May 10, 2025 • 9 mins
Summary
Explore the recent controversy surrounding Whoop's new hardware launch. Discover the features of the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG, and delve into the fallout from their new subscription model. Join hosts Between Two Pixels and Finn Circuit as they unpack the implications for consumers and the tech industry.
Takeaways
- Whoop's new hardware launch has sparked significant controversy.
- The Whoop 5.0 is smaller and has a 14-day battery life.
- The subscription model now requires users to pay for hardware upgrades.
- Users are outraged over the broken promise of free upgrades.
- Social media is flooded with backlash against Whoop's changes.
- Competitors like Garmin and Aura are benefiting from Whoop's missteps.
- Trust is crucial in the tech industry, and Whoop has damaged theirs.
- The advancements in health monitoring technology are impressive.
- The situation could lead to a shift in subscription models in the industry.
- The episode highlights the importance of transparency and user loyalty.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Whoop's New Launch Drama
- 03:05 Exploring Whoop 5.0 Features
- 05:53 Subscription Model Controversy
- 09:01 Industry Implications and Trust Issues
Keywords: Whoopfitness trackersubscription modelhealth monitoringtechnologyuser trustwearable devicessocial media outrageproduct launchcustomer loyalty
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Justin Scharlemann
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Welcome back to Tech Between the Lines, a special
edition episode today, folks.
Special edition, huh?
Should I be worried?
Oh no, not worried.
Excited.
This one's a rollercoaster.
We're diving into the dramaaround Whoop's brand new
hardware launch.
Rollercoaster?
Sounds more like a train wreckwaiting to happen.
Okay, fair, but it's juicy,Finn.
(00:21):
We've got new fitness trackers,broken promises, and- You nailed
it.
The Whoop 5.0 and MG justdropped.
And instead of applause, they'regetting roasted online.
Sounds about right.
What's the problem this time?
Was it over-promised orunder-delivered?
Oh, it's a mix of both.
They've made some pretty boldmoves with the hardware
(00:42):
upgrades.
Super sleek stuff.
But, uh...
Let me guess again.
They tweaked something justenough to tick off their loyal
fans?
You're getting really good atthis.
Their subscription model is atthe heart of the controversy.
But before we get into all theuproar, let's talk about the
shiny new features.
Ready to geek out?
Geeking out isn't exactly myscene, but for you, sure.
(01:05):
Let's hear it.
All right, Finn, even you mightappreciate this one.
First up, the Whoop 5.0.
This isn't just a minor tweak.
It's 7% smaller than the 4.0,which was already impressively
compact.
And get this, it's got a 14-daybattery life.
A 14-day battery life?
Finally, something that doesn'tneed charging every night.
(01:26):
Now, if only they'd add ascreen.
Ha, well, screens aren't Whoop'sstyle.
They're sticking with thatminimalist, screenless approach.
But they've supercharged it witha data boost, tracking health
metrics 26 times per second.
Ah, yes, 26 times per second.
Because tracking it 10 timeswasn't enough, what did we do
before all these metrics anyway?
(01:48):
Just guess if we felt tired.
Oh, come on, Finn.
This is cutting-edge stuff.
And then we've got the Whoop MG,medical grade with FDA-cleared
ECG capability.
It's a whole new level.
Medical grade, huh?
So what, it replaces your doctornow?
Not quite, but it does up theante.
The MG tracks blood pressure,heart rhythms, and even hormonal
(02:11):
insights for women.
And, and this is the killerfeature, it calculates your
Whoop age using nine keybiomarkers.
It's basically giving you asnapshot of your health span.
You're a whoopage.
Let me guess, I'm probably 83 bytheir metrics.
Sounds more like a guilt tripgenerator than a fitness
tracker.
(02:32):
No, no, it's not about guilt.
It's about, you know,understanding how your habits
impact your longevity.
Plus, they've made it wearablein different places, like around
your arm or even your torso.
That's a lot more versatilitythan just the wristbands.
Great.
