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

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

While these are all fantastic devices, they don’t excite me at all. Yearly upgrades have become so minimal that if your current phone or watch is less than three years old — even more in a lot of cases — there’s almost no reason to switch. My current electronics lineup is fresh, and I have exactly zero intention of dropping $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 a laptop this year.

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

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

I’m relying 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 with a suit or a nice dinner outfit, and frankly, I’m tired of having yet another screen demanding my attention.

What I really want is the Whoop experience — a screenless, distraction-free band that disappears on the wrist — but I have two major dealbreakers with this specific product.

• The subscription: I absolutely loathe the “hardware-as-a-service” model. Whoop essentially rents you your own data. Using it for years results in a hefty bill.
• The ecosystem: I’ve spent years in the Garmin Connect ecosystem. Moving to a new system means losing my historical trends and learning a whole new data language. I’d prefer to stick with what I know and am used to.

The good news is that Garmin’s upcoming device will likely solve both of these 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 band (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 Gray.

Here’s why it’s my must-buy:

• One-time purchase: Garmin hasn’t historically paywalled its metrics. If the Cirqa follows the Garmin tradition, I’ll buy the hardware once and own my data forever.
• Distraction-free: No notifications, no glowing screen in bed, no “move” 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 slim enough to hide under a shirt and stylish enough to wear with just about any outfit.

Granted, there are already several Whoop competitors out there that don’t charge a subscription, although none quite hit the mark for a Garmin loyalist like me. The Amazfit Helio Strap is a popular choice, for example. At $100, it’s a steal, but our reviews noted a few issues. Battery life, while decent at 10 days, is still way below what the Whoop offers. And in any case, I’ve had bad experiences with Amazfit smartwatches in the past, so I’d rather stay away from the brand. There are others as well, like Polar Loop, which I don’t find as appealing as the upcoming smart band by Garmin.

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