Overview
- Garmin initially limited live heart rate display on the new screenless Cirqa to subscribers of its Connect+ service and then announced it will enable live heart rate for every Cirqa user in the coming days.
- The Cirqa is a screenless wrist tracker sold by Garmin for $199.99 that comes in two sizes, offers a 10-day battery life, 5 ATM water resistance, and records real-time heart rate through the Garmin app.
- Early reviewers and testers raised objections after finding live heart rate locked behind Connect+, which costs about $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year and also adds AI coaching, nutrition plans and deeper metrics.
- The reversal follows public outcry and highlights a growing consumer expectation that core, safety-relevant health metrics should be available without an ongoing fee.
- The change sharpens a broader industry debate as rivals such as Google’s $99 Fitbit Air and subscription-first fitness bands test how companies split basic tracking from paid advanced features.