Whoop 5.0: Can A Fitness Watch Really Reverse Ageing?

The world of wearable tech has exploded in recent years, with fitness watches and rings offering increasingly in-depth data about all aspects of our health. But is this new launch from Whoop the most advanced yet? Say hello to Whoop 5.0: the futuristic watch that promises to help people live longer.

Whoop 5.0: Everything You Need To Know

What Is Whoop?

First launched in 2015, Whoop is a screen-free, wearable fitness tracker designed to be worn on your wrist 24/7. It’s the brainchild of Will Ahmed, who was studying at Harvard when he began his mission to launch an exciting new tech company. The mission? ‘To unlock human performance,’ he said in a podcast. ‘We believe every individual has an inner potential that you can tap into if you can better understand your body and your behaviors.’ 

The company’s origins lie in the professional sports world: basketball legend LeBron James and swimmer Michael Phelps were among the users of the very first Whoop strap – and soon after it was distributed to every player in the NFL. Over time, it developed into a consumer brand, but its watches are still popular with athletes, attracting fans like footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and golfer Rory McIlroy, as well as royals, with Prince William spotted donning a Whoop last year.

Whoop straps work in tandem with an app, which offers an abundance of personalised data on numerous health markers, including sleep, strain, recovery, stress and calories. Over the years, it has become increasingly high-tech, with the fifth iteration of the watch just launched.

 

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What’s New With Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG?

This week, Whoop announced two new products: Whoop 5.0 and an MG version, which stands for medical grade. The main difference between the two is the MG has the option to conduct an ECG, which analyses the rhythm of the heart.

In terms of upgrades from the Whoop 4.0, there are some hardware differences: both new trackers are seven percent smaller, and offer a higher power efficiency, with an estimated 14 days of battery life. However, it’s the claims that the wearable can reverse aging that have caught our attention.

One of the most significant new features is the longevity metric called Healthspan, which will show users how well they are aging compared to their chronological age, and present users with a ‘Whoop Age’. Developed in partnership with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, this will be calculated using nine biomarkers, including sleep duration, number of steps per day, average heart rate and VO2 max. All this data is then fed back to users through the app, which will provide real-time insight on how your daily habits are impacting your aging – alongside tips for slowing the process.

Another key new metric is Women’s Hormonal Insights, which will take cycle tracking a step further, exploring how hormonal shifts affect sleep, stress and performance, with the option to take into account the impact of your birth control. 

You’ll still be given daily Whoop scores, but there are more in-depth insights, particularly surrounding sleep performance – plus a new monitor to assess your stress levels. And if all this data feels a bit overwhelming, the new Whoop also features an AI assistant, who can help make sense of it all. 

How Much Is A Whoop Subscription?

Whoop works using a subscription model, and there are now three options to choose from. The entry level tier, Whoop One,  is £169 a year, which is ideal for first-timers, while Whoop Peak costs £229 a year, offering more in-depth insights including access to the healthspan stress monitor features. The top tier, Whoop Life, is £349 a year and includes full access to all the features including medical-grade data such as blood pressure tracking.

How To Buy

Visit shop.woop.com