This is the tech product I’m most excited about this year.

We have already seen the Galaxy S26 series and the Pixel 10a this year, with much more to come. We’ll see the Pixel 11, the OnePlus 16, and the usual cadence of high-end tablets and headphones.

While these are all fantastic devices, they don’t excite me at all. Annual updates have become so minimal that if your current phone or watch is less than three years old (even more in many cases) there’s almost no reason to upgrade. My current electronics line is new and I have exactly no intention of spending $1,000 on a new slab of glass just for a 10% faster processor and a slightly better telephoto lens. I also have no intention of buying a new tablet, headphones, or laptop this year.

However, there is one device rumored for 2026 that has me ready to reach for my wallet: the Garmin Circle.

I currently use a Garmin Forerunner 745. It’s a workhorse that tracks my steps, runs, sleep, heart rate, and stress accurately. But my relationship with him has changed. I stopped using it as a smartwatch and started using it as a data provider.

I rely on features like Body battery more than ever to optimize my health. But to get accurate data, I have to wear this relatively bulky sports watch 24/7. It’s not comfortable at night, it looks out of place in a suit or a nice dinner suit, and frankly, I’m tired of having another screen demanding my attention.

What I really want is the Whoop experience, a screen-free, distraction-free bracelet that disappears on your wrist, but I have two major deal-breakers with this specific product.

• The subscription: I absolutely hate the “hardware as a service” model. Basically, Whoop rents you your own data. Using it for years results in a hefty bill.
• The ecosystem: I have been in the Garmin Connect ecosystem for years. Moving to a new system means losing my historical trends and learning a completely new data language. I prefer to stick with what I know and what I’m used to.

The good news is that Garmin’s next device will probably solve both problems for me.

The Cirqa is Garmin’s direct answer to the Whoop. Based on recent leaks From Garmin’s own regional websites, we know it’s a smart bracelet (not a watch), which almost certainly points to a screenless design. It will reportedly come in two sizes (S/M and L/XL) and two colors: black and a sophisticated French grey.

Here’s why it’s my must-buy:

• One-time purchase: Historically, Garmin has not applied a paywall to its metrics. If Cirqa follows Garmin’s tradition, I’ll buy the hardware once and own my data forever.
• No distractions: No notifications, no bright screen in bed, no “motion” alerts on my wrist. I’ll check the stats on my phone once or twice a day and then go back to living my life.
• The fashion factor: It’s thin enough to hide under a shirt and stylish enough to wear with almost any outfit.

Of course, there are already several Whoop competitors that don’t charge a subscription, although none hit the mark for a Garmin loyalist like me. He Amazfit Helio Strap is a popular option, for example. For $100, it’s a bargain, but our reviews noted a few issues. Battery life, while decent (10 days), is still well below what Whoop offers. And in any case, I have had bad experiences with Amazfit smartwatches in the past, so I prefer to stay away from the brand. There are also others, like the Polar Loop, that I don’t find as attractive as Garmin’s upcoming smart bracelet.

The Garmin Cirqa hasn’t been officially announced yet, but with leaks appearing in late January, a May or June launch seems likely. This is the first time in years that I’ve been excited about a wearable device, not because it does more, but because it does exactly what I need while doing less.