Now, people can track theirstress levels wherever they
think they don't already haveenough.
(02:53):
You're impossible.
But seriously, imagine thepotential here.
This isn't just a tracker.
It's like having a personalhealth lab.
The implications for personalhealth monitoring are huge.
This could really...
Yeah, if you got the patience tofigure out all those metrics.
For the rest of us, it'sprobably just a reminder we
should eat more broccoli.
(03:13):
Maybe.
But still, the tech here isincredible.
And honestly, this hardwaremakes most other wearables feel
pretty basic.
Alright, so after diving intoall those amazing features,
here's where things get a littlemore interesting.
As groundbreaking as Whoop's newgadgets are, they do come with,
let's say, a few considerationsto keep in mind.
(03:33):
Strings?
Sounds more like a tangled web.
Let me guess, this is abouttheir upgrade promise?
Nailed it again.
Since 2018, their subscriptionmodel has included free hardware
upgrades.
Sign up, stay a member for sixmonths, and boom, you got the
latest tracker at no extra cost.
It was like this unspoken pactwith their users.
(03:56):
Ah, nothing like free to keepfolks happy.
Let me guess, they broke thepact.
Yep, with the 5.0 and MG,they've dropped the whole free
upgrade thing.
Now, users have to extend theirmemberships by a year or pay an
upgrade fee.
49 bucks for the 5.0, 79 for theMG.
I knew it.
This isn't their first rodeo,you know.
(04:17):
Back in the 90s, there was thisbig name.
Won't drop it here.
We're talking major player inPCs, by the way.
They promised lifetime supportfor their fancy new desktops.
Guess what?
Within two years, lifetimemysteriously turned into
limited.
Customers went ballistic.
(04:38):
Wow, classic bait and switch.
Honestly, it gets worse.
People started noticing that ablog post from March of this
year, it confirmed the freeupgrades, just vanished from
their sight.
Like, poof, gone.
Oh, that's subtle.
Nothing screams trustworthy likescrubbing your own promises from
history.
What's their excuse?
(04:58):
Get this.
A spokesperson told the BostonGlobe, Like any company, we
update our commercial policies.
That's it.
No apology, no acknowledgementof the outrage.
Just, we change the rules, dealwith it.
Translation, we've got new toysand you're going to pay for
them, like it or not.
(05:19):
Bold move.
Did they at least improve themembership tiers?
Depends how you look at it.
They added three new tiers.
Whoop One at$199, Peak at$239,and Life at$359 for the MG.
But get this, those on the baseplan, they're locked out of
advanced health metricsentirely.
Pay more if you want the goodstuff.
(05:41):
So it's like buying a premiumcar and discovering you have to
shell out extra for the steeringwheel.
They're cooking up some creativeways to tick people off.
Exactly.
And loyal users aren't lettingit slide.
They're calling it shady, falseadvertising, and honestly,
they're not wrong.
(06:01):
All right, so the backlash hasbeen nothing short of explosive.
Social media is flooded withfurious posts.
Users are demandingexplanations.
And some are even postingscreenshots of the promises that
Whoop quietly erased.
It's messy, and honestly, it'shard to blame them.
Ah, the sweet sound of a PRfirestorm.
(06:22):
Let me guess, ex-Reddit, all theusual suspects?
You got it.
One ex-post said it all.
Whoop promised free upgrades.
Now they're charging$49 inwiping their website.
Not cool.
And honestly, it's hard to arguewith that.
Not at all.
When you yank away a promise,especially one baked into your
(06:42):
whole model, people are going tonotice.
And let's face it, this isn'tsome revolutionary blunder.
Plenty of companies have pulledstunts like this before.
True, but man, the timingcouldn't be worse.
Competitors like Garmin and Ouraare also using subscription
models, but guess what?
They're not reneging on theirpromises.
That makes Whoop's move lookeven worse by comparison.
(07:05):
Yeah, Garmin's probably sittingback watching this unfold with
popcorn in hand.
And Aura, they've built thisloyal following with a no
surprises approach.
