Latest news with #WillAhmed
Digital Trends
10-05-2025
- Digital Trends
Whoop finally has a fix for its broken free upgrade promise, sort of
Table of Contents Table of Contents What is happening? What relief is available? Whoop introduced two new fitness wearables earlier this week, and to go with it, a trio of subscription plans under the One, Peak, and Life labels. The launch, however, left many long-term fans of the screen-less wearable with a bitter taste as the company reneged on a remarkable promise of free upgrades. Whoop made the commitment in a blog post published late last year, but has since deleted it. 'Instead of purchasing new hardware every time an updated model is produced, WHOOP members receive the next-generation device for free after having been a member for six months or more,' the company said back then. Recommended Videos What is happening? @willahmed, It seems that your company believes in deceit. I've been supporting your company since 2022. In 2025, I ask myself if this is the correct decision. What happened to this 'Membership Model'? 'WHOOP members receive the next-generation device for free' Are we puppets? — status (@statusIRL) May 10, 2025 Following the launch of its latest wearable devices, the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG, subscribers were asked to pay an 'upgrade fee.' The backlash has been pretty vocal across social media platforms and forums like Reddit. But it seems Whoop is not going to fully honor its original commitment. A Whoop spokesperson told Bloomberg that 'like any company, we from time to time update our commercial policies.' In the meantime, Whoop quietly updated its support page on May 9, clarifying the free upgrade situation and the requirements tied to it. In order to upgrade from Whoop 4.0 to Whoop 5.0 or the MG version, there are only two options on the table. Pay an upgrade fee ($49 for Whoop 5.0 and $79 for Whoop MG) or extend the current membership by 12 months, with plans starting at $199 per user annually. What relief is available? The only relief available to long-term subscribers is that if they have more than 12 months remaining on their subscription, they will get the free upgrade. The fresh offer only applies to the mid-tier Peak subscription, and not the One or Life package. The situation has been somewhat confusing so far. A few users are reporting that when they reached out to Whoop support with evidence of the brand's prior commitment, they were extended the free upgrade. Some are claiming that they are got an AI-generated response from Whoop support. The Whoop 5.0 launch feels like extortion! I've been subscribed for over 4 years and now I have to shell out more money for something that was meant to be a free upgrade? The price of the Whoop MG subscription would buy you a new Apple Watch Series 10, EVERY YEAR!! Not good! — Brandon (@BrandonVanB) May 8, 2025 A few users wrote that they have been denied the free upgrade and asked to pay the aforementioned fee. Some are even floating the idea of filing consumer reports citing misleading marketing claims by Whoop. It would be interesting to see if Whoop is taken to court, but so far, it seems the company could get in legal hot water if the situation escalates.
Irish Times
09-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Rory McIlroy-backed Whoop unveils updated sensors
Wearable technology company Whoop has unveiled two wearables with advanced capabilities that include blood pressure monitoring and medical ECG. The two new sensors, Whoop 5.0 and Whoop Medical Grade (MG) are smaller but include more technology and are more power efficient, with enhanced sensors that capture information 26 times per second. The medical grade Whoop has built in a new ECG feature that can detect signs of atrial fibrillation and notify wearers of irregular heart rhythms. It also includes a blood pressure monitoring technology, with estimated systolic and diastolic readings that are calibrated with initial readings from a blood pressure cuff. 'We've taken everything we've learned over the past decade and built a platform to help our members perform and live at their peak for longer,' said Will Ahmed, Whoop founder and chief executive. 'We've held nothing back.' READ MORE Both sensors have also improved battery life, with Whoop promising around 14 days per charge, and a new wireless power pack that will extend that to a month. Whoop has also updated its app, introducing the company has introduced new features such as healthspan, which quantifies physical age and gives you an indication of your pace of ageing. The measurement, which was developed in partnership with Dr Eric Verdin, chief executive of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, calculates the wearer's Whoop Age and pace of ageing through nine different metrics. 'We have more advanced capabilities,' explained Whoop vice-president of performance Dr Kristen Holmes. 'we'll still monitor your cardiovascular strain and your musculoskeletal load, we introduced VO2 Max recently, and now we have hormonal insights, more robust cycle tracking, tracking as well as pregnancy. Overall, it is a more robust offering.' Whoop is backed by golfer Rory McIlroy, who also acts as an ambassador for the company, and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. 'I've been wearing Whoop for six years now, you know when you're doing the right things and you know when you're not,' Mr McIlroy said. 'I think that's getting into healthspan and being your own health advocate and having tools like Whoop to help you on that journey.' The company has also introduced three new membership tiers to accompany the sensors, including Whoop One, which brings fitness insights for €199 per year; Whoop Peak which adds advanced health, fitness and longevity insights for €264 per year; and Whoop Life, which comes with medical-grade health and performance insights for €399 per year.
