Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG – everything you need to know

Three years in the making, today’s launch of Whoop 5.0 has significant changes. This article covers every change in detail and is NOT intended to be a review of Whoop 5.0; I’ll publish a detailed Whoop 5.0 review in June after properly putting the new Whoop through its paces.

TL;DR – Whoop 4 owners don’t need to do anything, Whoop 4.0 still works, and your membership and app are already upgraded. You get a free upgrade if you recently signed up or have over 12 months of membership remaining. Otherwise, you can get a next-gen strap with a small payment, waived if you extend your membership commitment by a year.

Whoop 4.0 – A rapid recap

Whoop 4.0 membership was available to try and buy in 4 different ways, including a trial, and essentially giving a better price for a bigger commitment. Whoop also had a Pro subscription, which is now discontinued; this gave free apparel and discounts on clothing.

The key point here was that there used to be one physical product and one app, which everyone had full access to. That has changed.

Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG – 2 Straps, 3 Subscriptions

Whoop now offers two differently labelled straps available through three membership tiers – Whoop MG (Life Membership)  and Whoop 5.0 (ONE and PEAK membership tiers).

Despite two differently labelled straps, the sensor LEDs on the underside appear identical.

It’s a new, faster sensor with new physiology capabilities, plus a battery life of 14 days made possible by efficiency savings.

Whoop 5.0 & MG – Exactly What’s New

Whoop 5.0 introduces several significant new features, hardware changes, and a restructured membership model compared to its predecessor.

Here are the key new features and changes:

New Features and Insights:

• Healthspan and Pace of Ageing: This is a significant new feature designed to help users understand the markers of ageing and the pace at which their body is ageing. It provides a “Whoop Age” and actionable advice on rest and recovery. Developed in collaboration with Dr. Eric Verdin of the Buck Institute for Research on Ageing. It distils nine key biomarkers, including time spent in specific heart rate zones, sleep consistency, VO2 max, and lean body mass (with a compatible smart scale), to calculate your physiological age and track your Pace of Ageing. It shows how specific behaviours influence your physiological ageing trajectory. It is available with the Peak and Life membership tiers.
• Daily Blood Pressure Insights (Beta): A completely new addition for fitness trackers. Available with the Life tier. The new capability uses optical sensors to track heart rate, HRV, and blood flow patterns. It combines this with demographic information and algorithmic analysis to estimate overnight Pulse Pressure – systolic and diastolic blood pressure ranges. It requires an initial calibration with three readings from a standard blood pressure cuff.
• Heart Screener with ECG Readings: Available on the Whoop MG hardware with the Life membership. It offers an on-demand ECG function. It is FDA-cleared and designed to help detect signs of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). The MG will also passively look out for high, low, or irregular heart rates and rhythms. Readings are held in the Heart Screener section. This feature is medically regulated and has usage restrictions, including not intended for users with known arrhythmias other than AFib, those under 22, or those with cardiac pacemakers, ICDs, or other implanted electronic devices. It is not available in every region.
• Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications (IHRN): These form part of the medical-grade features.
• AI Assistant / Daily Outlook: Whoop innovates with this feature. It helps users make sense of data and motivates them. The daily outlook explains the numbers and suggests what to focus on that day. It pulls scores, exercise recommendations, weather, performance goals, and healthspan insights to answer questions and provide prompts. It can suggest solutions like breathing exercises and responding to low readings for metrics like blood oxygen levels.
• Step Counter: This device-specific feature is a new and more accurate algorithm for 5.0, and its contribution is quantified within the broader Healthspan context.
• Haptic: Feature Improved.
• Improved accelerometer and gyroscope: to improve auto-detection and auto-classification of sports
• Stress Monitor: A new feature that uses various metrics to assess stress levels. It is available with the Peak and Life membership tiers.
• Sleep Performance Update: The Sleep Score has been reimagined to reflect overall sleep quality beyond duration. It emphasises actionable metrics like Hours vs. Need, Sleep Consistency, Sleep Efficiency, and instances of High Sleep Stress. This shifts focus towards aspects of sleep hygiene that users can actively influence.
• Women’s Hormonal Insights: Available across all tiers. It leverages AI and biometric data to offer personalised insights into how hormonal fluctuations impact recovery, sleep, stress, and training, adapting to different life stages.
• Advanced Labs (Coming Soon): Teased for launch in the US in 2025. This paid add-on (accessible across all tiers) will allow users to schedule blood tests and receive clinician-reviewed reports within the app, integrating blood panel data with 24/7 Whoop metrics.

Hardware and Design Changes:

• Size and Weight: The device’s body is smaller and lighter than the 4.0. Whoop states it is 7% smaller.
• Processor: Features a 60% faster processor, resulting in a noticeably zippier app experience and reduced syncing delays.
• Battery Life: Significantly improved battery life. The 5.0 and MG devices offer 14+ day battery life. It can charge for a month when paired with the new wireless PowerPack. The wireless PowerPack supports Bluetooth status viewing, is waterproof and holds 30 days of charge. The Peak and Life tiers include the wireless PowerPack, while One members get charging via a cable.
• Accessories and Straps: New strap mechanism. Comes with a range of new straps and accessories, such as the Leatherluxe range. You can also wear WHOOP off-wrist with new WHOOP Body Smart Apparel. A significant change is a new clasp system, which means Whoop 4.0 bands are incompatible with the 5.0 or MG devices.
• Screen-Free Design: The device maintains a screen-free design without pings or distractions. You need the Whoop app on your phone to see your data.

