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After more than a week of teasing it on social media, Whoop has finally announced the release of its 5.0 device, along with a version called the “MG” (medical grade) that can do ECG readings and estimate blood pressure. Members can upgrade for a $49 fee or by extending their membership in one of the three new membership tiers: One ($199/year), Peak ($239/year, similar to current offerings) or Life ($359/year).
Whoop is the screenless fitness tracker that earned four stars in my review of the 4.0 model for its integrated fitness and recovery tracking and its handling of strength training. It’s only available by subscription, with the hardware being sort of a bonus that comes with membership. That means upgrades to the hardware are handled a bit differently than for a device you outright purchase; more on that below.
What’s in the Whoop 5.0
The 5.0 device looks a lot like the 4.0, but Whoop calculates that it is 7% smaller. This change means that straps and other accessories from the 4.0 won’t fit the new device. (Longstanding members with more than 1,500 recoveries will receive a “Milestone collection” box with extra bands.)
The 5.0 has a 14-day battery life, the company says, more than double that of the 4.0. There is also a new power pack (the battery that you slide on to charge the device while you wear it). Only members of the Peak and Life tiers will get the wireless power pack; the lowest tier membership comes with a wired charger.
Otherwise, the 5.0 hardware is similar to the previous edition, but with internal upgrades—a 60% faster processor, the company says, and “enhanced sensors.”
The difference between the 5.0 and MG
The MG (“medical grade”) Whoop device adds the ability to take an ECG from your wrist, in much the same way as an Apple Watch or Fitbit (you’ll touch metal contacts with the fingers of your other hand while wearing it).
The MG device comes with a Whoop Life membership, the most expensive tier at $359/year.
What you get with each of the three membership tiers
The three new membership tiers are One ($199/year), Peak ($239/year), and Life ($359/year). One is a stripped-down membrership, Peak is similar to what Whoop users have right now, and Life is a new offering with extra health features. Here’s the breakdown:
Whoop One ($199/year)
One is the budget membership. You get a wired charger instead of the wireless power pack, and a “CoreKnit” band, which seems to be a new material that isn’t as nice as the SuperKnit bands offered with the higher tiers.
If you downgrade to this level, you’ll lose a few features that Whoop members currently all get: the Health Monitor (with its readings of HRV, respiratory rate, resting heart rate, and skin temperature) or the Stress Monitor, which tells you in real time how much stress you seem to be under.
Whoop Peak ($239/year)
Peak is the most similar to the single subscription level that was offered with the 4.0, both in price and features. If your subscription renews without you choosing a tier, you’ll end up on Peak.
You’ll also get the new Healthspan feature (coming soon) that tells you your “fitness age” and your “pace of aging,” and gives recommendations to improve those metrics.
What do you think so far?
Whoop Life ($359/year)
Life is the top tier membership, and comes with the MG rather than 5.0 hardware. It includes everything in Peak, including the Healthspan feature.
With the MG you’ll be able to take ECG readings, and Whoop is also introducing a feature (currently in beta) to estimate your blood pressure. You’ll need to calibrate it with readings from a blood pressure cuff to start using it.
How upgrades to the Whoop 5.0 or MG will work
If you’re currently a Whoop member, and were looking forward to upgrading your hardware for free (as the Whoop FAQ states), here’s the fine print.
Whoop tells me that members who pay for another 12 months of membership will get the 5.0 (or MG) hardware for free. So if you’re six months into your current membership, you can buy a 12-month extension, thus having 18 months left on your membership, and get a new device.
If you don’t want to extend your membership, you can opt to pay a $49 upgrade fee to get the 5.0 device to use on your current membership term.
Whoop says that when you upgrade, they’ll send you a “gift kit” that you can use to pass along your old 4.0 device to a friend. It includes a sanitizing wipe and a fresh SuperKnit band.
What if I don’t upgrade?
Whoop memberships will still work with the 4.0 device, and you’ll still get access to everything the Peak membership offers, including the new Healthspan feature when it comes out. If your membership renews without you choosing a tier, you’ll be rolled into the Peak membership.
