| Apple Watch | WHOOP 5.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $399 | Free (hw) |
| Subscription | ✓ None | ⚠️ Required — $199/yr |
| Year 1 total cost | $399 | $199★ |
| Year 3 total cost | $399★ | $597 |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 32g | 27g★ |
| Water resistance | 50m | 10ATM★ |
| Battery | 1 days | 14 days★ |
| Always-on display | ✅★ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅★ | ❌ |
| Cellular | ✅★ | ❌ |
| Platform | iOS only | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Smartwatch | Fitness Tracker |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | Sep 18, 2026 | May 8, 2025 |
| Cycle advice | good | good |
| Deals advice | good | good |
| Next model | — | — |
The new health sensing system samples heart rate every five seconds all day — 60x more often than the Series 11 — and measures HRV every five minutes.
A daily 0–10 readiness score combines sleep, vitals, training load, and activity to suggest how hard to push.
On-demand ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep apnea detection, and hypertension notifications carry over from the Series 11.
WHOOP 5.0 gives you a biological age score derived from your sleep, recovery, and training habits — showing whether your lifestyle is ageing you faster or slower than your years. Updated daily, it makes long-term health trends visible at a glance.
WHOOP's AI Coach learns your body's patterns and delivers personalised daily recommendations in plain language — not just what happened, but why, and what to do next. It adapts to your training load, sleep debt, and recovery trends.
WHOOP 5.0 added a dedicated strength trainer that auto-detects sets, measures neuromuscular load alongside cardiovascular strain, and shows recovery demand from resistance training — a gap every previous WHOOP version had.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$399 vs $597 over 3 years · no required subscription.
14 days vs 1 days battery.
9 sensors · 26 Hz HR sampling.
32g · no required subscription.
iPhone users who want the most capable smartwatch health experience available. Ideal for anyone who values medical-grade monitoring (ECG, blood pressure, SpO2), a premium always-on display, and the best Apple Watch workout tracking. If health is your priority, this is the one to get.
Full details →Athletes, coaches, and fitness-obsessed users who want deep recovery and sleep data without screen distractions. WHOOP suits those who train hard and want to understand whether their body is ready to push. Not for casual users or those who want smartwatch features like notifications or GPS.
Full details →