Garmin's latest competitor to Fitbit Air features 80 workout modes and steers clear of the annoying subscription model.

      Garmin CIRQA has entered the market for screenless fitness bands, boasting a 10-day battery life and no monthly fees.

      The revival of screenless fitness bands has seen a significant new player, with Garmin introducing a novel option. The Garmin CIRQA Smart Band has just launched at a price of $199.99, providing up to 10 days of battery life along with continuous health tracking and support for over 80 different activities. It operates without a display, utilizing Garmin Connect for all charting, scoring, and workout summaries. Garmin guarantees that accessing its features requires no subscription.

      Garmin has integrated its fitness ecosystem into a discreet wristband.

      The CIRQA employs heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, and motion sensors to monitor users around the clock. It keeps track of steps, calories, stress levels, naps, sleep, and menstrual cycles, while automatically recognizing many supported activities.

      The band retains some familiar Garmin features such as Body Battery, Lifestyle Logging, and Garmin Coach. A smart alarm can vibrate during a lighter sleep phase within 30 minutes of the designated wake-up time. The CIRQA is compatible with both iPhones and Android devices, and it is available in two sizes and multiple colors including black, blue, beige, and red.

      One key feature is absent in this device. CIRQA does not have built-in GPS, meaning that tracking routes, distances, and pace requires a connected smartphone.

      Priced at twice that of Fitbit Air, CIRQA carries higher fitness ambitions.

      Google's newly launched Fitbit Air is priced at $99.99, which is exactly half of the cost of CIRQA. Similar to CIRQA, it is screenless and tracks heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature variations, sleep, and automatically recognized exercise. Google claims a battery life of up to seven days, whereas Garmin offers 10 days.

      Most functions of Fitbit Air can be used without any payment, but Google reserves its Gemini-powered Health Coach and some guided features for the $9.99-per-month Google Health Premium plan. In contrast, Garmin provides established training tools and supports over 80 activities without any additional fees.

      Then there’s the Whoop 5.0, which ties its detailed Strain, Recovery, and Sleep analysis to a membership model. Digital Trends has highlighted its compelling tracking experience, though the ongoing membership fee makes it less appealing for casual users. As such, the CIRQA sits between the user-friendly design of Fitbit Air and the athlete-focused insights of Whoop.

      Vikhyaat Vivek is a technology journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience focusing on consumer hardware.

      The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is now ready for diving, and the Watch 9 40mm is set to feature a larger battery.

      The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 may finally match the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in terms of diving capabilities.

      Samsung's forthcoming smartwatches may soon include some significant upgrades. Recently leaked promotional images indicate that the smaller Galaxy Watch 9 will come with a much larger battery than previously thought, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might finally achieve certification for recreational diving. These images, shared by an X account using the @evleaks handle, seem to be official Samsung marketing materials that reveal details not covered in earlier specification leaks.

      Bose's next QuietComfort headphones may feature the best aspects of the Ultra model.

      For the past few years, Bose has found itself in a somewhat uncomfortable position. Its standard QuietComfort headphones have remained a reliable recommendation but have also seemed a bit overlooked. While the Ultra series gained attention with new features and a refreshed design, the regular QuietComfort has not changed. However, that may soon change.

      A new leak hints that Bose is preparing a QuietComfort (2nd Gen) model, and if accurate, it suggests that Bose is working to bring its mainstream headphones closer to its premium models.

      Camera anxiety is altering the way young adults party.

      A BBC report reveals that Gen Z clubgoers are increasingly anxious about being filmed, with the introduction of Meta's smart glasses contributing to their discomfort.

      Club nights used to be about losing oneself on the dance floor without a care. Now, as per a BBC report, a rising number of young people state they find it difficult to fully enjoy their night out because they are continually on the lookout for cameras. The presence of smart glasses has made it even harder to notice.