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TechRadar's 2026 picks: 8 cool screen-free fitness trackers

TechRadar names the Garmin Cirqa, Google Fitbit Air and more as the coolest screen-free fitness trackers of 2026, highlighting a shift away from smartwatch screens.

AI News Feed · 2026-08-21 18:57

According to TechRadar, smartwatches, like phones, have become dull with incremental yearly upgrades, and people are increasingly tired of wearing screens. As a result, "focus" wearables are gaining popularity, with screenless bands and rings appearing in gyms, at race start lines, and on streets. It is now common to see someone wearing an analog watch on one wrist and a fabric fitness band on the other, or a discreet smart ring on their index finger.

The featured products include the Garmin Cirqa, Google Fitbit Air, Amazfit Helio Strap, RingConn Gen 3, and Oura Ring 5. The Garmin Cirqa is described as the author's top pick among wristbands. It takes the basic Whoop concept and adds a tactile start-stop button and stronger haptic feedback. It also works with the Garmin Connect app to deliver training data without the clutter of Fitbit's Google Health app. The Cirqa requires no subscription unless users want coaching.

The Google Fitbit Air is noted for its discretion and extremely light weight of five grams. Its AI-powered premium tier is optional. The Amazfit Helio Strap, a lesser-known option, works well without a subscription.

For smart rings, Oura and Samsung remain the leading names, but new competitors such as RingConn are emerging. TechRadar's reviewer said the RingConn Gen 3 offers excellent battery life, comprehensive health tracking, and a comfortable design, all without a monthly subscription. Meanwhile, the Oura Ring 5 is a new launch this year. Despite its premium price, the Oura platform has become an AI-powered health tool with features ranging from bloodwork insights to user-generated tags such as "bath", "meditation", or "meeting" to provide context for fluctuating stress levels.

TechRadar notes that screenless fitness trackers are not entirely new. Whoop and Oura have existed for a long time, but they have traditionally been premium devices tied to subscriptions. With recent releases from Google, Garmin, and RingConn, consumers now have a broad range of options across different budgets.