Latest news with #Whoop5.0MG
Stuff.tv
12-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
Whoop just fixed the biggest problem with its latest fitness tracker, and it's not even out yet
While there are plenty of top fitness trackers to choose from, Whoop is one of the most popular. The Whoop 5.0 was unveiled last week with some big upgrades. I'm most excited about the new blood pressure feature and am ready to swap out my Apple Watch Ultra. But there was one big problem, which Whoop has already fixed, despite the tracker not being available yet. Whoop managed to enrage its most loyal customers before shipping a single device. It took the decision to quietly bin a core part of its membership promise. But after a week of outrage and Reddit breakdowns, the fitness brand has reversed course. For those not immersed in the wearables cult, Whoop's business model is all about subscriptions. You don't buy the tracker outright. Rather, you pay monthly or annually and they chuck in the hardware as part of the deal. One of the big draws has always been that you'd get upgraded to the latest model at no extra cost, provided you'd stuck around for at least six months. When Whoop announced the 5.0, it suddenly asked members to either cough up a one-off upgrade fee or extend their membership by another 12 months. The move especially stung because people had screenshots of Whoop's site from late March saying you'd get a free upgrade after six months. As in, two weeks before the 5.0 was revealed. Whoop tried to claim that the six-month thing was a mistake, and that the real policy was 12 months all along. Which might be more believable if it weren't for the blog posts, press interviews, and previous upgrade paths all saying the exact opposite. The brand now says anyone with more than 12 months left on their subscription is eligible for a free upgrade to the 5.0. The rest will still need to either extend their plan or pay the $49 upgrade fee. Or a $79 fee if you want the fancier Whoop 5.0 MG with built-in EKG sensors. Some are cautiously pleased with the change. Others still feel burned, especially those with 11 months remaining who are being told that's somehow not good enough. Still, Whoop seems to have fixed the biggest problem with its tracker, before it's even out. The Whoop 5.0 fitness tracker will be available later this year. Prices remain tied to subscription status. Existing members with over 12 months left can now upgrade for free. For new customers, the Whoop 5.0 comes 'free' with either the Whoop One or Peak memberships, which start at $199/£169 per year. Or for the MG version, you'll need to cough up for Whoop Life at $359/£349 annually.
Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Whoop faces backlash after cancelling free hardware upgrades
A day after launching Whoop 5.0 fitness tracker, the company is now facing backlash from its existing customers. Previously, the company had said that customers who had the membership for at least six months would be getting the new fitness trackers for free. A new report by The Verge suggests Whoop has changed the terms and conditions on its 'How to upgrade' page. The company now states that users will now have to extend their membership by at least a year or pay a one time $49 or $79 upgrade fee to get its newest fitness trackers to get the regular Whoop 5.0 or Whoop 5.0 MG 'at no extra cost'. In case you are wondering, Whoop's membership page on March 28 had stated that members will 'receive the next-generation device for free after having been a member for six months or more.' In an official Reddit thread, people noted that members who joined Whoop or extended their membership in the last 30 days are also eligible for the offer. Unsurprisingly, existing Whoop members who were waiting for their new fitness trackers are unhappy, with some saying they won't be continuing their membership. A post made by a customer on the Whoop subreddit describing the move as 'a slap in the face' has already garnered more than 1,000 upvotes. To give you a quick recap, the US based health tech and wearable brand recently announced two new devices – Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG. Packed with health tracking features like blood pressure insights, heart screener with ECH, hormonal insights alongside more advanced health metrics. The company claims it's new devices are smaller than their predecessors and offer more than two weeks of battery life. Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG can be accessed by opting for the company's membership plans, which start at $199.