App and Software Improvements:

• App Interface: The app interface has been changed to include more features and a new streamlined user experience. Personalised plans are moved to the home screen for easier access.
• Activity Auto-Detection: This feature has been refined and is more reliable in pinpointing workouts’ actual start and end times.
• Strength Trainer Integration: While the core functionality is mostly unchanged, ‘Strength Activity Time’ is now more visibly integrated into your daily Strain breakdown alongside other Healthspan markers.

Whoop 4.0 > Whoop 5.0 / MG –  Upgrading FAQs

Q: As an upgraded 4.0 member, what do I get?

A: By default, you get the PEAK membership. To get a Whoop 5 or MG band, you must re-commit to 12 months’ membership or pay a small fee.

Q: When are Whoop 5.0 and MG available?

A: 23 May 2025.

Q: Can I get a free trial?

A: Yes. New customers can get a month’s free Whoop 4.0 (four) trial on the PEAK membership.

Q: Are my Whoop 4.0 straps and charging puck compatible with 5.0

A: No.

Q: Are there continuous ECG and Afib Readings?

A: No, the readings are on-demand

Q: Are daily blood pressure insights automated?

A: Yes. Think of them more as blood pressure trends rather than the spot readings a doctor might take.

Q: Are the blood pressure insights FDA-approved

A: No. The blood pressure trend information does not require FDA approval

Q: Where are ECG Readings available

A: As of 8 May 2025, ECG and Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications readings are available for Whoop owners in the USA, UAE, Qatar, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and the EU

Q: Does Whoop’s ECG have FDA approval?

A: Yes, Whoop uses B-Secur’s ECG algorithms (HEARTKEY), which achieved US FDA 501K clearance in 2024.

Q: How do I take an ECG reading with Whoop?

A: Press either side of the metal buckle with the ECG strap. This only works with the SCG strap

Q: Is the new Whoop 5.0 / Whoop MG strap mechanism the same as 4.0?

A: No. There is an improved sliding mechanism

Q: Are Whoop 5.0 and MG the same internally? Is the difference in IE only a software difference?

A: They are different. The strap and the components for the ECG are different. However, the optical and other sensors are the same for all devices.

Q: How do I charge Whoop?

A: The battery puck is similar to before, but is now seen as a premium feature. Whoop 5.0 ONE only has a corded charger

Q: Can I buy a Wireless PowerPack for Whoop ONE?

A: Yes. The cost of ONE is lower because there is no PowerPack included

Q: I am an existing Whoop 4.0 member. Will I lose my data?

A: No. Whoop 5.0 automatically becomes the new source for the data

Q: I am an existing Whoop 4.0 member. How will  I see my old data with the new Whoop?

A: It will be visible automatically

Q: How do I pair Whoop 5.0?

A: Unpair Whoop 4.0 and ensure Whoop 5.0 has the blue pairing light showing. On the Whoop app, go to Device Settings> Advanced> Pair a Device

Q: When I upgrade to Whoop 5.0, do I lose my data if I downgrade my membership to ONE?

A: No. However, data for the PEAK and LIFE tiers will only appear when those membership levels are active. Your old data of that type now applies to new tiers and will be hidden until you re-upgrade.

Whoop – the Essential Membership Difference

• You are into your sports: Whoop 5.0 PEAK offers features similar to those of Whoop 4.
• You are active and highly interested in wellness: Whoop 5.0 ONE saves you a bit of money, but you lose some of the more recent features as a result, and you also lose the wireless charging puck.
• You want all the features, including advanced wellness insights: Whoop MG with LIFE membership includes everything. You also get the new ECG, daily blood pressure insights and Afib (irregular rhythms).

If you use Whoop as a lifestyle sports device, the cheaper ONE membership makes Whoop more affordable than before, compared to sports watches.

The PEAK membership has great monitoring tools for those more interested in general wellness.

If you are concerned about your health, the LIFE membership tier offers market-leading insights unique to Whoop – for example, the Apple Watch does NOT have any blood pressure insights.

Pricing for Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG

Buy either on Amazon or get a month free when buying directly.

• Whoop ONE – EU199, UK £169, US$ $199/year
• Whoop PEAK – EU264, UK £229, US$239/year
• Whoop LIFE – EU399 UK £349, US$359/year

You already have the free upgraded app. To get a free Whoop 5.0 band, you must re-commit to a full year from today or pay an upgrade fee (£49 in the UK, or £79 for the MG).

Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG – Take Out

I’m looking forward to going hands-on with what looks like a significant and thoughtful update for Whoop users.

Hightlights – 14 day battery life, on-demand ECG and Blood Pressure Trends

Whoop 5.0/MG feels complex with two hardware options and three membership tiers. The tiered structure makes sense once you dig in, but it could confuse newcomers. The key point is that Whoop now acknowledges a segment of its user base seeking more affordable options, and has delivered. On the other end of the spectrum, Whoop targets an older, more health-conscious, affluent demographic with advanced features that speak directly to their needs.

Adding ECG and Afib detection is necessary and welcome, though not unique—Apple and Garmin have had these for a while. However, Whoop’s introduction of blood pressure insights stands out. Beyond Samsung, Whoop is the first serious wearable brand to offer this capability, marking a genuinely innovative step.

A positive shout-out to Whoop for including women’s features as standard. Many women are rightly tired of paying a female premium.

The Whoop app remains one of the best-designed and most feature-rich platforms in the wearables space. Though basic, recent additions like step tracking and VO2max were long-requested by users, and the new “Healthspan with Pace of Ageing” feature hints at a shift toward broader wellness metrics. Expect competitors to follow Whoop’s lead here by focusing more on healthspan than just lifespan.

What do you think? Subscription burnout or a nice hardware and features bump

If you want to get Whoop and support the work on this site, here is a link that gives you one month of free membership as a thank you. Thank you!