Garmin Cirqa hinted as Whoop rival

Garmin has not announced a product called Cirqa, but reports published on May 20 said the company appears to be preparing a screenless fitness band aimed at the same recovery-tracking market occupied by Whoop. Cycling Weekly said Garmin could be readying a rival band, while The5KRunner reported new Garmin Connect code points to an unreleased device without a screen. Geeky Gadgets described the rumored product as a possible subscription-free alternative to Whoop. Garmin’s own website does not list Cirqa as a product as of May 21. Garmin does, however, already offer Garmin Connect+, a paid tier of its app-based platform, which several reports tied to the rumored band. ### Where did the Cirqa report come from? The5KRunner reported on May 20 that the latest public version of Garmin Connect contains evidence of “a new product without a screen.” The site said Cirqa is not named directly in that code, but argued the update points to a screenless device being prepared inside Garmin’s software stack. Cycling Weekly published a report the same day saying Garmin appeared to be preparing a Whoop rival. The publication framed the device as a recovery-focused band and said the move would place Garmin in more direct competition with Whoop’s strap-based tracking model. Geeky Gadgets also published a May 20 article that went further on positioning, calling Cirqa a “screenless” and “subscription-free” Whoop alternative. (the5krunner.com) That characterization came from the outlet’s reading of leaks and prior reporting, not from a Garmin announcement. ### What is actually verified, and what is still rumor? Garmin Connect+ is verified. Garmin’s official Connect+ page says the service offers premium features inside the Garmin Connect app, with features varying by device. (cyclingweekly.com) Cirqa itself is not verified by Garmin. The current public evidence consists of third-party reporting about app code, retailer listings and product-name speculation. The5KRunner said the app update points to a screenless device but also noted that “CIRQA is not named anywhere” in the code it reviewed. (geeky-gadgets.com) A separate The5KRunner report published on May 14 cited a Ukrainian retailer listing showing a price of 19,999 Ukrainian hryvnia, which the site said could translate to roughly $370 to $500 in the United States after adjustments. (garmin.com) That report was also based on a leak rather than a Garmin filing or launch page. ### Why does Whoop keep coming up in these reports? Whoop sells a screenless wearable centered on recovery, strain and sleep metrics rather than a watch display. (the5krunner.com) That makes it the clearest comparison point for any Garmin device that drops the screen and emphasizes passive tracking. Garmin already competes with Whoop indirectly through watches and health metrics in Garmin Connect, but a band-only product would be a more direct overlap. (the5krunner.com) Cycling Weekly and Geeky Gadgets both used Whoop as the reference product in their coverage. Geeky Gadgets added that the rumored Garmin device could appeal to buyers who want Whoop-style tracking without an ongoing hardware-linked subscription, though Garmin has not described Cirqa in those terms. ### How would Connect+ fit into a screenless Garmin band? Garmin Connect+ is the clearest official clue around the software side. (the5krunner.com) Garmin’s page says the service adds premium app features and personalized insights, suggesting a band without a display could rely heavily on the phone app for coaching, scores and analysis. The5KRunner said the rumored device appears tied to Connect+, which would fit Garmin’s existing pattern of pairing hardware with the Connect ecosystem. (geeky-gadgets.com) That remains an inference from code and product structure, not a confirmed launch plan. ### What should readers watch next? May 21 is the latest point at which Garmin has publicly listed Connect+ but not Cirqa. The next hard evidence would likely be a Garmin product page, a regulatory filing, an app update naming the device, or a formal launch event. (garmin.com) Garmin’s Connect platform and product pages are the most likely places for confirmation to appear first. Until then, the Cirqa story rests on code hints, media reports and leak-based pricing claims rather than a company announcement. (the5krunner.com) (garmin.com)