There’s no shortage of fitness trackers. You have plenty of options from Wear OS smartwatches, running-focused Garmins, and now a growing number of smart rings as well.
The drawback with all of these trackers is that you eventually have to take them off. One tracker that’s managed to consistently deliver here is Whoop.
I started using the Whoop 4.0 last year, but its battery life worried me, and I eventually switched to the Google Pixel Watch 3.
Whoop has now released two new models, the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG. I’ve been using the Whoop MG for about a month now, and I don’t see myself switching back to the Pixel Watch 3 (or any Wear OS smartwatch) anytime soon.
A lightweight design that makes wearing it effortless
Whoop disappears on my wrist in a way no watch ever did
One of the basic things for me that a fitness tracker should nail, especially one that’s going to sit on your wrist throughout the day, is comfort.
One reason I avoid using the OnePlus Watch 3, despite it being one of the best Wear OS smartwatches out there, is that it’s quite heavy at around 82 grams.
While it may not sound too heavy, this weight adds up when you wear it throughout the day and ultimately causes fatigue and the urge to get it off your wrist.
The Whoop MG excels at balancing this. Like other Whoop models before, it comes without a display and instead looks like just a band on the wrist.
The sensors sit under the device while the top is covered by the metal clasp and knit material.
All of this means the Whoop MG weighs less than half of what the Google Pixel Watch 3 weighs (31 grams with strap vs 67 grams).
The fitness tracker is comfortable enough to wear throughout the day without causing fatigue.
I’ve been wearing my Whoop MG daily for the past month for working out, playing sports, and even to bed, and I rarely notice it on my wrist anymore.
The default strap is made of a comfortable elastic knit material, which I prefer over the silicone bands found in most fitness trackers. It’s also sleek and not much wider than something you’d notice.
Health tracking that is just as complete as a smartwatch
All the features I need without the distraction of apps
While a smartwatch gives the benefit of having both a screen to run apps and check notifications as well as track health, the Whoop MG doesn’t have a display, but its health tracking is on par, if not better than, most smartwatches.
Whoop can track over 60 exercises, and while the number may seem small compared to smartwatches, activity tracking is a whole different experience.
Most smartwatches can only detect certain exercises automatically, but Whoop tracks your workout without you needing to enable anything. Then, when you’re done, you can mark which workout you did.
The app clearly shows heart rate zones and time spent in each, alongside average heart rate, calories burned, and more.
Whoop also bundles Whoop Coach AI for free, so you can ask about any metric or check recovery by simply asking in natural language.
Similarly, the app shows different sleep stages after tracking your sleep. It also gives you a recovery score based on training and sleep so that you can quickly check if you’re ready to power through a workout.
The app has a customizable dashboard to keep an eye on vitals. And while most of these features are also found in smartwatches, the level of detail in the Whoop app is just next level.
Freeing myself from notifications has been unexpectedly good
No buzzing reminders, just health insights when I want them
Over the past few weeks, I have configured my Pixel Watch 3 to distract me less and let me focus on my work and other tasks.
While using the Focus mode on my Android smartphone and Pixel Watch 3 has helped, it still buzzes from time to time and has a screen, which I check quite often.
The Whoop MG doesn’t come with a display, and while many customers might see that as a drawback, I think it’s good since it’s not distracting.
It sits on your wrist silently tracking your health without any input required. Then, when you have time throughout the day, you can open the app and check the stats.
Battery life that lasts longer than anything I’ve ever used
Charging less often makes me never want to switch back
The final nail in the coffin for me to ditch my smartwatch in favor of the Whoop MG is simply its battery life.
If I had to recommend a health tracker based only on accuracy and endurance, it would be this one.
Whoop claims the MG lasts up to 14 days on a single charge and up to a month with the powerpack.
Surprisingly, it even surpassed the company’s claims for me — my unit lasted nearly 15 days on a single charge.
This is incredible. While most trackers and smartwatches manage only two to three days, the Whoop MG’s battery life is just unmatched in my experience.
Plus, I didn’t take shortcuts to stretch it. I logged full workouts, played sports, and wore it to bed every night. Even with that, the MG kept going.
I also love the charging mechanism. Similar to the Whoop 4.0, it slides onto the band, but the new design feels snappier and lets you charge the tracker fully without ever taking it off your wrist.
The Whoop MG made me put down my smartwatch
All things considered, the Whoop MG has made me put down my Pixel Watch 3.
Sure, I lose out on wrist notifications, apps, and some features I was used to, but Whoop has integrated so seamlessly into my life that I hardly notice their absence.
Meanwhile, every other wearable feels thicker, bulkier, and offers worse battery life in comparison.
- Display
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N/A
- Battery Life
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14 days
- IP rating
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IP68
- Health sensors
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PPG sensor, ECG sensor, Blood pressure sensor, Accelerometer, Temperature sensor
- Dimensions
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34.7mm × 24mm × 10.6mm
- Price
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$359/year
The Whoop MG offers continuous, real-time health monitoring with advanced sensors and a compact design. It delivers precise measurements of heart health, sleep, stress, and recovery, and supports on-demand ECG. The device is dust-proof, water-resistant, and includes a 12-month membership for personalized coaching based on your metrics.