Garmin social media post hints at a Whoop-style tracker – or does it?

A leak from Garmin India showing a sleek device with a LED has many hoping the company might be preparing a true, holistic competitor to Whoop. While the recently released Index Sleep Monitor handles overnight metrics for a specific crowd, this new wrist-worn device could be designed to handle the entire 24-hour cycle of sleep, recovery and daily strain.

The tagline “Sleek. Smart.” fits. This isn’t a rugged multi-sport tool, it points to something more understated. At least, that’s the speculation on Reddit.

A wristband that handles your full recovery cycle

If this is a Whoop-like device, the distinction between what it might be and the Index Sleep Band matters. Garmin’s sleep monitor covers nighttime metrics well, but it doesn’t help during your workday or workouts. That leaves a gap – especially for users who don’t want to wear a big watch all the time. This new device could possibly fill that space.

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With the Whoop band, you can still wear your Rolex or Omega on the left wrist, while the band quietly does the data collection on the right (or your upper arm). You get stress tracking, HRV, steps, Body Battery and sleep scores without strapping a plastic hockey puck to your arm. It is a very convenient solution.

It gives Garmin an edge on subscriptions

What’s important here is the clear difference in business model between Whoop and Garmin. The first requires a monthly fee. You never own the hardware, and if you cancel your plan, you lose access to your data. Garmin doesn’t do that. You buy the product once, and the metrics stay available as long as you keep using the device.

If this band delivers daily strain and recovery tracking in a way that matches Whoop but without the ongoing cost, Garmin becomes the more attractive long-term option. Especially for those already using Garmin watches or bike computers. It adds value without adding complexity.

That LED is probably more useful than it looks

The LED is the only visible interface in the leaked image. It’s subtle, but potentially quite versatile. Without a screen, Garmin likely needs another way to show battery level, connection status or even simple alerts. A double tap to check battery with a green or red pulse would be more than enough for most users.

The same light could also be used for heart rate zone cues or stress alerts. Think of it as a minimal feedback layer – just enough to keep you informed without being distracting. For a device you wear around the clock, that matters.

So what is it?

The launch timing seems odd, with the Index Sleep Band still fresh. Also, there have been no regulatory filings for such a device or patents we could spot. So take all of this with a grain of salt. There is also the opinion of some that this could just be a side shot of the Venu 4.

But even if we are not getting a Whoop competitor this time around – it is only a matter of time before Garmin releases one. The Reddit post which flags up the finding is one of the most upvoted on the Garmin sub today. This just shows how much appetite there is for a device like that.

Of course, the company has not confirmed or denied anything. So for now this is just speculation based on the single Facebook post.

Source: Garmin India Facebook (post now removed)

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