The Independent Review: Whoop 5.0 Fitness Tracker
A comprehensive review of the Whoop 5.0 fitness tracker, published by The Independent, has highlighted the device’s impressive array of features and improvements over its predecessor. According to the review, the Whoop 5.0 has addressed several concerns with its previous iteration, including a smaller and lighter design, a longer battery life, and a range of new straps and accessories.
The reviewer, who switched to the Whoop 4.0 from an Oura ring, noted that the device’s data accuracy and insights into sleep and recovery were impressive, but had some drawbacks, including a distracting design, a knit strap that wasn’t waterproof, and a lack of a step counter in the app. However, the Whoop 5.0 has addressed these concerns, with a new band that is "smaller, lighter, holds its charge for two weeks and comes with a range of new straps and accessories," according to The Independent.
One of the standout features of the Whoop 5.0 is its new Healthspan feature, which provides users with a "Whoop age" and actionable advice on rest and recovery to manage and reverse their biological age. This feature, developed with Dr Eric Verdin, CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on ageing, uses metrics such as HRV and VO2 max to determine a user’s physiological age and place them in a percentile for their actual age group. As The Independent notes, "The 5.0 seeks to help users understand the markers of ageing and the pace at which their body is ageing by providing a ‘Whoop age’ and actionable advice on rest and recovery to manage and reverse said age."
The Whoop 5.0 also features an AI assistant, which provides users with a daily outlook, including exercise recommendations, healthspan insights, and weather forecasts. This feature, according to The Independent, "explains exactly what the numbers mean and what you might try to focus on that day." The reviewer noted that this feature was particularly useful, as it helped to make sense of the data and motivated them to make positive changes.
In addition to these features, the Whoop 5.0 also includes a stress monitor, which uses a variety of metrics to assess stress levels, and a heart screener that offers an ECG reading and generates a PDF report. The device also provides blood pressure insights, which can be calibrated with a blood pressure cuff. According to The Independent, "You need to calibrate your first reading with a blood pressure cuff which you can do at your doctor’s office or with a smart cuff at home and the band’s sensors take care of the rest."
The Whoop 5.0 is available in three membership tiers, including a basic Whoop One subscription for £169 a year, a Whoop Peak subscription for £229 a year, which includes healthspan and stress monitor features, and a Whoop Life subscription for £349 a year, which provides medical-grade insights, including blood pressure.
Overall, the Whoop 5.0 is a comprehensive fitness tracker that offers a wide range of features and insights into a user’s health and wellbeing. As The Independent notes, "The 5.0 is a whole lifestyle experience with the band sensors able to automatically detect whatever exercise you’re doing, measure biological age and prevent health issues with medical-grade insights." With its improved design, new features, and comprehensive insights, the Whoop 5.0 is an attractive option for those looking to take a more aspirational approach to their health.
