Following on from the release of its screenless Cirqa smart band, it now seems that Garmin is looking to disrupt the smart ring market - and I can't wait
Even though the dust has barely settled on the all-new Garmin Cirqa screenless fitness tracker, word on the street now suggests that a smart ring version of the device might be on the cards, and if it follows a similar trajectory, then I think it could be a major blow for Oura’s dominance in the market.
Although Garmin has long been one of the go-to brands when considering the best smartwatches to buy, it hasn’t typically ventured away from its core business, but that seems to be changing following the release of the Garmin Cirqa Smart Band, which is a direct attempt to dethrone the Whoop Strap as the king of screenless wearables, while also rivalling the Google Fitbit Air.
If Garmin is looking to do the same thing to Oura and disrupt the current hierarchy amongst the best smart rings, then as a long-time Garmin user myself, I think there are three things that could absolutely help the brand to come out on top.
No subscription required
Lofty subscription fees have long been a point of contention amongst the Whoop community, and while it isn’t quite as pricey, the Oura Ring subscription is similarly non-negotiable, as the device’s functionality is practically nonexistent without an active subscription in tow.
Garmin has already outdone Whoop and Google here with the Cirqa wristband, so all it has to do is stay the course.
In addition, the asking price for the ring itself could undercut Oura by some way. The Cirqa band is £179/$199, for example, so the ring could be similar.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
Although there is an optional Garmin Connect+ subscription available, I have never felt the need to opt for it given that you’re provided with all of the features that most people could possibly want by default.
The extras contained within Connect+ only really appeal to hardcore fitness enthusiasts who want AI-powered insights.
A wealth of stats
One of the best things that Garmin has going for it is the treasure trove of stats and data that it provides to users via the Connect app.
It’s exactly why Garmin has been able to fight off competitors like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra, as despite those watches offering more expansive app ecosystems, Garmin trumps them all when it comes to raw data, and for those looking to spot any areas for improvement, all of that information can become invaluable towards beating your personal bests.
As much as we love the Oura Ring 5, it is very much a device that’s geared towards monitoring your rest and overall health, which is great for some, but it’s less ideal for those wanting to hone in on workout tracking. If Garmin can plug this gap, it’ll be on to a winner.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
A much-needed workout button or slider
This might be a trickier one to implement on a device as small as a smart ring, but one of the best features of the wrist-based Garmin Cirqa is the ability to track workouts quickly thanks to the push button on the side.
Simply push the button when you want to start tracking a workout and push it again to end it – that’s all there is to it. For when you want to dive straight in, it works brilliantly, and it’s a feature that I would honestly like to see on more wearables.
It would be great if Garmin could somehow implement a similar button that would sit flush within the Cirqa Ring so that it wouldn’t catch on anything, or a slider (like those found on the iPhones of old) so that you wouldn’t always have to rely on automatic tracking or using the app beforehand.
The Pebble Index O1 has a button, so it’s doable. The problem is adding one without it looking like an eyesore.
Either way, more competition on the smart ring circuit would be great for driving innovation, so I’m excited to see what Garmin does with the concept.
We’ll be keeping a keen eye on more Garmin Cirqa Smart Ring leaks and rumours over the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned.
