Garmin has defended its decision to equip the new Cirqa Smart Band screen-free fitness tracker with its older Elevate Gen 4 heart rate sensor rather than the newer Gen 5 sensor found in flagship smartwatches. Garmin says the older Gen 4 sensor is better suited to 24/7 health tracking in a lightweight wearable like the Cirqa as it delivers proven performance for heart rate, sleep, stress, Body Battery and wellness metrics while helping to maximise battery life. After the launch of the screen-free Cirqa, some consumers questioned why Garmin’s latest wearable used older Gen 4 sensor hardware but carried a premium positioning in the market, prompting Garmin to come out with the explanation. Users can combine the screen-free tracker with a Garmin smartwatch to access a broader range of health and fitness data, for example, says the company. Garmin’s new Cirqa Smart Band is a subscription-free health tracker priced at A$299 and available in multiple colours and sizes.