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Whoop sparks outrage following product launch
The fitness tracker world is usually pretty chill. Updates drop, new features roll out, and users either upgrade or don't. But not this time. A new launch from a beloved brand has left some of its most loyal fans feeling blindsided - and they're not being quiet about it. Related: Gymshark consumers furious, call for boycott Reddit is flooded with accusations, screenshots, and a growing thread of frustration that's been dubbed #Whoopgate by the community. Some are even calling for legal action. One user put it bluntly: "They've lied before, they're lying again, and they will lie again. Can we get a class action suit?" - u/cwamoon Image source: Whoop On paper, the new Whoop launch should've been a slam dunk. The company introduced two next-generation wearables - Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG - with a 14-day battery life, sleeker design, an FDA-cleared ECG, Blood Pressure Insights, more flexible wear options beyond the wrist, and a new global ambassador: soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo. Founder & CEO Will Ahmed called it "a new chapter" and said Whoop had "held nothing back." That might be true - at least for new customers. But existing members say they've been left behind. Despite years of loyalty (and hundreds of dollars spent), many aren't eligible for free upgrades and must pay again - in some cases at a higher tier - to access new features. Related: Oura launches genius features to take on Apple, Fitbit, and Whoop The reaction has been swift. Users have accused the company of deceptive business practices, going back on their word, and misleading upgrade promises. Reddit threads titled "Whoopgate: The Receipts" by u/fffraterrr and "Upvote this if you cancelled your Whoop subscription!" by u/danfar93 have gone viral. Many users say they've already cancelled their subscriptions. Others are comparing Whoop's tactics to something out of a Black Mirror episode. Screenshots are being posted as evidence - comparing emails, pricing tiers, and upgrade eligibility - with many users saying they feel scammed and betrayed by a company they trusted. They argue Whoop has gone back on its word, promising one thing and delivering another. Many longtime members are outright pissed, saying the company's tactics feel manipulative and shady. Whoop made its name as the premium wearable for performance-obsessed athletes, biohackers, and data nerds. But now, it's facing a customer trust crisis - just as competition in the space is heating up. The global fitness tracker market was valued at $60.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach approximately $164.4 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Earlier this week, Oura, one of Whoop's biggest rivals, introduced two game-changing new features focused on heart health and women's wellness. The update was seen as a major step forward for a brand that's already become a favorite among wellness influencers and longevity-focused consumers. Whoop, meanwhile, is dealing with accusations of bait-and-switch tactics and broken promises. That's risky for a company that relies heavily on recurring revenue - charging up to $359/year for its top-tier membership. This isn't just about hardware. It's about trust, and that's much harder to rebuild. For now, Whoop hasn't issued a public response to the backlash. But the longer they stay silent, the louder the anger gets. And that call for a class action lawsuit? It's starting to sound a lot more serious than just Reddit noise. In a fast-moving wearables market, brand loyalty can disappear overnight - and for Whoop, it already is. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Arabian Business
09-05-2025
- Health
- Arabian Business
WHOOP launches new devices in GCC with medical-grade features, longevity focus
WHOOP has launched its first new wearable devices in four years, unveiling the WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG, as part of a broader push into medical-grade consumer health monitoring. The company also introduced new software features and pricing tiers, underscoring its ambition to move beyond fitness tracking into the medical wearables space. The devices, which are now available globally, include features such as an FDA-cleared electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure estimates, hormonal health insights, and a redesigned recovery and sleep algorithm. The wearables also introduce 'WHOOP Age' and 'Pace of Aging,' a new metric developed in partnership with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging to track physiological age and long-term health trends. 