Garmin Cirqa’s New Feature Rivals Key Fitbit Air Technology

If recent speculation on Reddit holds true, it appears that the long-awaited Garmin Cirqa fitness band could be the answer to enhancing the company’s automatic workout detection.

The post, which has since been deleted but was reported by Gadgets & Wearables, suggested that the rumored Cirqa could function as an independent fitness tracker, similar to the Whoop Strap 5.0. Additionally, if paired with a Garmin watch, it could complement the wearable by improving auto detection, an area where Garmin watches have historically struggled.

While this claim should be taken with caution, establishing communication between the Cirqa and Garmin smartwatches would align with a key feature of the newly launched Fitbit Air.

Google’s budget-friendly screenless fitness tracker can collaborate with the Pixel Watch 4 and earlier models to provide more accurate data when the watch is not worn or used together.

As per the post, the Cirqa would utilize its sensors to identify prolonged movement and then coordinate with the watch to activate GPS tracking, which users could opt out of if they prefer not to share location data.

The current state of automated tracking

Currently, automatic workout detection is a weak point in Garmin’s fitness tracking ecosystem. While Garmin’s software can detect workouts without manual input through the Move IQ system, these events are not logged in your activity history, reducing the incentive to rely on it.

On the other hand, competitors like the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 excel at identifying workouts automatically and allow users to confirm the activity.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

While automatic workout detection may not be utilized during formal runs or gym sessions, it aids in recognizing other activities like walking and hiking that may not seem significant but contribute significantly to cardiovascular health.

Details about Garmin’s screenless band remain scarce, but a recent rumor hinted at a potentially high price point, which could pose a challenge against the competitively priced Fitbit Air at £84.99/$99.99.