqa Smart Band appeared as a slim, wrist-worn device, distinguishing it from Garmin’s Index Sleep Monitor, which focuses on overnight tracking through an upper-arm form factor.
That wrist-based approach places the Cirqa closer to always-on health trackers that prioritise recovery, sleep, and physiological trends rather than notifications, apps, or touchscreen-heavy interactions.
Garmin has expanded its smartwatch lineup aggressively in recent months, launching devices across golf, marine, and lifestyle categories, which suggests the company is now addressing gaps lower down the complexity spectrum.
A smart band would allow Garmin to target users who want continuous health data without the size, weight, or cost associated with full-featured sports watches.
A move toward subscription-free health tracking
Unlike Whoop, which relies on a recurring subscription to unlock health insights, Garmin typically bundles its analytics into the hardware purchase, making the Cirqa Smart Band potentially attractive to cost-conscious long-term users.
Garmin already supports advanced metrics such as heart rate variability, sleep staging, stress tracking, and training readiness across its ecosystem, which could translate naturally into a screen-light wearable.
Product details published briefly on Garmin’s Canadian website list the Cirqa Smart Band in two sizes and two colour options, indicating a focus on fit and comfort rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
That emphasis aligns with the broader trend toward passive health monitoring, where devices remain unobtrusive enough for continuous wear across work, sleep, and exercise.
The product information does not reference GPS, apps, or notification features, reinforcing the Cirqa Smart Band’s apparent focus on recovery and physiological tracking rather than smartwatch-style functionality.
Publishing a regional product listing indicates Garmin has moved the Cirqa beyond internal experimentation, as localisation and storefront preparation typically occur closer to a commercial launch.
The broader wearables market adds further context, with competitors such as Whoop, Fitbit, and Oura continuing to refine subscription-led platforms centred on long-term health trends.
A Garmin smart band would introduce a different value proposition by combining similar insights with a one-time purchase model and tighter integration into Garmin Connect.
Garmin has not announced pricing, availability, or a launch timeline, though the appearance on a regional storefront points toward a global release rather than a limited market test.
For now, the Cirqa Smart Band remains unconfirmed, but the leak suggests Garmin is actively preparing to challenge subscription-based health trackers with a lighter, wrist-focused alternative.
