WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG launch with biological age tracking and upcoming blood test integration

Summary

WHOOP CEO Will Ahmed used a studio appearance to detail the company's latest hardware cycle and flag a regulatory dispute that carries real commercial risk.

WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG launched alongside three membership tiers and a new accessories line. Ahmed describes business conditions as strong without providing specific revenue or subscriber figures. The flagship new software feature is a healthspan score, branded 'WHOOP Age,' developed in partnership with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and longevity physician Dr. Eric Verdun. The score draws on nine biometrics shown to correlate with all-cause mortality, including sleep consistency, step count, VO2 max, heart rate zone time, and weight.

The distribution of results is deliberately calibrated for credibility. Roughly 55% of WHOOP members score biologically younger than their chronological age, leaving 45% with a score indicating room for improvement. Ahmed frames that split as intentional honesty, distancing the feature from what he characterises as competitors offering flattering scores detached from scientific grounding. The underlying research methodology is disclosed to users within the app.

FDA Dispute Over Blood Pressure

The more consequential disclosure is an active regulatory fight. WHOOP spent three years and tens of millions of dollars developing wrist-based blood pressure monitoring, bringing the feature to market in May 2025. The FDA subsequently challenged the launch, arguing the feature requires medical device classification.

Ahmed's position rests on the 21st Century Cures Act, which exempts wellness-intended features from FDA oversight. WHOOP designed the blood pressure tool with explicit disclaimers that it does not diagnose hypertension, framing it instead around lifestyle correlations such as hydration, sleep, and nutrition. Ahmed acknowledges the FDA's role as a governing body but says it has "missed the mark" on this case and intends to fight to keep the feature live.

For context on what medical clearance actually requires, WHOOP did pursue full FDA approval for its ECG and atrial fibrillation detection capabilities, a process that took two and a half years of clinical trials. Ahmed notes that FDA review cycles of two to four years create a structural mismatch with annual hardware release schedules, leaving features potentially delayed long after the underlying technology is ready.

Blood Testing Coming Before Year-End

Ahead of the end of 2025, WHOOP plans to launch Advanced Labs, a blood testing integration. Users will be able to upload historical blood test data from any source, including third-party providers and physicians, and that data will be aggregated within the WHOOP platform alongside continuous physiological data. On a go-forward basis, WHOOP will offer its own blood testing service through undisclosed laboratory partners. The strategic intent is correlation, pairing biomarker snapshots with 24/7 wrist sensor data to surface connections between, for example, poor sleep and specific blood markers. Ahmed cites HIPAA-compliant infrastructure and coaching-layer interpretation as core to the product design.