Garmin CIRQA has no screen, yet it collects the kind of data I usually check on a sports watch. That raises a practical question: why would I need it when I already own a Fenix 8? I explored two uses — CIRQA as my only tracker, and as a companion for the times when I want to take my sports watch off.
The results are less straightforward than the similar heart-rate averages suggest. Across four analysed days, the devices reported almost identical average heart rates, but different stress scores and step counts. During strength training, their averages were just one beat per minute apart, while their maxima differed by 17. This review therefore focuses on actual uses and limitations, rather than stopping at one reassuring number.
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Two uses: replacing a watch or complementing one?
The first use is simple: I want to count steps, record heart rate and sleep, then review the results in Garmin Connect. I do not need a wrist display or live training data. For that person, choosing a screenless device can be deliberate rather than a compromise.
The second use is more relevant to me. I take the Fenix to training, but sometimes I would rather wear something smaller in bed, or a traditional watch with a suit. CIRQA could keep recording in those situations. Its most convincing promise is letting me collect daily data without wearing a sports watch around the clock.
How I compared CIRQA with the Fenix 8
I wore CIRQA on my right wrist, paired with a separate Garmin Connect account, and the Fenix 8 on my left. After an initial four days of wear, I analysed the following four days, September 18–21. This is a comparison of two devices worn by one person, on different wrists and using separate accounts.
The Fenix is my comparison device, not a laboratory reference. I did not manually count every step or use a reference sleep study. Agreement does not prove accuracy, and disagreement does not automatically identify the device at fault. This setup also does not test how the devices combine data when switching between them on one account.
All-day heart rate: almost a tie
Four-day average heart rate was 64.08 bpm on the Fenix and 64.17 bpm on CIRQA — a difference of just 0.09 bpm. For an overview of heart rate over that period, the devices painted almost the same picture.
Resting heart rate differed by about 0.25 bpm, and HRV values were similar. Those averages are not proof of minute-by-minute agreement. They can hide brief discrepancies, delays or different responses to exertion. A reassuring daily average is a useful starting point, not the end of the analysis.
| Metric | Fenix 8 | CIRQA |
|---|---|---|
| Four-day average HR | 64.08 bpm | 64.17 bpm |
Steps: CIRQA recorded more every day
CIRQA reported more steps on all four days, averaging approximately 812 extra steps per day. The largest gap was on September 20: 20,625 steps on the Fenix versus 22,345 on the band, a difference of 1,720.
The approximately 7.4% shown on the supplied chart is the average of the individual daily percentage differences. It is neither an established CIRQA error nor necessarily the percentage difference between total step counts. Without manual counting, I cannot say which device was closer to reality. I can say that changing devices may change the number even when daily movement stays similar.
| Metric | Fenix 8 | CIRQA |
|---|---|---|
| Steps on September 20 | 20,625 | 22,345 |
| Daily difference | — | Approx. +812 steps |
| Mean daily percentage difference | — | Approx. +7.4% |
Stress: a lower score does not establish a calmer day
Stress went in the opposite direction: CIRQA reported a lower score on every analysed day. The average gap was about 7.2 points, approximately 27% relative to the Fenix. On September 20, for example, the watch reported 27.3 and the band 18.7.
I was not less stressed on my right wrist than on my left. These are two estimates of the same day. I cannot establish which is more accurate or assign the gap to a specific cause. After changing devices, I would not treat a sudden drop as certain improvement without first considering whether my daily routine changed or only the tracker did.
| Metric | Fenix 8 | CIRQA |
|---|---|---|
| Stress on September 20 | 27.3 | 18.7 |
| Average score difference | — | Approx. −7.2 points |
Sleep: similar scores, different stage estimates
Average Sleep Score was 79.3 on the Fenix and 80.8 on CIRQA, a gap of roughly 1.5 points. The nightly pairs, listed Fenix first, were 77–80, 83–82, 79–83 and 78–78. The overall scores were close, without being identical every night.
