It seems like it’s becoming trendy to wear a minimalist fitness tracker that looks like a Whoop. Garmin, the GPS navigation and wearable technology company, is the latest to join the trend with the launch of its screenless health tracker, the Cirqa Smart Band. The announcement comes just over a month after Google unveiled its own Whoop-style wearable, the Fitbit Air.

Garmin announced the device on Tuesday, July 21. It's available for preorder now, priced at $200, and is expected to begin shipping on July 24. The biggest difference between Cirqa, Whoop, and Fitbit Air comes down to the subscription model.

Whoop charges between $199 and $359 a year, and Fitbit Air asks for $10 a month or $100 a year, while Garmin says Cirqa's full health and fitness insights are included from day one, no subscription required.

"We believe customers should get the full value of their device from day one, which is why Cirqa includes access to the health and fitness insights available through Garmin Connect with no subscription required," the company said to CNET.

Specs and features of the Cirqa Smart Band

The Cirqa Smart Band can be worn on either the wrist or the upper arm and comes in four colours: black, blue, grey, and mauve. The tracker includes a fabric comfort band, with additional wristbands priced at $50 and an upper armband at $60.

Image credit: Garmin

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