'This is a shift from passive tracking to active health transformation,' said WHOOP founder and CEO Will Ahmed. 'We've built a platform focused on performance, longevity, and daily decision-making.' WHOOP MG, the higher-tier device, includes an ECG clasp that allows users to take medical-grade heart readings from home. The brand claims it is the first wearable to estimate systolic and diastolic blood pressure daily, although this remains a patent-pending feature rather than an FDA-approved one. The company also launched three new membership tiers – WHOOP One, Peak, and Life – ranging from AED 699 to AED 1,379 annually in the UAE. The devices are available now at the website. Focus on GCC market The brand is scaling up its regional presence amid strong uptake in the GCC, which the company says is its fastest-growing market. The brand has brought on Dubai-based entrepreneur and influencer Karen Wazen as a global ambassador, joining footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who is also an investor in the company. Ronaldo, commenting on the launch, said, 'WHOOP is like a doctor on my wrist. It allows me to monitor my behaviour easily and shows that consistency and prioritising health are worth it.' In a regional data snapshot shared by the company, GCC cities, including Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, and Sharjah, were listed among the bottom six globally for average sleep duration and performance. UAE-based users averaged a sleep performance score of just 74 per cent, according to internal company data. Hardware and design The WHOOP 5.0 and MG are 7 per cent smaller than the previous generation, with a battery life of over 14 days. The upgraded sensors now capture over 27 data points per second. The company is also offering a new line of accessories, including Italian leather bands under the 'LeatherLuxe' label. The devices continue the company's approach of screenless, 24/7 wearables intended to be worn on multiple body locations, including integrated apparel via WHOOP Body and AnyWear™ technology. Expansion plans The company will soon introduce WHOOP Advanced Labs, a feature that allows users to schedule blood tests and integrate clinician-reviewed reports directly into the app. This feature is not yet live but will be available via a waitlist. The company has not disclosed the number of users in the GCC but said it anticipates 'significant growth' in markets like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where wellness, performance, and preventative health are rapidly growing segments.
7NEWS
09-05-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
WHOOP unveils two new wearables: WHOOP5.0 and WHOOP MG
It's official — as of today, you can shop two new devices from WHOOP. The leading human performance company has added two next-generation wearables to their line-up. Consisting of WHOOP5.0 and WHOOP MG, these clever devices are gamechangers when it comes to tracking personal health and longevity. Offering 14-days of battery life, there's new and noteworthy features available too, including Healthspan with WHOOP Age, Heart Screener with on-demand ECG, Blood Pressure Insights, and more. 'This isn't just a product launch. It's a new chapter for WHOOP and for our members,' Will Ahmed, WHOOP Founder & CEO, tells Best Picks. 'We've taken everything we've learned over the past decade and built a platform to help our members perform and live at their peak for longer. We've held nothing back.' Say hello to new and noteworthy features Healthspan with WHOOP Age - A powerful new way to quantify your physiological age and slow your Pace of Aging. Developed in partnership with Dr Eric Verdin, CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, using nine different metrics linked to long-term health. Blood Pressure Insights - Patent-pending technology delivering daily systolic and diastolic estimates from the wrist, with insights into how blood pressure affects wellbeing and performance. Women's Hormonal Insights - WHOOP goes beyond cycle tracking to deliver science-backed education and personalised insights across menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause. Sleep Performance Update - A reimagined Sleep Score offering a more accurate reflection of sleep quality, helping members recover more effectively. Comprehensive Fitness Tracking - From daily steps and VO₂ Max to Muscular Strain during strength training and 145+ supported activities, members can now optimise fitness for both performance and long-term outcomes. Affordable membership tiers
