Anticipation Surrounds Garmin's Upcoming Sleep Band Debut: Will Garmin Deliver a Notable Performance?
Fishing for a Garmin Sleep Band? Here's the Lowdown
For years, Garmin forums and subreddits have been buzzing about a sleep band. Some folks find traditional Garmin watches too bulky for sleep, but don't want to miss out on body battery data. Luxury watch enthusiasts prefer a sleeker appearance during the day. Well, it seems their wishes might finally come true!
The5krunner, via Garmin Rumors, claims a 100% certainty that a Whoop-esque Garmin armband will drop by July or August 2025, based on a trusted source. Let's dive into what we know so far about this new "Garmin Sleep Band."
Essentially, this device will employ LED indicators rather than a screen, with tap gestures to disable the silent vibration alarm or check battery life. Like the Garmin Vivoactive 6, it will utilize an optical sensor to detect a light sleep stage within your alarm window before stirring you awake.
We don't have all the details yet, such as pricing, design, and whether or not a Connect Plus subscription will be required, like the Whoop Band. However, it's clear this innovative product could fill a gap in Garmin's offerings, as they've previously focused predominantly on chest straps.
A Simplified Slumber Tracker or All-In-One Wellness Partner?
Garmin can take various routes with the Sleep Band, starting with one focusing solely on sleep tracking enhanced by an optical sensor. By doing so, it would address the concerns of those who dislike wearing a watch to bed and could potentially keep costs low due to specialization.
Optimally, the Garmin Sleep Band would equip the newest Elevate v5 sensor, found in the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 970, ensuring the most accurate heart rate and skin temperature readings, combined with standard Garmin overnight data like blood oxygen, heart rate variability (HRV), and the latest breathing variation metric.
Ideally, the Garmin Sleep Band would capture active ECG or passive heart rhythm data, as well. Like Whoop, it might even offer blood pressure data on its premium model. However, it's unlikely Garmin will aim for "medical-grade" accuracy with this device.
Mastering Your Rest in a Snap
At the next level, the Garmin Sleep Band would support all-day health tracking, allowing it to accurately measure Body Battery, daily readiness, and recovery. This seems like an obvious choice for those hoping to use it as a watch replacement, even if you need to check the Connect mobile app for results.
Will this device automatically detect and track workouts like the Whoop Band? Most external Garmin sensors need to pair with a watch to function, but the newest Garmin HRM 600 chest strap does standalone workouts.
With arm-based optical sensors generally more accurate than wrist-based ones, the Garmin Sleep Band could potentially boost the accuracy of your workouts, all while offering greater comfort. That said, it may not match a chest strap's precision.
It's uncertain whether the Sleep Band will feature built-in GPS, an altimeter, or other Garmin watch perks. If it comes with an accelerometer and IP68 dust and water resistance, it could deliver the basics of a fitness tracker, though it won't entirely replace a dedicated Garmin watch for avid users.
Hope for a Hitch-Free Launch
I'm excited about the prospect of a Garmin Sleep Band. Currently, my $79 COROS HRM armband is a fantastic companion, delivering outstanding heart rate accuracy and minimal weight. A new Garmin Sleep Band could target the niche of a smart ring at an affordable price while staying unobtrusive on your bicep, leaving your wrist for other accessories.
However, the big question is: Will this Sleep Band serve as merely an accessory or a serious competitor to the Whoop? While the Whoop band is "free" with a mandatory $200/year subscription, Garmin could easily undercut Whoop with a subscription-free rival band.
In recent times, Garmin watches have skyrocketed in price. In Garmin's latest earnings call, they discussed finding ways to counterbalance tariffs by increasing prices. I'm concerned Garmin might make the Sleep Band too expensive as a "backup" device or attempt to create additional revenue by emulating Whoop's Connect Plus fee.
Currently, the Connect Plus paywall is reserved for optional features like AI summaries, offline trails, and advanced data charts. So, I'm going to assume, until otherwise informed, that Garmin will continue to follow its usual business model.
And in that case, the Garmin Sleep Band will undoubtedly make many long-time Garmin lovers happy by allowing them to shed their watches without losing access to valuable data.
The new Garmin Sleep Band, rumored to drop by July or August 2025, could mark a significant shift in technology, merging wearables and gadgets, offering a sleep tracker that doubles as an all-day fitness partner. As it incorporates LED indicators, optical sensors, and potential advanced health tracking features, it might successfully challenge the market dominated by devices like the Whoop Band.