They're probably reaping thebenefits right now.
It feels like a missedopportunity for Whoop to lead
with innovation instead ofsqueezing their user base for
more cash.
But here's the thing.
(07:25):
Here's the thing.
It's about trust, right?
Once you break that, it doesn'tmatter if you've got a tracker
that brews your coffee and tellsyou stock tips.
You're toast.
Exactly.
Although it's situations likethis that sometimes force brands
to evolve, you know?
Maybe this will push the wholesubscription model space into
new territory.
Like what if Whoop or one oftheir rivals actually comes up
(07:48):
with a system that balances userloyalty with profitability?
And what if Pigs Fly?
It's the tech world.
They'll just find a shinier wayto keep people on the hook.
You're such a cynic, Finn.
But I still think this dramacould set off some creative
thinking.
Both users and companies aregoing to push for something
better, at least with enoughheat.
(08:09):
Maybe this will end as a turningpoint.
Or it ends with Whoop scramblingjust to keep the lights on while
Garmin and Aura scoop up theirusers.
Either way, it's got the rest ofthe industry paying attention,
that's for sure.
Totally.
The ripple effects here could behuge.
And not just for Whoop, but forthe whole wearables market.
If nothing else, it's a wake-upcall.
(08:30):
Finn, if this whole Whoop messmakes one thing clear, It's that
the industry's got its eyes wideopen right now.
You've got state-of-the-art techon one hand and, well, decisions
that seem to walk backwards onthe other.
Questionable?
That's generous.
Let's call it what it is.
Trust gymnastics.
They've bent over backwards anddropped the ball.
(08:50):
Still, though, the advancementsare kind of thrilling.
The potential for healthmonitoring, the customization.
It's like...
It's like dangling a Ferrarikeychain and handing you a
bicycle.
All right, fair, but it doesshow how fast this space is
evolving.
Wearables are only gettingsmarter, and who knows where
this tech goes next?
Hopefully somewhere that doesn'tinvolve rewriting promises and
(09:13):
disappearing ink.
But yeah, I'll admit, the techitself is solid.
If they can stop stepping ontheir own toes, maybe they'll
stick the landing next time.
Here's hoping.
Okay, listeners, that's a wrapfor today.
What do you think about theWhoop drama?
Share your thoughts with us onX, Reddit, or wherever you hang
out online.
And hey, if you're alreadywearing a tracker, maybe check
(09:34):
if it's tracking your bloodpressure through this podcast.
You're welcome.
On that note, thanks for tuninginto Tech Between the Lines.
Stay curious, stay critical, andalways read between the lines.
Catch you on the next one.
Welcome back to Tech Between the Lines, a special
edition episode today, folks.
Special edition, huh?
Should I be worried?
Oh no, not worried.
Excited.
This one's a rollercoaster.
We're diving into the dramaaround Whoop's brand new
hardware launch.
Rollercoaster?
Sounds more like a train wreckwaiting to happen.
Okay, fair, but it's juicy,Finn.
(00:21):
We've got new fitness trackers,broken promises, and- You nailed
it.
The Whoop 5.0 and MG justdropped.
And instead of applause, they'regetting roasted online.
Sounds about right.
What's the problem this time?
Was it over-promised orunder-delivered?
Oh, it's a mix of both.
They've made some pretty boldmoves with the hardware
(00:42):
upgrades.
Super sleek stuff.
But, uh...
Let me guess again.
They tweaked something justenough to tick off their loyal
fans?
You're getting really good atthis.
Their subscription model is atthe heart of the controversy.
But before we get into all theuproar, let's talk about the
shiny new features.
Ready to geek out?
Geeking out isn't exactly myscene, but for you, sure.
(01:05):
Let's hear it.
All right, Finn, even you mightappreciate this one.
First up, the Whoop 5.0.
This isn't just a minor tweak.
It's 7% smaller than the 4.0,which was already impressively
compact.
And get this, it's got a 14-daybattery life.
A 14-day battery life?
