The race to dominate the next generation of fitness wearables is heating up, and Garmin might be preparing its boldest move yet.
According to recent leaks and trademark filings, the company is reportedly working on a new device called CIRQA, a wearable that could go head-to-head with Whoop’s increasingly popular screen-free fitness band.
A Different Kind of Fitness Tracker
Unlike traditional smartwatches packed with notifications and apps, Whoop built its reputation on something radically simpler: no screen, just data.
Now, Garmin seems ready to explore that same philosophy.
The leaked CIRQA trademark suggests a device focused heavily on physiological tracking, including bio-signals, behavioral metrics, recovery from stress, alertness levels, and overall performance.
Rather than acting as a mini smartphone on your wrist, CIRQA could be designed to work quietly in the background, collecting data and delivering insights through a companion app.
What Makes CIRQA Interesting?
If the leaks are accurate, CIRQA could go beyond Garmin’s current lineup by focusing more deeply on recovery and readiness instead of just activity tracking.
This shift reflects a broader trend in the industry. Users are becoming less interested in counting steps and more focused on understanding how their body is performing and recovering.
Devices like Whoop have already proven that there is strong demand for this approach, offering metrics such as heart rate variability, strain, and recovery scores, all translated into actionable insights.
Garmin has the technical foundation to compete here, and CIRQA could be its most targeted attempt yet.
The Growing Competition
Fitbit, owned by Google, has also teased a Whoop-style band, even bringing in Stephen Curry to promote the concept.
Meanwhile, Whoop continues to expand rapidly, backed by significant funding and a loyal user base that values its data-first approach.
This category is gaining traction for a few clear reasons. Screen-free devices reduce distractions, often offer longer battery life, and focus entirely on delivering meaningful health insights rather than constant notifications.
Still Just a Leak (For Now)
At this stage, CIRQA remains unconfirmed.
The name comes from a trademark filing submitted in February 2026, and earlier reports pointed to a briefly published and quickly removed product page. While these signs suggest something is in development, they do not guarantee a final product.
There is also no confirmation yet on whether CIRQA will be fully screen-free or how closely it will mirror Whoop’s design philosophy.
Why This Matters
The wearable market is shifting in a meaningful way.
For years, most devices tried to balance fitness tracking with smartwatch functionality. Now, a new direction is emerging, one that prioritizes deeper health insights over on-device interaction.
If CIRQA becomes a real product, it could signal a larger industry move toward data-first wearables, where the value lies not in the screen, but in the analysis behind it.
And if that happens, Whoop may finally face serious competition in the space it helped define.
