You have probably noticed that fitness wearables are no longer just about counting steps or logging workouts. If you follow health trends closely, you may even hear people comparing their “Whoop age” the way others compare resting heart rates. That shift says a lot about where Whoop now sits in the wearable market and what its latest devices, the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG, are trying to achieve.
From the beginning, Whoop took a different route. Founded in 2012 by former Harvard student athlete Will Ahmed, the company focused on recovery, strain, and long-term performance rather than screens or notifications. While the philosophy attracted elite athletes it has also appealed to everyday users who want deeper insight into how sleep, stress, and training affect their bodies.
From the beginning, Whoop took a different route. Founded in 2012 by former Harvard student athlete Will Ahmed, the company focused on recovery, strain, and long-term performance rather than screens or notifications.
A smaller tracker working around the clock
The newly released Whoop 5.0 and the Whoop MG are designed for continuous 24/7 wear. The hardware feels more refined than earlier generations, with a sensor that is about 7% smaller and a processor that is 60% faster.
Data is captured 26 times per second, feeding into detailed insights around sleep quality, heart-rate variability, oxygen levels, and daily strain. One of the most noticeable upgrades is battery life. You can realistically expect up to 14 days on a single charge, which removes the constant charging anxiety that comes with many smartwatches.
Data is captured 26 times per second, feeding into detailed insights around sleep quality, heart-rate variability, oxygen levels, and daily strain. One of the most noticeable upgrades is battery life. You can realistically expect up to 14 days on a single charge, which removes the constant charging anxiety that comes with many smartwatches.
Healthspan is the feature that has sparked most conversation. It uses nine metrics to calculate your Whoop Age and Pace of Aging, updating weekly and offering guidance on how daily habits may be speeding you up or slowing you down. Seeing those numbers tied directly to behavior can feel confronting, but it also makes the data easier to act on.
ECG readings, BP estimates, and the fine print
The Whoop MG pushes further into medical-style territory. Its Heart Screener includes ECG readings that can flag irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, high heart rate, or low heart rate.
You can export the results as a PDF to share with a doctor, which adds a layer of usefulness beyond the app. Blood pressure insights are also available, providing estimated systolic and diastolic ranges, although these require a baseline reading from a traditional cuff and are positioned as informational rather than diagnostic.
You can export the results as a PDF to share with a doctor, which adds a layer of usefulness beyond the app. Blood pressure insights are also available, providing estimated systolic and diastolic ranges, although these require a baseline reading from a traditional cuff and are positioned as informational rather than diagnostic.
Using the devices day to day feels straightforward. Setup is quick, and once the strap fit is right, data remains consistent. Some users may notice slightly lower strain scores compared to older models during intense training, but that tends to stabilise once positioning is dialled in. Sleep and recovery remain Whoop’s strongest areas, often highlighting habits you may not realise are holding you back, such as poor evening wind-down routines or elevated stress levels late in the day.
Pricing is where the decision becomes more personal. Whoop operates on an annual membership model.
WHOOP One costs £169 per year and includes the core tracking features on the WHOOP 5.0. WHOOP Peak costs £229 annually and adds real-time stress monitoring, guided breathing, Health Monitor features and Healthspan insights. The top-tier WHOOP Life membership costs £349 per year and includes the WHOOP MG hardware with ECG and blood pressure insights. Accessories are sold separately.
Where the FDA draws the boundary
The FDA has since drawn a firmer line. The agency’s position is that if a feature produces information people could reasonably use to manage, assess, or react to a medical condition, then it may no longer qualify as a simple wellness tool. Blood pressure is a key example because systolic and diastolic numbers are directly used to diagnose and manage hypertension.
In Whoop’s case, regulators flagged its blood-pressure insights because they estimate those exact values. From the FDA’s perspective, that makes the device look more like a medical product, even if the company says it is only meant to show trends or context around sleep, stress, and exercise. Whoop disputes that interpretation and argues the feature is educational, not diagnostic.
