Ray vs Garmin CIRQA: Price, Battery and Fees
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Chargerless Ray vs. Garmin CIRQA

Two screen-free bands with no required subscription. Garmin CIRQA brings Garmin Connect for $199.99 and lasts up to 10 days per charge. Ray runs on light, and its module weighs less than half as much.

Andy
Fact-checked November 12, 2026 · 40 tracker comparisons
See Ray options from $219

Garmin launched CIRQA in July 2026 as its first screen-free smart band. It costs $199.99, needs no subscription, and sends sleep, HRV status, Pulse Ox, Body Battery and training readiness to the Garmin Connect app. Ray is also screen-free and subscription-free. It is powered by light instead of a charger, and its Airplane Mode switches Bluetooth off completely while it keeps recording. Both work with iPhone and Android.

Front view of a gold Chargerless Ray on a cognac leather band, on a cream background.

The short answer

Choose CIRQA if you train with Garmin Connect and want training readiness, VO2 max and automatic workout detection from a band that costs a little less. Choose Ray if taking a tracker off to charge is how you stopped wearing your last one, if you want a smaller polished-steel case, or if you want to switch Bluetooth off and keep recording.

Chargerless makes Ray. CIRQA facts are Garmin’s published specifications. Ray’s 7 g figure excludes its band. We have not tested the two bands side by side.

Garmin CIRQA status: Currently sold.

Side by side

Specifications and US prices are each maker's own, checked November 12, 2026.

What changesChargerless RayGarmin CIRQA
FormatScreen-free wristbandScreen-free smart band; wrist band included, upper-arm band sold separately
PowerLight powered; no charging routineRechargeable; up to 10 days per charge; Garmin proprietary plug charger, up to 90 minutes to charge
ScreenNoneNone
Module size, as each maker lists it33 × 11 × 6 mm (length × width × height)27 × 47 × 9 mm (Garmin does not name the axes); wrist bands fit 120–200 mm (S-M) or 145–240 mm (L-XL)
Weight7 g14.8 g module; 20.7–21.2 g with wrist band
US price$219 silver / $249 gold$199.99
Required subscriptionNoneNone; Garmin Connect+ plan optional
Core trackingSleep, heart rate, HRV, temperature, steps and light exposureSleep stages and score, heart rate, HRV status, Pulse Ox, skin temperature, stress, Body Battery, respiration, steps and auto-detected activities
SensorsHeart-rate, temperature, step-counting and light-exposure sensorsWrist-based heart rate, Pulse Ox blood-oxygen monitor, skin temperature and accelerometer
Bluetooth controlsAirplane Mode switches Bluetooth off completely while Ray keeps recording; communication can also be reduced to once every several hoursBluetooth and ANT+; syncs with Garmin Connect periodically and automatically. Garmin’s manual lists no Bluetooth-off or airplane setting
Power use in our comparison15 µW with heart-rate sampling every four minutes and step counting offAbout 2,040 µW, estimated from total stored battery energy divided by reported runtime

Still comparing? See fitness trackers without Bluetooth, turning Bluetooth off on a fitness tracker, Ray vs. Polar 360 and Ray vs. Morpheus M7.

Neither wins every category

The best tracker is the one whose compromises fit your life—and that you will actually keep wearing.

Why choose Ray

Ray has no charger to return to, while Garmin lists CIRQA at up to 10 days per charge. Ray’s module weighs 7 g against CIRQA’s 14.8 g, and its Airplane Mode switches Bluetooth off completely while Ray keeps recording.

Why choose Garmin CIRQA

CIRQA costs $19.01 less than the silver Ray and brings Garmin Connect: training readiness, VO2 max, HRV status, Pulse Ox, more than 80 activity types and an upper-arm band option for sleep.

Five-year cost

A simple comparison using today's US list prices.

  • Chargerless Ray: $219–$249
  • Garmin CIRQA: $199.99

Garmin’s $199.99 US list price with no required subscription. The optional Garmin Connect+ plan, taxes, extra bands and replacement hardware are excluded.

Common questions

Does Garmin CIRQA need a subscription?

No. Garmin sells CIRQA with no subscription required. An optional Garmin Connect+ plan adds features such as live activities, Garmin Coach training plans, nutrition tracking and Active Intelligence insights. Ray has no subscription; you pay once.

How long does the Garmin CIRQA battery last?

Garmin lists up to 10 days per charge. Its proprietary charger can take up to 90 minutes to charge the band. Ray is powered by light and has no charger; a full charge holds up to about 60 days of reserve, depending on settings and use.

Does Garmin CIRQA have a screen?

No. CIRQA uses an LED and vibration for status and alerts, and shows your data in the Garmin Connect app. Ray has no screen either and shows your results in its app.

Can I turn Bluetooth off?

On Ray, yes. Airplane Mode switches Bluetooth off completely, Ray keeps recording, and data comes off when you start a sync. You can also reduce Ray’s Bluetooth communication to once every several hours. Garmin’s CIRQA manual describes automatic, periodic syncing with the Garmin Connect app and lists no Bluetooth-off or airplane setting.

How does Ray’s power use compare with Garmin CIRQA?

Our comparison puts Ray at 15 µW with heart-rate sampling every four minutes and step counting off. We estimate CIRQA’s average power at about 2,040 µW by dividing its total stored battery energy by its reported runtime. By those figures Ray uses about 1/136 of CIRQA’s power. Features and settings differ, so this is not an identical-feature test, and power use does not measure Bluetooth emissions or exposure.

How much does Garmin CIRQA cost?

Garmin listed CIRQA at $199.99 in the US when checked. Ray is $219 in silver or $249 in gold.

Sources. Garmin CIRQA facts were checked against Garmin’s CIRQA Smart Band product page and specifications on November 12, 2026. Ray details reflect the current Chargerless product page.