WHOOP MG vs Whoop 5.0: Is ECG Worth $160 More?

Both the WHOOP MG and the WHOOP 5.0 launched the same day in May 2025, and on paper they look like twins: same screenless band, same 14-day battery, same IP68 water rating. The real fight is what’s under the hood — and whether you’ll actually use the extras.

Key Differences

• Price gap is $160. WHOOP MG launches at $359; WHOOP 5.0 at $199.
• ECG is MG-only. The 5.0 does not take ECG readings.
• Blood Pressure Insights is MG-only. That feature is the headline reason MG exists.
• Build materials differ. MG uses a polymer composite with titanium hardware accents; the 5.0 is straight polymer.
• Weight is basically identical. 27.3 g for MG, 26.5 g for 5.0 — you will not feel that 0.8 g.
• Neither has a screen, GPS, NFC payments, or a speaker. If you want any of those, you’re shopping the wrong brand.

Deep Dive Comparison

Design & Comfort

This is a wash. Both bands measure 34.7 mm and weigh under 28 grams. The MG gets titanium accents on the hardware, which looks nicer and will hold up better if you’re rough on gear. The 5.0’s all-polymer build is perfectly fine for daily wear. Both disappear on the wrist, which is the whole point of a screenless tracker.

Battery Life

Dead tie. WHOOP rates both at 14 days per charge, and neither has GPS to drain it down. That’s a real upgrade over the old 4.0’s 4-5 day rating, and it’s the same story whether you pay $199 or $359.

Health & Fitness Features

This is where the $160 lives. Both bands cover the WHOOP basics: continuous heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature, and the accelerometer/gyroscope combo that drives Strain and Recovery scores. The 5.0 stops there. The MG adds PPG-based blood pressure estimation through the Blood Pressure Insights program and on-demand ECG readings you can take by touching the band’s hardware contacts. If you have a family history of heart trouble, are managing hypertension, or just want the most medical data on your wrist, that matters. If you’re a runner or lifter who just wants recovery scores, it doesn’t. Neither watch has onboard GPS — both rely on your phone for any mapping.

Smart Features

There are none to compare. No display, no notifications you can read, no music control, no contactless payments, no mic or speaker. WHOOP is a tracker, not a smartwatch. If that’s a dealbreaker, buy an Apple Watch or a Garmin.

Price & Value

The 5.0 at $199 is the value pick of the WHOOP lineup — you get every core feature that made the brand famous. The MG at $359 is a premium play aimed squarely at users who will actually open the Blood Pressure and ECG screens. Remember that either band still requires a WHOOP membership to function, so factor that subscription cost into your decision on top of the hardware price.

Technical Specs

Spec	WHOOP MG	WHOOP 5.0
Launch Price	$359	$199
Weight	27.3 g	26.5 g
Case Size	34.7 mm	34.7 mm
Case Material	Polymer composite with titanium accents	Polymer
Water Rating	IP68 (up to 10 m)	IP68
Battery (Smartwatch)	336 hours (14 days)	336 hours (14 days)
Display	None	None
GPS	None (phone-tethered)	None (phone-tethered)
Sensors	PPG (HR, SpO2, Blood Pressure Insights), ECG, Skin Temperature, Accelerometer, Gyroscope	Optical HR, SpO2, Skin Temperature, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
NFC Payments	No	No
Connectivity	Bluetooth	Bluetooth, BLE

The Verdict

For most people, buy the WHOOP 5.0. You get the identical 14-day battery, the same screenless fit, and every core recovery and strain metric WHOOP is known for — at $160 less than the MG. Unless you have a concrete reason to track ECG or blood pressure, the MG’s extras will sit unused.

Buy the WHOOP MG if you have a heart condition, are actively managing blood pressure, or you’re the kind of user who genuinely logs every health data point you can collect. The Blood Pressure Insights and ECG features are the only reason this band exists, and if you’ll use them, $160 is a fair price for what would otherwise require a separate medical device. If you won’t use them, you’re paying for titanium accents. Save the money.