Finally, something that doesn'tneed charging every night.
(01:26):
Now, if only they'd add ascreen.
Ha, well, screens aren't Whoop'sstyle.
They're sticking with thatminimalist, screenless approach.
But they've supercharged it witha data boost, tracking health
metrics 26 times per second.
Ah, yes, 26 times per second.
Because tracking it 10 timeswasn't enough, what did we do
before all these metrics anyway?
(01:48):
Just guess if we felt tired.
Oh, come on, Finn.
This is cutting-edge stuff.
And then we've got the Whoop MG,medical grade with FDA-cleared
ECG capability.
It's a whole new level.
Medical grade, huh?
So what, it replaces your doctornow?
Not quite, but it does up theante.
The MG tracks blood pressure,heart rhythms, and even hormonal
(02:11):
insights for women.
And, and this is the killerfeature, it calculates your
Whoop age using nine keybiomarkers.
It's basically giving you asnapshot of your health span.
You're a whoopage.
Let me guess, I'm probably 83 bytheir metrics.
Sounds more like a guilt tripgenerator than a fitness
tracker.
(02:32):
No, no, it's not about guilt.
It's about, you know,understanding how your habits
impact your longevity.
Plus, they've made it wearablein different places, like around
your arm or even your torso.
That's a lot more versatilitythan just the wristbands.
Great.
Now, people can track theirstress levels wherever they
think they don't already haveenough.
(02:53):
You're impossible.
But seriously, imagine thepotential here.
This isn't just a tracker.
It's like having a personalhealth lab.
The implications for personalhealth monitoring are huge.
This could really...
Yeah, if you got the patience tofigure out all those metrics.
For the rest of us, it'sprobably just a reminder we
should eat more broccoli.
(03:13):
Maybe.
But still, the tech here isincredible.
And honestly, this hardwaremakes most other wearables feel
pretty basic.
Alright, so after diving intoall those amazing features,
here's where things get a littlemore interesting.
As groundbreaking as Whoop's newgadgets are, they do come with,
let's say, a few considerationsto keep in mind.
(03:33):
Strings?
Sounds more like a tangled web.
Let me guess, this is abouttheir upgrade promise?
Nailed it again.
Since 2018, their subscriptionmodel has included free hardware
upgrades.
Sign up, stay a member for sixmonths, and boom, you got the
latest tracker at no extra cost.
It was like this unspoken pactwith their users.
(03:56):
Ah, nothing like free to keepfolks happy.
Let me guess, they broke thepact.
Yep, with the 5.0 and MG,they've dropped the whole free
upgrade thing.
Now, users have to extend theirmemberships by a year or pay an
upgrade fee.
49 bucks for the 5.0, 79 for theMG.
I knew it.
This isn't their first rodeo,you know.
(04:17):
Back in the 90s, there was thisbig name.
Won't drop it here.
We're talking major player inPCs, by the way.
They promised lifetime supportfor their fancy new desktops.
Guess what?
Within two years, lifetimemysteriously turned into
limited.
Customers went ballistic.
(04:38):
Wow, classic bait and switch.
Honestly, it gets worse.
People started noticing that ablog post from March of this
year, it confirmed the freeupgrades, just vanished from
their sight.
Like, poof, gone.
Oh, that's subtle.
Nothing screams trustworthy likescrubbing your own promises from
history.
What's their excuse?
(04:58):
Get this.
A spokesperson told the BostonGlobe, Like any company, we
update our commercial policies.
That's it.
No apology, no acknowledgementof the outrage.
Just, we change the rules, dealwith it.
Translation, we've got new toysand you're going to pay for
them, like it or not.
(05:19):
Bold move.
Did they at least improve themembership tiers?
Depends how you look at it.
They added three new tiers.
Whoop One at$199, Peak at$239,and Life at$359 for the MG.
But get this, those on the baseplan, they're locked out of
advanced health metricsentirely.
Pay more if you want the goodstuff.
