WHOOP’s new fitness trackers, the 5.0 and MG, were rolled out with great anticipation. Touting slim lines and wiser health monitoring, they seemed a huge leap forward. But for quite a few users, that euphoria turned to anger in a hurry as release problems mounted. Here’s the lowdown on what’s changed, what went awry, and how WHOOP is reacting.
What’s New in WHOOP 5.0 and MG?
The WHOOP 5.0 and MG (Medical Grade) models introduced a plethora of upgrades that sounded wonderful on paper. Perhaps the most significant upgrade was battery life, which now lasts up to 14 days—far longer than the 4-5 days provided by the last one. The charging is also easier with the new Wireless PowerPack, which can charge the device in two hours for Peak and Life members.
Both watches added Healthspan Tracking for those 18 and older. It measures your “WHOOP Age” and monitors how fast you’re aging, providing weekly recommendations to slow you down. The MG model goes one step further with an FDA-approved ECG to monitor for atrial fibrillation and produce shareable reports. But not everybody is eligible—under 22s, pacemaker wearers, or residents in some areas can’t use these features.
Another substantial addition is Blood Pressure Insights, in beta. It estimates systolic and diastolic pressure every day using overnight data and a single baseline reading from a cuff. WHOOP is specific that this is not a diagnostic tool and isn’t appropriate for pregnant or blood-pressure-medicated users.
The device itself is more compact—7 percent smaller than the WHOOP 4.0—and powered by a ten times more efficient processor. The sensors now gather data 26 times a second for more accurate readings.
All the essentials are still there: sleep, recovery, strain, stress, heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, and workout tracking. Real-time stress tracking, women’s health tracking, adaptable wear options, and AI-driven coaching are all present. Membership benefits such as a lifetime warranty (for direct orders), around-the-clock assistance, and bi-weekly feature updates are also in the mix.
Launch Issues: Device Malfunctions and Irate Users
Even with the amazing upgrades, the rollout was not as flawless as WHOOP had anticipated. Most users started complaining about significant issues with their new MG devices right out of the gate. In a few instances, trackers simply became completely non-responsive—no lights, no syncing, and no sign of life even after charging them to completion.
Individuals attempted all the typical troubleshooting procedures—charging, resetting, even tapping the sensor to trigger a reset—but for many, nothing seemed to work.
Subscription Confusion and Accessory Frustrations
It wasn’t only the technical issues that irked customers. WHOOP’s policy on upgrades also left them in the dark and confused. Initially, they were informed that they’d have to pay $49 for the 5.0 or $79 for the MG—or commit to a full year membership if they wanted to bypass the cost. That didn’t go down well with loyal subscribers who had been assured upgrades would be complimentary after six months.
Most of the users felt deceived, noting that their yearly subscriptions, at $199 to $359, were all-inclusive, including hardware upgrades and everything. Others went as far as comparing the cost and specifications of WHOOP MG to an Apple Watch, wondering whether they were getting value for money.
The more compact size of the 5.0 caused issues as well. Accessories for the 4.0 model, such as straps and compatible gear, no longer work. For customers, this was perceived as a deliberate attempt to get them to buy new.
Customer support wasn’t immune to complaints either. Some customers complained about support being unresponsive or sending out replacements that were already DOA.
How WHOOP Is Handling It
To its credit, WHOOP did respond. The company began to voluntarily swap out defective MG units, at times ahead of customers even complaining. One user reported they were caught off guard when WHOOP sent them an email with an offer for a replacement before they could complain.
A company official minimized the problem, referring to it as infrequent and isolated, but conceded that WHOOP was sending replacements in a timely fashion. Customers were not charged for lost time if a replacement took more than a day to ship.
WHOOP also addressed the upset over upgrade charges. As of May 10, all members with more than 12 months remaining on their subscription are entitled to a free upgrade to 5.0. Users who had paid for an upgrade were guaranteed refunds. WHOOP explained that previous blog articles had caused confusion regarding eligibility and that current plans come with either 12- or 24-month commitments.
To allay concerns among users remaining on WHOOP 4.0, the company assured that features such as Healthspan and Stress Monitor would still be rolled out. The only exceptions are ECG and blood pressure monitoring, which are unique to the MG model.
Mixed Reactions from Users
Not everyone has experienced problems. Some users say their new WHOOP MG operates perfectly. Testers have also reported smooth performance in their review. But for some who have been impacted by malfunctions or policy ambiguity, it’s been annoying.
If your device is unresponsive, WHOOP recommends making sure it’s fully charged, then trying a forced reset by tapping the top of the sensor until the side LED flashes blue. If that doesn’t work, support is your next step—and recent reports suggest you’ll likely get a replacement quickly.