WHOOP has unveiled its latest wearable devices, the WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP Medical Grade (MG), featuring a 7% smaller design, advanced health monitoring capabilities including FDA-cleared ECG and blood pressure tracking, and an impressive 14-day battery life that extends to a full month when paired with the new wireless PowerPack.
While both the WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG share core fitness tracking capabilities-including strain monitoring, recovery metrics, and sleep analysis-the MG model offers significant medical-grade enhancements. The MG features an integrated ECG/Heart Screener that can detect atrial fibrillation and provides on-demand heart rhythm readings through its conductive clasp12. It also delivers blood pressure insights, making it the first wearable to offer this capability directly from the wrist32.
Both devices boast identical physical dimensions (7% smaller than the previous 4.0 model) and impressive 14+ day battery life45. However, they come with different membership tiers-the standard 5.0 is available with either the One ($199/year) or Peak ($239/year) subscriptions, while the MG is exclusively offered with the premium Life tier ($359/year)67. The price difference reflects the MG's advanced medical capabilities, which are designed for users seeking comprehensive health insights beyond fitness performance metrics.
Wearable blood pressure monitoring represents a significant advancement in health technology, with devices like the WHOOP MG using photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors to analyze arterial diameter changes and pulse waves to estimate blood pressure readings1. This technology eliminates the need for traditional arm cuffs, allowing users to check their blood pressure throughout the day - after meals, before bed, or upon waking2. The WHOOP MG's blood pressure monitoring capability is FDA-approved, developed through three years of research collecting thousands of readings to create a novel algorithm2.
The accuracy of wearable blood pressure monitors continues to improve, with AI-driven correction algorithms enhancing accuracy by 5-10% compared to non-AI models3. Studies comparing wearable devices to traditional methods show promising results - the Samsung Galaxy Watch demonstrated strong correlation with standard measurements in young adults4, while the HeartGuide watch showed acceptable differences compared to ambulatory monitoring both in and out of office settings5. As this technology evolves, it offers tremendous potential for continuous cardiovascular monitoring, enabling early detection and prevention of hypertension67, with the global wearable blood pressure monitoring market projected to grow from $2.9 billion in 2024 to $8.1 billion by 20318.
The WHOOP MG's FDA-cleared ECG Heart Screener represents a significant advancement in consumer wearable health technology. This feature allows users to take on-demand electrocardiogram readings to detect atrial fibrillation and other irregular heart rhythms12. Unlike many consumer wearables that rely solely on photoplethysmography (PPG), the WHOOP MG combines PPG with electrocardiogram technology for more comprehensive cardiac monitoring, similar to medical-grade devices that have shown 95-99% sensitivity in clinical trials34.
The FDA clearance of wearable ECG technology has been expanding across the industry, with Apple Watch's atrial fibrillation feature recently qualified for use in medical device clinical trials as a secondary endpoint5. This trend toward FDA-approved wearable cardiac monitoring includes other devices like the LIVMOR Halo AF Detection System (the first prescriptible wearable for continuous heart monitoring)6, CardiacSense's medical watch3, and Omron's blood pressure cuff with AFib detection7. These advancements are transforming how cardiac arrhythmias are detected, potentially improving early diagnosis rates and reducing stroke risk through continuous, passive monitoring rather than relying on intermittent clinical assessments8.