Recently a reel of famous cricketer Virat Kohli went viral, in which he was wearing a band in his hand, many people noticed it. Today we will discuss about the same fitness band, why do Footballers, athletes, and celebs like it? The same question came to my mind as well.
The name of this Fitness Tracker band is WHOOP 5.0, and I have tested it. It is completely different from a normal smartwatch, and after this review you will get clear why it is so special. Come on, let’s talk straight – in simple words, no nonsense!
What is WHOOP 5.0?
This is a fitness tracker, but its focus is on data, not on a fancy screen or notifications. The band itself is available for free, but its real game is in its subscription, which is around ₹24,000 per year. This subscription gives you extremely detailed data – heart rate, sleep, recovery, and strain.
What is the difference from a smartwatch? Smartwatches track calories, steps, and sometimes sleep, but WHOOP gives data every second, which is extremely accurate. Let’s understand one by one.
Design: Simple but Comfortable
The design of WHOOP 5.0 is extremely minimal – no screen, just a sleek band. The weight is so light that one can easily forget it after wearing it. There was a little irritation on the first day but I got used to it within 1-2 days. It is waterproof, so I can wear it even while bathing, but I take it off because a wet band feels a little weird. The material is soft and fits comfortably in the hand. The colours are Black, Blue and Green – Black gives a completely stealth mode feel!
The charging scene is different. A battery pack is provided which slides over the band – there is no need to take off the band! The band does not get hot while charging, it just generates a little heat. Charge it once and it lasts for 14-15 days – amazing compared to 1-2 days of a smartwatch! In WHOOP 4.0, the battery pack did not fully charge the band and needed charging every 4 days, but this has been improved a lot in 5.0.
Sensors and Data: Next-Level Tracking
WHOOP has PPG sensor (for heart rate), accelerometer (for steps and movement), and skin temperature sensor – all of which are also found in premium watches like Apple Watch. But the real game of WHOOP is that it tracks heart rate every second, while a smartwatch tracks it every 5-10 minutes or every 5 seconds during a workout. Smartwatches have to save battery for the screen and features, but there is no screen in WHOOP, so the entire focus is on the sensors. That’s why its data is absolutely pinpoint accurate.
What does this data give? Complete account of your sleep performance, recovery, and strain. As soon as you open the app, these three things are visible:
- Sleep Performance: Data on how much you slept, how much deep sleep, REM sleep, and breaths per minute. It tells how good your sleep was.
- Recovery: Based on Heart rate variability (HRV), resting heart rate, and sleep data, it tells how ready your body is for the next day. Shows Green (high recovery), Yellow (medium), or Red (low).
- Strain: Tracks your day’s activity – steps, workouts, and the amount of stress your body went through.
New Feature: Body Age
WHOOP 5.0 has a new feature – Body Age. It tells you your body’s “age” based on your sleep, activity, and habits. For example, my friend’s actual age is 29, but he slept less (6 hours), so his body age was shown as 31.9. Another friend’s age was 34, but due to consistent gym and 8 hours of sleep, his body age came out to be 31.9. This feature clearly tells you which habits to improve so that you stay fit and aging slows down.
Price: Money saving or expensive?
The band is free, but you have to pay ₹24,000 every year for subscription. It is worth it only if you are really health-conscious or an athlete. People like Virat Kohli wear it because it gives them absolutely accurate recovery data, which is important for their performance. If you don’t need so much detailed data, the smartwatch is cheap and practical – buy it once and use it, no yearly cost.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Every second heart rate tracking – absolutely accurate data.
- 14-15 days of battery life, and no need to take the band off for charging.
- Lightweight and waterproof design – perfect for all-day wear.
- Detailed data on sleep, recovery, and strain – for improving your lifestyle.
- Body Age feature motivates you to stay fit.
Cons:
- ₹24,000 yearly subscription – worth it only for health freaks.
- No screen, so no notifications or quick stats.
- Can be irritating for the first 1-2 days.
- No USB-C port or fast data transfer.
Conclusion
WHOOP 5.0 is not a normal smartwatch – it is for serious fitness enthusiasts who want to keep a detailed account of their health. Every second’s heart rate, sleep, and recovery data helps you to improve your lifestyle.
The ₹24,000 subscription is a bit expensive, but if you have a fitness goal like Virat Kohli or want to track your habits, then this is a game-changer. Otherwise, a regular smartwatch will do. Let me know in the comments – will you try WHOOP or are you happy with the smartwatch?
