Garmin wristband to rival Whoop leaked

Signs have emerged that Garmin is working on a new wearable device that does not include a screen and focuses on health data. According to a trademark application spotted by Gadgets & Wearables, the new product, dubbed “CIRQA,” could offer a similar usage approach to Whoop-style wristbands. The fact that Fitbit also hinted that it was working on a similar device during the same period shows that competition may increase in this segment.

In the trademark application filed in February, it is stated that CIRQA is a device that can “measure the body’s physical parameters, physiological data, biosignals and behaviors.” Although this definition is similar to Garmin’s existing smart watches and fitness tracking devices, some details in the application indicate that the new product may be in a different position. Accordingly, the device will also be able to analyze more comprehensive health data such as recovery after physical and emotional stress, alertness level and general performance.

Garmin CIRQA can focus on deeper health data

One of the highlights of CIRQA is its potential to offer more detailed insights into users’ overall well-being, rather than just being limited to basic activity tracking. This approach reveals a structure that is very close to the data-driven model that Whoop has long adopted. Whoop wristbands collect as much biometric data as possible without a screen and present all analyzes to the user via the mobile application.

The possibility of Garmin developing a product in this direction has been on the agenda before. According to Android Authority, the company accidentally revealed a new wearable device on a store page that was live for a short time in January. Although the page in question was quickly removed, it is thought that these developments may be interconnected when evaluated together with the CIRQA trademark application. However, all this data does not mean that Garmin will definitely launch such a product.

However, the current state of the market makes it understandable that Garmin and Google are turning to this area. Whoop attracts attention with its approach based on data analysis and subscription model instead of screen, and has recently managed to receive a new investment of $ 575 million. This interest reveals that the user base who wants to analyze health data more deeply is growing.

On the other hand, the widespread use of artificial intelligence-supported health solutions may pave the way for wristbands without screens. Google is aiming for a wide range of uses, from exercise tracking to nutrition recommendations, with the artificial intelligence-supported health coach developed under the Fitbit brand. Processing health data in cloud-based systems and viewing the results via smartphone contributes to making screen-free devices a more logical option.