I Tried Smart Earbuds to Help Me Get Better Sleep, and the Results Surprised Me

As someone who has been on a decade-long journey to get better sleep, I’m always ready to try out new gadgets that might lead me to the rest I yearn for. So, I researched the world of tech that might give me better insight into just what my body was doing while I slept — and stumbled on the NextSense Smartbuds. While the idea of an app monitoring my brain activity initially felt a little Black Mirror to me, nights of less-than-optimal sleep finally made me give the earbuds a chance — and I’m glad I did. Plus, they’re $150 off for a limited time, which brings the price down from $399 to $249.

The first thing worth noting about the NextSense Smartbuds is the sleek case that houses them, which also serves as the charging port that provides up to four extra charges. The soft silicone design is lightweight and sits flush in the ear, minimizing pressure. An integrated microphone and high-quality drivers result in crisp and effective audio, making the earbuds easy to use while listening to music, audiobooks, or white noise when you’re not asleep.

Unlike hospital EEGs that require conductive gel on the scalp, these “hearables” use in-ear EEG technology (with eartips and wings) and precise audio stimulation to monitor brain patterns while you’re asleep. Based on the collected data in the NextSense app, slow wave enhancement via pink noise frequencies are delivered to boost deep, restorative rest. Over time, the device learns how to distinguish between your light sleep and deep sleep with precision, allowing it to emit audio stimulation personalized just for you. 

As someone who has always wondered just what my brain is up to while I sleep, the NextSense Smartbuds served as a gateway to get answers without feeling too invasive. I thought the setup and pairing of the machine would be the most challenging part, but I was wrong. Once I unboxed the product, a quick slide on the charging case revealed the sleep earbuds inside. (It includes a QR code to download the app, which needs to be connected to the Bluetooth on your phone.) A series of easy-to-read prompts shared information on sleeping, like how restorative sleep is powered by slow waves in the brain, and how the pink noise pulses the buds emit would help me achieve better quality sleep. 

I set up my sleep schedule in the app, including the time I’d go to bed and wake up. As a lifelong side sleeper, I’m happy to report that these fit so well, I barely felt them at all! In the morning, a chart listed my total time in bed, drift-off time, total wakes, and slow wave count and slow boosts used to help deepen my sleep. This eye-opening report has made my quest for better sleep feel more attainable. 

• A seamless fit: The soft silicone design is a win for me. I’m a side sleeper through and through, so I appreciated how easily this fit into my ear without a bulky or heavy feeling to disrupt my sleep.
• Precisely timed audio: The earbuds track sleeping patterns to deduct when a person will wake up, then deliver audio signals for deeper sleep.

The Smartbuds require a Fit Kit subscription ($14.99/month after a 3-month trial) for regular replacement of eartips and wings to maintain the “clinical-grade EEG signal quality.”

Having used these earbuds, I feel more motivated than ever to get better rest and become more aware of lifestyle habits that prevent deep sleep. I’d recommend the NextSense Earbuds for anyone who:

• Suffers from insomnia or is looking for insight into their sleeping patterns
• Doesn’t mind integration of apps in order to use products
• Wants to monitor their sleep based on brain activity rather than traditional movement tracking devices.

The NextSense SmartBuds are available exclusively at NextSense for $249 (normally $399).