Garmin introduced the Cirqa smart band this week, pricing it at $199.99 and positioning it as a screenless alternative to subscription‑based fitness trackers.
Early adopters quickly reported that the device’s live heart‑rate display during workouts was inaccessible without a Garmin Connect+ subscription, limiting users to post‑exercise average heart‑rate data only.
Garmin confirmed the issue and announced that a forthcoming software update will restore live heart‑rate monitoring for all Cirqa owners within the next few days.
Despite the imminent fix, several advanced functionalities—such as personalized training plans, nutrition tracking, meditation, and breathing exercises—remain locked behind the Connect+ paywall.
The restriction on live heart‑rate data contrasts with competing screenless trackers, which provide this metric without additional fees.
Industry observers note a broader trend of fitness platforms moving core features to subscription models, prompting concerns among users about future limitations.
Garmin indicated that any future subscription tiers would add new capabilities rather than retroactively charging for existing ones, though no concrete roadmap was disclosed.
