On March 31, NBA star and Google performance advisor Steph Curry shared a 15-second Instagram video with a grey and orange wristband and a cryptic message — ‘A new relationship with your health’ coming soon. The video ended with a Google logo confirming rumours that Google’s all-new, screenless Fitbit (Likely to be branded as the Google Fitbit Air) is ready for its debut as early as May this year. Meanwhile Gadgets and Wearables reported in April 2026 that Garmin had filed a trademark for its rumoured CIRQA band. Screenless activity trackers are one of the hottest categories in the gadget space. If you’re looking at upping your wellness game, now’s a great time.

Screenless trackers demystified

Wearable tech took off in the 2010s with brands such as Fitbit leading the way. The debut of the Apple Watch in 2015 and Android smartwatches from brands such as Samsung created a huge interest. The rise of Chinese and homegrown Indian brands democratised the segment with a plethora of options in the sub ₹5K, budget category. With sleep, recovery and wellness becoming key drivers for consumers, products such as the Apple Watch pivoted more towards wellness. Whoop that also launched in 2015 gained momentum in the 2020s and is a favourite among high-performance athletes across the world. Screenless trackers such as Whoop connect via Bluetooth with your smartphone and keep sharing vital wellness data without the distractions of a smartwatch.

Who is it for

Smart rings (like the Oura Ring 4 that recently launched in India) and wrist-based activity trackers are vying for a share of the screen-free wellness tracking space. While both types of products have their inherent strengths, activity trackers score with their durable form factor and battery life. These trackers can sit on your right wrist and track your everyday moves and sleep even as you reserve your left wrist for a conventional watch or a smartwatch.

One of the key advantages is a distraction-free form. You don’t have to worry about random text alerts while you’re in the middle of a meeting or setting your smartwatch to night mode before you fall asleep. The other big plus is battery life, most trackers offer at least a week of battery life. You don’t need to pack an additional charging cable for a short weekend break or business trip. These trackers capture key wellness metrics from sleep to recovery and readiness (to take on the day or the level of workouts your body can cope with based on your recovery) as well as auto detect workouts.

Where smartwatches score over trackers

If you don’t mind constant alerts on your wrist, a smartwatch might still be the wearable for you. Most brands such as Apple, Google, Samsung and Garmin offer heaps of wellness data that’s not behind a monthly subscription pay wall. You can get quite a few notifications and also use your watch for navigation during runs or when you travel without having to keep pulling your smartphone out of your pocket. You can also store music and use your smartwatch to shuffle your playlist at the gym. Some models of the Apple Watch and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch also offer 4G/LTE connectivity (on compatible mobile networks), allowing you to leave your smartphone at home when you head to the gym or morning run. Smartwatches usually do better on automatic workout tracking, although a range of sensors on trackers are closing this gap.

The best screenless activity trackers in India now

Whoop: easily the best-known brand in the space. Whoop operates on a subscription-based model. Your first purchase (the brand is available on major online platforms) typically covers the cost of a one-year membership after which membership fees kick in. Whoop scores with its advanced tracking and comprehensive companion app that also offers an intuitive user interface. The brand currently offers two options — Whoop Peak ( ₹28,990) and Whoop One ( ₹21,990) that are available on Amazon India. Annual memberships start upwards of ₹20,000 and vary depending on whether you opt for the Peak or the One plans. Whoop claims a battery life of up to 14 days.

Polar Loop: Finnish brand Polar is steeped in innovation with a brand legacy that dates back to the 1980s. The Polar Loop is one of the best looking activity trackers with a premium design and a stretchable strap that is comfortable to wear for long periods. The tracker delivers about a week of battery life and is WR30-certified for water resistance. The band connects to your phone via the Polar Loop companion app. The app itself is not easy on the eye but packs a lot of useful insights. The Polar Loop’s biggest USP is its subscription-free model, the tracker costs ₹19,999.

Amazfit Helio Strap: this affordable option ( ₹8,999) that offers a quick peek into the world of screenless activity tracking without a subscription fee, is not easy to find on online platforms even though it has been officially launched in India. Just like the Whoop and Polar Loop, the Helio Strap also comes with swappable bands that allow you to match your outfit. This lightweight strap connects with the brand’s Zepp App that offers some useful insights like BioCharge that monitors your energy levels through the day. Amazfit claims a battery life of about 10 days.

While there are a few budget trackers available online and at least two major launches in the rumoured pipeline from Google and Garmin, you’ll have to pick between Whoop, Polar and Amazfit if you’re ready to go screen-free to track your wellness metrics.

Published on April 29, 2026