News
The stories that matter, explained for UK buyers — what happened, and why it's worth your attention.
Garmin CIRQA: the no-subscription WHOOP rival with 10-day battery
Garmin's first screen-free smart band launched in July 2026 at £179.99 — no recurring fees required.
Screenless tracker war: Garmin CIRQA, Polar Loop and Amazfit Helio all live
Three subscription-free rivals have joined WHOOP in the screenless wearable market in little over a year, giving UK buyers more choice than ever before.
Garmin locks down API as UK AI coaching app closes overnight
Intervals Pro shut down on 12 October after Garmin's revised developer terms threatened to cut off the Garmin data its coaching engine ran on.
Fitbit Edge launches at £159.99 — Amazon UK ships 27 October
Google's slimmest and most capable fitness tracker yet goes on sale this Tuesday, replacing the Charge 6 with better GPS, a replaceable battery and an AI coaching tier.
Garmin Tacx Nēra smart trainer launches with built-in motion at £859.99
The new Tacx Nēra brings three-directional movement and built-in Wi-Fi to Garmin's smart trainer range at a price that undercuts the equivalent NEO 2T setup.
Therabody launches ThermNeck wearable and ThermFace massager
The wellness tech brand targets 'tech neck' and jaw tension with two new devices now available in the UK from £179.
Garmin MARQ Gen 3: Six Luxury Smartwatches From £2,199
Garmin has launched its third-generation MARQ collection with LTE calling, satellite messaging, and a bigger AMOLED screen — but prices start £300 higher than the outgoin
Screenless tracker wars: four brands now battling WHOOP on price
Google, Garmin, Amazfit and Polar have all entered the screenless fitness band market in 2025–26, giving WHOOP its stiffest competition yet.
Garmin CIRQA Smart Ring: certifications hint at pre-Christmas launch
Regulatory filings in Indonesia, Brazil and China suggest Garmin is quietly preparing to enter the smart-ring market under its new CIRQA brand.
Screenless band market booms: Fitbit, Garmin and Polar pile in
Four major brands now sell screenless recovery bands in the UK, squeezing WHOOP from every angle on price and subscription costs.
Screenless fitness bands in 2026: Fitbit Air, Polar Loop and Amazfit Helio Strap Pro compared
Three very different takes on the no-screen tracker have landed this year — here's what UK buyers need to know before they spend.
Fitbit Edge Leaks Again: GPS Tracker Expected in October 2026
A fresh wave of leaks this week has all but confirmed Google's next Fitbit tracker — a screen-equipped band priced at £159 for the UK market.
Garmin Enduro 4 launches with 320-hour GPS and 64 GB storage
Garmin's latest ultra-endurance watch doubles storage, upgrades software and opens orders from Friday — but UK buyers face a £30 price rise.
WHOOP sues Polar over 'copycat' Loop band — but no UK ban yet
A US trade-dress lawsuit claims the new Polar Loop is a near-identical copy of the WHOOP Strap, though confirmed sales bans remain limited to a separate Chinese rival.
Garmin Quietly Buys Muscle Oxygen Sensor Firm Moxy Monitor
The GPS giant has confirmed it acquired Moxy Monitor, the maker of a near-infrared muscle oxygen sensor favoured by elite endurance athletes and coaches — but won't say w
Amazfit flagship watches get HYROX auto-transition this October
Eight Amazfit flagships will stop requiring manual lap presses between HYROX stations after an over-the-air update due this month.
Fitbit Air Arrives in India as UK Price Pressure Mounts
Google's screenless tracker goes on sale in India at ₹13,999, tightening the squeeze on Polar and Amazfit in the UK's fast-moving no-screen wearables segment.
Hyperice Hypervolt 3 line confirmed: Go 3, standard and Pro all shipping
Hyperice has launched three new percussion massagers with longer battery life, quieter motors and redesigned attachments — and all three are available in the UK right now
Garmin CIRQA Smart Ring edges closer with ten-size Brazil filing
A Brazilian regulatory filing covering ten model numbers is the strongest sign yet that Garmin is preparing a smart ring to sit alongside its new CIRQA Smart Band.
WHOOP v Polar: What the Ongoing Lawsuit Means for UK Shoppers
WHOOP is suing Polar in a New York court over alleged design copying — and while UK sales of the Polar Loop are unaffected for now, the case could reshape the screenless
Amazfit T-Rex Dual Solar launches in UK at £649.90 with world-first dual solar AMOLED
The T-Rex Dual Solar is the world's first AMOLED smartwatch with front and rear solar charging panels, and it is available to order in the UK right now.