(05:41):
So it's like buying a premiumcar and discovering you have to
shell out extra for the steeringwheel.
They're cooking up some creativeways to tick people off.
Exactly.
And loyal users aren't lettingit slide.
They're calling it shady, falseadvertising, and honestly,
they're not wrong.
(06:01):
All right, so the backlash hasbeen nothing short of explosive.
Social media is flooded withfurious posts.
Users are demandingexplanations.
And some are even postingscreenshots of the promises that
Whoop quietly erased.
It's messy, and honestly, it'shard to blame them.
Ah, the sweet sound of a PRfirestorm.
(06:22):
Let me guess, ex-Reddit, all theusual suspects?
You got it.
One ex-post said it all.
Whoop promised free upgrades.
Now they're charging$49 inwiping their website.
Not cool.
And honestly, it's hard to arguewith that.
Not at all.
When you yank away a promise,especially one baked into your
(06:42):
whole model, people are going tonotice.
And let's face it, this isn'tsome revolutionary blunder.
Plenty of companies have pulledstunts like this before.
True, but man, the timingcouldn't be worse.
Competitors like Garmin and Ouraare also using subscription
models, but guess what?
They're not reneging on theirpromises.
That makes Whoop's move lookeven worse by comparison.
(07:05):
Yeah, Garmin's probably sittingback watching this unfold with
popcorn in hand.
And Aura, they've built thisloyal following with a no
surprises approach.
They're probably reaping thebenefits right now.
It feels like a missedopportunity for Whoop to lead
with innovation instead ofsqueezing their user base for
more cash.
But here's the thing.
(07:25):
Here's the thing.
It's about trust, right?
Once you break that, it doesn'tmatter if you've got a tracker
that brews your coffee and tellsyou stock tips.
You're toast.
Exactly.
Although it's situations likethis that sometimes force brands
to evolve, you know?
Maybe this will push the wholesubscription model space into
new territory.
Like what if Whoop or one oftheir rivals actually comes up
(07:48):
with a system that balances userloyalty with profitability?
And what if Pigs Fly?
It's the tech world.
They'll just find a shinier wayto keep people on the hook.
You're such a cynic, Finn.
But I still think this dramacould set off some creative
thinking.
Both users and companies aregoing to push for something
better, at least with enoughheat.
(08:09):
Maybe this will end as a turningpoint.
Or it ends with Whoop scramblingjust to keep the lights on while
Garmin and Aura scoop up theirusers.
Either way, it's got the rest ofthe industry paying attention,
that's for sure.
Totally.
The ripple effects here could behuge.
And not just for Whoop, but forthe whole wearables market.
If nothing else, it's a wake-upcall.
(08:30):
Finn, if this whole Whoop messmakes one thing clear, It's that
the industry's got its eyes wideopen right now.
You've got state-of-the-art techon one hand and, well, decisions
that seem to walk backwards onthe other.
Questionable?
That's generous.
Let's call it what it is.
Trust gymnastics.
They've bent over backwards anddropped the ball.
(08:50):
Still, though, the advancementsare kind of thrilling.
The potential for healthmonitoring, the customization.
It's like...
It's like dangling a Ferrarikeychain and handing you a
bicycle.
All right, fair, but it doesshow how fast this space is
evolving.
Wearables are only gettingsmarter, and who knows where
this tech goes next?
Hopefully somewhere that doesn'tinvolve rewriting promises and
(09:13):
disappearing ink.
But yeah, I'll admit, the techitself is solid.
If they can stop stepping ontheir own toes, maybe they'll
stick the landing next time.
Here's hoping.
Okay, listeners, that's a wrapfor today.
What do you think about theWhoop drama?
Share your thoughts with us onX, Reddit, or wherever you hang
out online.
And hey, if you're alreadywearing a tracker, maybe check
(09:34):
if it's tracking your bloodpressure through this podcast.
You're welcome.
On that note, thanks for tuninginto Tech Between the Lines.
Stay curious, stay critical, andalways read between the lines.
Catch you on the next one.
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