Sleep stages tell a different story. CIRQA assigned approximately 11 more minutes to light sleep, 7.5 fewer minutes to deep sleep and about 19 fewer minutes to REM per night. Mean REM estimates were 106.5 minutes on the Fenix and 87.3 on CIRQA. The band also estimated less awake time.
A similar final score does not mean the night was classified the same way. Without a reference measurement, I cannot determine which stage estimates were correct. I use them to observe trends rather than as a certain count of REM minutes. CIRQA makes sense to me as a smaller device for bed, but convenience does not establish accuracy.
| Night | Fenix 8 | CIRQA |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 77 | 80 |
| 2 | 83 | 82 |
| 3 | 79 | 83 |
| 4 | 78 | 78 |
| Mean Sleep Score | 79.3 | 80.8 |
| Metric | Fenix 8 | CIRQA |
|---|---|---|
| Mean REM per night | 106.5 min | 87.3 min |
| Light sleep difference | — | Approx. +11 min |
| Deep sleep difference | — | Approx. −7.5 min |
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Starting activities and understanding distance
An activity can be started with the button assigned to one favourite activity, from Garmin Connect, or through automatic detection. For a specific session, I prefer starting it manually: a brief bout of movement may not appear as a recorded activity. My test script notes a 15-minute threshold, which should not be read as a guarantee that every session will be detected.
CIRQA uses the phone’s GPS rather than a built-in receiver. Without the phone, distance is estimated from movement, cadence and learned stride length. That distinction matters when comparing it with the Fenix: a distance figure needs to be interpreted alongside the way it was obtained.
Running: close heart rate and cadence, but distance needs attention
On the first run, using phone GPS, the Fenix recorded 13.38 km and CIRQA 15.21 km. The 1.83 km gap, approximately 13.7%, is substantial to me. Different distance over a similar duration also changes calculated pace. Good heart-rate agreement does not erase that discrepancy.
On the second run, without the phone, the results were 15.44 and 15.90 km: 460 metres, or approximately 3%, apart. The band was closer to the watch, but these were different runs. This does not demonstrate that CIRQA measures better without a phone. Explaining the gap would require route and track analysis plus repeated comparisons under similar conditions.
Average heart rates were very close: 146.66 bpm on the Fenix versus 146.64 on CIRQA for the first run, and 146.99 versus 146.14 for the second. Cadence pairs were 165.3–165.4 and 166.9–166.6 steps per minute. The gaps stayed below 1 bpm and at or below 0.3 steps per minute.
Those metrics are encouraging, but they describe averages rather than agreement during every acceleration. For precise distance and pace tracking, I would still take the Fenix. CIRQA may be sufficient for someone who simply wants an activity record and understands the limitations.
| Run | Fenix 8 | CIRQA | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1: phone GPS | 13.38 km | 15.21 km | +1.83 km / +13.7% |
| 2: without phone | 15.44 km | 15.90 km | +0.46 km / +3.0% |
| Run / metric | Fenix 8 | CIRQA |
|---|---|---|
| 1: average HR | 146.66 bpm | 146.64 bpm |
| 2: average HR | 146.99 bpm | 146.14 bpm |
| 1: cadence | 165.3 steps/min | 165.4 steps/min |
| 2: cadence | 166.9 steps/min | 166.6 steps/min |
Swimming: a basic record rather than detailed analysis
In the pool, CIRQA recorded 43:54 and the Fenix 43:58. Average heart rates were 134.3 and 136.5 bpm, and maxima were 158 and 159 bpm, with CIRQA listed first here. These basic values were close, with just four seconds between durations.
My band recording did not include pool lengths, automatic distance, stroke counts, stroke recognition or SWOLF. If I want to review intervals and analyse a swim session, that matters more than similar heart rates. CIRQA gave me an activity record, duration and heart rate, but not the detail I need for swim analysis.
| Metric | Fenix 8 | CIRQA |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 43:58 | 43:54 |
| Average HR | 136.5 bpm | 134.3 bpm |
| Maximum HR | 159 bpm | 158 bpm |
Strength training: a similar average hid a 17 bpm gap
The Fenix recorded an average of 90.6 bpm, while CIRQA reported 89.6 bpm. Those numbers alone look reassuringly similar. Maximum heart rates were different: 146 bpm on the watch and 129 on the band, a 17 bpm gap within the same session.