Sunny Health & Fitness Acquires UK Brand JLL Fitness
The California-based equipment seller has snapped up Birmingham's JLL Fitness, bringing its connected SunnyFit platform to British home gym buyers.
Garmin Fenix 9 brings rowing FTP and VO2 max via Concept2 link
Garmin's new flagship watch can now calculate rowing fitness metrics when paired with a power-equipped rowing machine — and most of those features are coming to the Fenix
Amazfit Helio Strap Pro brings HYROX strength data via waist pod
A new dual-sensor system tracks muscular load across all eight HYROX stations — no subscription required.
Fitbit Air UK Review: Google's £85 Screenless Tracker Tested
Google's lightweight, display-free Fitbit Air has now been put through its paces by UK reviewers — here's what they found.
Screenless Band Wars: Five Trackers Now Fight for Your Wrist
From WHOOP to Garmin, the no-screen fitness tracker market has exploded from a near-monopoly into a five-brand fight in just over a year.
Garmin Fēnix 9 confirmed: AMOLED flagship arrives 25 August 2026
Garmin's most capable multisport watch lands alongside a full Pro lineup, with brighter screens, doubled storage and — for the first time — satellite messaging in the sma
Garmin CIRQA Smart Ring: global filings hint at late-2026 launch
Regulatory certificates filed across four countries suggest Garmin is quietly preparing a smart ring to sit alongside its CIRQA Smart Band — though the company has confir
Polar Loop: subscription-free 8-day band takes on WHOOP
Polar's screenless fitness band arrived a year ago without monthly fees — but WHOOP's trade-dress lawsuit means the real battle is still ongoing.
Amazfit Helio Strap 2 FCC filing points to autumn 2026 launch
Regulatory documents filed by Zepp Health confirm a next-generation screenless fitness tracker is in the pipeline, with a launch expected before the end of 2026.
Fitbit Air: Google's Budget Screenless Tracker Lands in UK Shops
At £84.99 with no subscription required, the Fitbit Air is Google's boldest Fitbit hardware in three years — and it has no screen at all.
FDA clears WHOOP blood pressure feature after year-long standoff
The US regulator has closed its warning letter against WHOOP's Blood Pressure Insights, ending a dispute that began in July 2025 — with implications for wearable health d
Amazfit Confirms Falcon 2 Leak as Brand Eyes Garmin's Crown
A code string buried in the Zepp app points to a Falcon successor, but the T-Rex Dual Solar has now emerged as the more likely candidate for Amazfit's final 2026 launch.
UK Safety Alert: Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 Battery Burn Risk
The UK product safety regulator has issued a formal alert over two Fitbit smartwatches that may overheat and burn users during normal wear.
Garmin Fēnix 9 arrives in the UK: titanium build, 3,000-nit screen
Garmin's flagship multisport watch lands with a simultaneous standard-and-Pro launch, satellite messaging, and a price held steady from its predecessor.
Garmin CIRQA Smart Ring certified — pre-Christmas launch signalled
A fleeting Indonesian certification filing has revealed a product Garmin insisted it wasn't making — and the timing points squarely at the holiday shopping window.
Garmin buys TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic in fitness software deal
The GPS giant acquires two of endurance and strength coaching's most trusted platforms, raising questions about what happens to rival device users.
WHOOP vs Polar Lawsuit Moves to Full Litigation Track
Polar's dismissal bid has collapsed and the case is now heading for a full trial — here is what UK buyers need to know about the fitness band legal battle.
Garmin CIRQA Smart Band: Subscription-Free Whoop Rival on Sale
Garmin's first screenless fitness tracker lands in the UK at £179.99 — no monthly fee required.
Garmin Fenix 9 confirmed: Enduro 4 nowhere to be seen
Garmin launched the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro at its Play Harder livestream event on 25 August — but the long-awaited Enduro 4 was a no-show.
Amazfit Helio Strap Pro Launches With Two-Sensor Body Tracking
Amazfit's new dual-piece training system pairs an arm-worn heart-rate sensor with a waist-mounted motion pod to give HYROX athletes data that wrist trackers simply can't
WHOOP wins injunction against Polar lookalike — but Polar fight goes on
A US judge blocked sales of a Chinese copycat tracker, not Polar's Loop — but WHOOP's separate lawsuit against the Finnish brand is very much alive.
Concept2 StrengthErg goes on sale in UK in its 50th anniversary year
The Vermont-based erg maker has brought its air-resistance strength machine to British buyers for the first time, available now through UK retailers and its own website.
Garmin CIRQA Smart Ring leaks in official database — then vanishes
A one-day certification filing in Indonesia suggests Garmin is building a smart ring to sit alongside its CIRQA Smart Band — but the company has said nothing.
