Suunto Leak: Screenless HR264 Takes On Whoop Without Subscriptions

What the leak actually shows

The first concrete evidence of Suunto's screenless ambitions comes from regulatory filings, not an official announcement.

The device was first spotted by the5krunner in the UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority database, listed under the codename HR264. Similar listings have since appeared in South Korea and Singapore, suggesting Suunto is preparing for a multi-region launch.

Certification photos reportedly show a rechargeable optical band designed for 24/7 recovery tracking, measuring roughly 44mm tall and 30mm wide. That's small enough to be an armband or a slim wrist wearable, but the filings don't confirm whether it's a chest strap, armband, or something else entirely.

No product name, price, or feature list has surfaced yet. The5krunner believes the launch could still be months away, so treat any speculation about specs with caution.

Why Suunto's subscription stance matters

Whoop made screenless trackers popular, but its mandatory subscription is a sticking point for many users. Suunto could undercut that model.

Suunto's current app is free, with an optional paid AI coach layered on top. If the HR264 follows that approach, it would be a direct shot at Whoop, which requires an ongoing subscription to use its hardware at all. Garmin's screenless Cirqa and Fitbit's Air also avoid mandatory fees, so Suunto would be joining a growing club of subscription-free options.

That said, Suunto's app quality is the open question. Our reviewer praised the Vertical 2's heart rate accuracy but noted the companion app isn't as comprehensive as Garmin's. For a screenless device, the app is the entire user experience—there's no watch face to fall back on.

Suunto has a solid heart rate monitoring pedigree from the Race 2, but the HR264 would be its first screenless product. Competing in a category where the app is everything is a different challenge.

The screenless tracker race is heating up

Suunto would be entering a market that's suddenly crowded with display-free wearables.

Whoop proved there's demand for trackers that focus on recovery and readiness without a screen. Garmin and Fitbit have both responded with their own screenless bands, and now Suunto appears ready to join. More competition usually means better apps, lower prices, and faster innovation.

For buyers, the appeal is simple: less distraction, longer battery life, and a focus on metrics that matter for training and recovery. The trade-off is that you're trusting the app to surface everything, and that's where Suunto needs to deliver.

Availability and pricing

Suunto has not announced the HR264 for any market yet. The regulatory filings in the UAE, South Korea, and Singapore suggest a launch is in progress, but there's no confirmed US, UK, or EU release date or price. Suunto typically sells its wearables globally, so a wide rollout is likely once the product is official—but that's an assumption, not a fact.

Pricing is completely unknown. Suunto's current smartwatches range from around $300 to $700, and screenless trackers like the Garmin Cirqa and Fitbit Air sit in the $200–$300 range. If Suunto wants to undercut Whoop, expect a competitive upfront price with no mandatory subscription.

Suunto's screenless heart rate monitor is still a rumor with regulatory paperwork, not a product you can buy. But the filings are a strong signal that Suunto wants a piece of the Whoop-style tracker market. If it can pair solid hardware with a free app that rivals Garmin's, the HR264 could be worth waiting for. Until then, keep your expectations in check.