The maxima alone do not establish whether the band read low or the watch read high, nor do they reconstruct the full heart-rate trace. They do give me a reason to be cautious about brief changes in intensity. Based on this comparison, I would not fully trust CIRQA to capture those changes during strength training.
| Metric | Fenix 8 | CIRQA |
|---|---|---|
| Average HR | 90.6 bpm | 89.6 bpm |
| Maximum HR | 146 bpm | 129 bpm |
Battery: nine days of continuous wear
CIRQA lasted nine days with continuous wear in my use. Garmin advertises up to ten, so my result was close to the manufacturer’s claim. It reflects my usage rather than a guarantee for everyone. Garmin’s assumptions include 30 minutes of activity per day; different training volume and settings may change battery life.
When wearing it occasionally alongside a traditional watch, I still had about 50% remaining after more than two weeks. It spent part of that time in a cupboard. That is not two weeks of continuous tracking, so it is not directly comparable with the nine-day result. Low consumption while stored and fairly quick wake-up when picked up were convenient for that use.
Strap comfort and everyday details
The strap was comfortable and fitted my wrist well. That matters for a tracker intended for the moments when I want to remove a larger watch. With no screen to glance at, checking the results naturally moves to the phone.
After swimming, however, the fabric stayed wet and left damp patches. It is a small issue, but noticeable when getting dressed and leaving the pool. Wearing comfort and a wet strap can matter as much in daily use as another feature on a specification sheet.
Partner offer: Dynamic Triathlete.
How I would use these numbers in training preparation
Keeping context is the key for me. When switching devices, I would not compare steps and stress as though the measurement source had stayed identical. I would consider sleep scores alongside how I feel and longer-term trends, and review training beyond its average heart rate.
During race preparation, the band could add to my picture of daily habits. I would still use a suitable training tool for distance, swim intervals and brief intensity changes. CIRQA would not replace my sports watch or a structured preparation plan.
Verdict: CIRQA makes sense when you know why you want it
As an only tracker, I can see CIRQA working for someone who wants daily movement, heart-rate and sleep data to review later in an app. Several results were very close to the Fenix. Basic activity recording may also be enough, provided that person does not expect precise distance, detailed swimming analysis or dependable capture of brief heart-rate peaks.
I find it more convincing as a watch companion, particularly when wearing a traditional watch, or potentially as a smaller sleep tracker. Garmin describes data syncing between devices, but my two-account setup does not verify how well that switching works. Steps and stress already differed in this test, so I cannot promise a perfectly uniform data history.
My choice is straightforward: CIRQA when I do not want a sports watch on my wrist, and the Fenix for training. The band’s strongest argument for me is the ability to keep recording in different situations. These comparisons also reminded me that a similar number at the end of a day does not necessarily mean the same recording.
Garmin CIRQA: frequently asked questions
Can CIRQA replace a Fenix? It may be enough for daily metrics and basic activity records. It would not replace the Fenix for my training needs, given the distance discrepancies, missing swim detail and uncertainty around brief heart-rate changes.
Does it have built-in GPS? No. It uses the phone’s GPS, or estimates distance without the phone. The two runs in this review do not prove that one mode is consistently more accurate.
How long does the battery last? Nine days of continuous wear in my test. The separate observation of more than two weeks with roughly half the battery remaining involved occasional use and storage, not continuous tracking.
Are sleep and stress identical to the Fenix? No. Sleep Score was similar, but stage estimates differed. CIRQA also reported lower stress on all four days. Without a reference measurement, I cannot identify the more accurate device.
Sources and further reading
The measurements and observations come from my test script and supplied materials. The comparison covers four days for one person and the activities described here. It is not laboratory validation or a test of two-device syncing on one account.
Garmin CIRQA — official product information; manual: activity recording; battery-life assumptions.
For a full endurance sports watch comparison, read my Garmin Enduro 3 review.