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Recovery / wellness · Band / strap · by WHOOP
Whoop 5.0 / MG
Cleared ECG, but a blood-pressure feature under an FDA warning letter — and a device that bricks if you stop paying.
May 2025Whoop 5.0 / MG
Fresh in cycle1 yr 1 mo old
API access: Yes — restricted Raw data access: Yes — restricted Open source: Community
Clinical value
40/100
Cleared ECG, contested BP claim
Empowerment
28/100
Highest lock-in of the group
Everyday value
58/100
Comfortable but screenless and sub-bound
A strong recovery tracker with a newly cleared ECG, but a blood-pressure feature under an active FDA warning letter, and the most locked-in business model here: the device is inseparable from a subscription and stops working if you stop paying.
What it measures
Continuous HR, HRV, respiratory rate, SpO2, skin temperature, sleep stages, Strain and Recovery scores, longevity metrics, plus MG-only on-demand ECG and estimated blood pressure (contested).
Regulatory status
WHOOP MG includes an FDA-cleared ECG / AFib screener. Its Blood Pressure Insights feature drew an FDA Warning Letter (July 2025) as an unapproved device; Whoop disputes this and the dispute was unresolved as of mid-2026.
Validation & accuracy
Reviewers rate HR/HRV/strain tracking strongly; the ECG is FDA-cleared. The blood-pressure estimate has no FDA-recognized validation and is the central controversy.
Data control & export
Members can export metrics via app or web (limited to one export per 24 hours) and a developer API exists — but access ends when the subscription ends.
Wearability & battery
A screenless fabric strap worn on the wrist (or in apparel). ~4–5 day battery, recharged via a slide-on pack without removing the band. Comfortable, but no display.
Cost & access
Hardware is not sold standalone; it is bundled into membership ($199–$359/yr). Stop paying and the device stops working. 2025 upgrade-policy changes angered existing users.
Who it serves
Performance/longevity market; the highest lock-in here — no ownership without subscription, device bricks on cancellation, throttled export — plus an FDA dispute and a putative class action.
Who is left out or burdened
Subscription is mandatory and ongoing; data access dies on cancellation; contested BP claims raise trust concerns.
✓ Strengths
- Strong HR/HRV/strain/recovery tracking
- FDA-cleared ECG / AFib screener (MG)
- Comfortable screenless strap; on-wrist charging
✕ Weaknesses
- Hardware bundled into a mandatory subscription
- Device stops working if you stop paying; export throttled
- BP feature drew an FDA warning letter + class action
- No screen; data access ends on cancellation
40
Why this clinical score. The cleared ECG earns real clinical credit, but the contested, unvalidated BP claim and otherwise wellness-grade outputs keep the score low.
28
Why this empowerment score. Mandatory subscription, a device that bricks when unpaid, throttled export, and an unresolved FDA dispute make this the most locked-in, lowest-empowerment device in the directory.
58
Why this everyday score. Genuinely comfortable with clever on-wrist charging, but no screen and a strict subscription dependency limit its everyday standing.
Latest news
Reviews & coverage
Reviewers respect WHOOP's depth on recovery, strain and sleep coaching and its screenless, always-on comfort for athletes. The dominant criticism is the mandatory subscription with no standalone display, plus accuracy that trails a chest strap for hard intervals.
Summary is a draft synthesis of public coverage, not an endorsement. Links open a search of each outlet.
Reddit communities
Independent user communities where this device (or its category) is discussed.
Get it · manuals & support
Draft profile · public-source review, June 2026 · scores describe direction and degree, not buying advice. News, links, and prices change — verify with the manufacturer. Image is representative.