Earbuds Now Track Your Sleep

Wireless earbuds are rapidly expanding their functionality, moving beyond mere music playback to incorporate health-tracking features and advanced audio capabilities. Companies are exploring innovative uses, such as real-time sleep monitoring and adjustment.

NextSense's Smartbuds exemplify this trend, embedding EEG sensors to track sleep patterns. These earbuds aim to enhance sleep quality by providing audio stimulation tailored to individual cycles. While EEG-based sleep improvement is not entirely new, the earbud form factor presents a more comfortable alternative to headbands.

Further innovation comes from earbuds focused on sleep comfort and noise reduction. Soundcore's Sleep A30, for instance, are designed for nighttime wearability, even for side sleepers, and offer exceptional active noise cancellation to block external disturbances. Other competitors, like Naox Link NX01, are also emerging, with the potential for EEG technology to be integrated into broader earbud markets.

Despite the advancements, some devices, like NextSense's Smartbuds, may come with additional costs, such as monthly subscriptions on top of a retail price. However, the evolving capabilities and surprising utility of sleep-focused earbuds suggest they are becoming a significant category to consider for improved rest.