Screenless Tracker War: Five Bands Now Taking On WHOOP
Garmin, Google, Amazfit, and Polar have all entered the screenless fitness tracker market, giving UK buyers genuine alternatives to WHOOP for the first time.
WHOOP sues Polar over screenless band design in escalating wearable war
WHOOP filed a federal lawsuit against Polar in October 2025, claiming the new Polar Loop copied its signature faceless fitness band design.
Garmin Fenix 9 FCC Filing Confirms LTE and Satellite on Wrist
A regulatory filing dated 5 August 2026 reveals a Garmin smartwatch with LTE-M cellular voice and satellite messaging — pointing squarely at a Fenix 9 Pro inReach.
Amazfit Balance 3 and Balance Ultra Arrive With HYROX Sport Focus
Zepp Health's two new flagship watches bring faster processors, brighter screens, and dedicated HYROX race tools — and both are now available in the UK.
Hyperice Hypervolt 3 line launches with redesigned full range
Hyperice has overhauled its entire Hypervolt percussion massage range, with three new models offering more power, quieter motors, and larger attachments — now priced from
Garmin CIRQA Smart Band Arrives in the UK With No Subscription Fee
Garmin's first screen-free fitness band launched globally on 24 July 2026 at £179.99 — and it doesn't cost a penny more to use the core features.
Garmin Enduro 4 FCC filing points to late-summer launch
Regulatory clearance and an app teardown together suggest Garmin's next ultra-endurance watch is weeks away — but forget built-in satellite comms.
UK gym membership hits record 12.2m as fitness sector reaches £6.5bn
A new industry report shows 18% of UK adults now hold a gym membership — the highest rate ever recorded — as home fitness spending continues to climb alongside it.
Escape Fitness collapses into administration after 25 years
The Peterborough-based gym equipment supplier, which once claimed 70% of UK free-weight sales, has fallen into administration just months after selling its US arm.
Rogue Echo Rower confirmed as official CrossFit Games rower
Rogue's air-resistance rowing machine has dethroned Concept2 as the go-to rower at the CrossFit Games — and UK buyers can order one now.
Tonal launches monthly rental plan in first move under new CEO
Smart strength machine brand Tonal has unveiled a monthly rental programme, marking its first hardware subscription offer and new CEO Todd Bartee's opening strategic play
China Sets 10 New Gym Equipment Safety Standards From 2027
A sweeping package of mandatory and recommended standards covering treadmills, strength machines, rowers and more takes legal effect in October 2027 — and UK buyers will
John Lewis Opens AI-Powered Sport & Wellness Dept at Oxford Street
The retailer's multimillion-pound revamp brings gait analysis, AI fitness mirrors and recovery tech under one roof for the first time in the UK.
John Lewis launches fitness push backed by £800m investment
The department store chain is opening goal-based Sports & Wellness departments across four UK stores, bringing together gear, tech and expert services under one roof.
John Lewis launches fitness push with Northern Gym Equipment tie-up
The Manchester-based home fitness brand goes nationwide through John Lewis's online platform, as the retailer bets big on sport and wellbeing.
John Lewis: connected home fitness sales up 27% year-on-year
The retailer's new Sports & Wellness concept — already open at Oxford Street — backs a surge in demand for fitness trackers, recovery tech and home gym equipment.
REP Fitness launches dedicated Digital Strength division
The Denver-based equipment maker is building a new division to bring data-driven strength training insights to everyday gym users — with new capabilities set to arrive in
Dyaco — Maker of Spirit and Xterra Bikes — Pivots into AI Drones
The Taiwanese fitness equipment giant behind Spirit Fitness and Xterra has announced a sweeping move into AI-powered unmanned vehicles across defence, logistics, and agri
Garmin Cirqa launches in UK: screen-free, no subscription fee
Garmin's first new fitness band in four years ditches the display and the monthly bill — and it's already available on the UK high street.
Rogue Launches Air Rhino to Take On the Concept2 StrengthErg
Rogue's new plate-free flywheel trainer arrives in the UK at £597 less than its most obvious rival, with up to 1,200 lbs of resistance on tap.
Eleiko Named Official Kit Provider for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
The Swedish barbell maker will supply all competition, warm-up and training equipment for Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting at the Games, which open on 23 July.
Bowflex recalls nearly 4 million adjustable dumbbells over injury risk
Almost 3.85 million BowFlex SelectTech 552 and 1090 dumbbells sold since 2004 are being recalled after weight plates detached mid-use, causing broken toes, concussions an
Rogue Invitational returns to Aberdeen for third year running
The world's biggest CrossFit and Strongman event is heading back to P&J Live in October 2026 — but organisers have confirmed it will be the last time.