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The Vergecast · August 3, 2026 · 30m

Rise of the Whoop dupes

For the last few years, the trend in wearables has been all about screens. As many of them as possible. But now, companies like Whoop, Fitbit, and Garmin are creating new products that ditch the display entirely. The Verge's Victoria Song explains why no-screen is the new flex, why even the most quantified athletes might not want a display on their wrist, and whether Whoop and the Whoop Dupes are a sign of a broader trend.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

Wearables ditch screens after years of display proliferation
Victoria Song explains that after years of adding more screens to wearables, companies are now reversing course with screen-free devices.
No-screen is the new flex for athletes and health-trackers
She notes that a screenless device like Whoop has become a status symbol, and even the most data-driven athletes may prefer not to see real-time metrics.
Whoop dupes from Fitbit and Garmin signal a broad industry trend
The emergence of screen-free trackers from major competitors suggests that Whoop's approach has proven itself and is being widely adopted.
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