Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- WHOOP launched two new wearables, the 5.0 and MG (Medical Grade), on May 8, 2025, targeting both athletes and general health enthusiasts.
- Both devices are 7% smaller than the previous 4.0 model and boast a remarkable 14-day battery life, extendable to a month with a wireless PowerPack.
- The WHOOP MG offers exclusive medical-grade features, including FDA-approved ECG for detecting atrial fibrillation and blood pressure insights from the wrist.
- New subscription tiers-One ($199/year), Peak ($239/year), and Life ($359/year)-cater to varying user needs, with Life unlocking the MG's advanced capabilities.
- Additional features include Healthspan for physiological age tracking, improved sleep metrics, and women’s hormonal insights for personalized health data.
- The blood pressure monitoring requires an initial cuff calibration, currently in beta, marking a pioneering step in cuffless wearable tech.
- WHOOP aims to broaden its appeal beyond athletes, integrating clinician-reviewed reports and potential blood test integration through Advanced Labs.
A Bold Leap in Wearable Design and Battery Life
WHOOP has taken a significant stride forward with the release of its 5.0 and MG models, unveiled on May 8, 2025. These devices are not just incremental updates; they’re a reimagining of what a screenless fitness tracker can be. At 7% smaller than the 4.0, they’re sleeker and more comfortable for continuous wear, whether on the wrist or elsewhere with compatible accessories. But the real jaw-dropper? A 14-day battery life on a single charge, nearly triple that of its predecessor. Pair it with the new wireless PowerPack, and you’re looking at a full month of uninterrupted tracking-a game-changer for anyone who’s ever grumbled about daily charging.
The hardware upgrades don’t stop there. WHOOP claims a 60% faster processor and sensors that capture data 26 times per second, ensuring precision without draining power. It’s a testament to a decade of refinement, as CEO Will Ahmed noted, aiming to empower users to perform at their peak for longer. Honestly, in a world where my phone can’t survive a day, this kind of endurance feels like a small miracle.
Medical-Grade Innovation: ECG and Blood Pressure on Your Wrist
What sets the WHOOP MG apart is its focus on medical-grade health monitoring, a clear pivot to attract a broader, health-conscious audience. The standout feature is the FDA-cleared ECG Heart Screener, exclusive to the MG model. This allows users over 22 to take on-demand electrocardiogram readings from the comfort of home, detecting potential atrial fibrillation and generating shareable PDF reports for healthcare providers. It’s a leap toward bridging consumer tech with clinical utility, though it’s not recommended for those with pacemakers or implanted devices.
Then there’s the Blood Pressure Insights, a pioneering addition that estimates systolic and diastolic values without a cumbersome cuff. Currently in beta, it requires an initial calibration with a traditional blood pressure cuff, but once set, the wrist-based sensors handle the rest. This isn’t just cool-it’s potentially transformative for managing hypertension, especially as continuous monitoring becomes a wearable “holy grail.” While accuracy details are still emerging, the three-year development process hints at serious rigor behind this feature.
Tailored Memberships: Choose Your Health Journey
WHOOP’s new tiered subscription model is as much a headline as the hardware. With three options-One at $199/year, Peak at $239/year, and Life at $359/year-the company is catering to diverse needs. The budget-friendly One tier offers basic tracking with the 5.0 device, though it skips perks like the wireless charger and advanced health monitors. Peak, akin to the existing subscription, includes the new [Healthspan feature](https:// 5.0, which estimates your physiological age and aging pace using metrics like heart rate and sleep quality.
The Life tier, paired exclusively with the MG device, unlocks the full suite of medical-grade insights. It’s a steep price jump, but for those prioritizing cutting-edge health data-think blood pressure and ECG-it’s positioned as a worthwhile investment. Existing users can upgrade for a $49 fee or by extending their membership, a nod to WHOOP’s subscription-first ethos where hardware is a perk, not a purchase.
Beyond Fitness: A Holistic Health Ecosystem
WHOOP isn’t just chasing athletes anymore. Features like Women’s Hormonal Insights personalize data around hormonal cycles, impacting sleep and stress, while improved sleep tracking and VO2 max measurements round out the fitness suite. The teased Advanced Labs-not yet live-promises integration of clinical blood tests with app-based clinician reports, hinting at a future where wearables aren’t just trackers but health hubs.
I’ll admit, the app felt a bit overwhelming at first glance, as one reviewer noted after a few hours of use. But that’s the trade-off for depth. From stress monitoring to recovery insights, WHOOP is betting that users want more than steps counted-they want a narrative of their body’s story over time.
The Bigger Picture: Wearables as Healthcare Allies
The broader wearable landscape is shifting, and WHOOP is riding the wave. Innovations like ultrasound-based blood pressure monitoring by Novosound, showcased at CES 2025, suggest cuffless tech is the future, with accuracy rivaling traditional methods. Meanwhile, FDA clearances for ECG patches from companies like Wellysis and SmartCardia underscore a regulatory embrace of continuous cardiac monitoring. WHOOP’s MG, with its clinician-friendly reports, fits squarely into this trend-early detection of arrhythmias or hypertension could save lives, or at least spare a few doctor visits.
Still, questions linger. Some users on forums like Reddit have raised eyebrows over the “medical grade” label, noting that only the ECG component carries FDA approval, not the device as a whole. It’s a fair critique-clarity matters when health is on the line.
WHOOP’s 5.0 and MG launch marks a pivotal moment for wearables, blending fitness with medical-grade insights like ECG and blood pressure monitoring. As this tech evolves, it could redefine proactive healthcare for millions.
