Ah, sleep — the one thing we all love but never seem to get enough of. You’re tossing and turning, counting sheep, or maybe out like a light but still wake up feeling like you’ve pulled an all-nighter. How can you crack the code of quality slumber?Â
Luckily, there’s an array of gadgets and apps designed to tell you if you’re sleeping like a baby or need to rethink your nighttime rituals. So, let’s dive in and find out what’s hot in the world of sleep tech.
Wearables: More than step counters
First on deck is the Fitbit Inspire HR. It goes beyond the basics by tracking sleep patterns, and don’t let its size fool you. This thing packs a punch. A standout feature? Sleep stages that try to map out your cycles from light sleep to REM. Pros are its affordability and battery life. But let’s not get too starry-eyed. Its sleep stage feature isn’t always spot-on.
Next, there’s the Apple Watch. If you’re fully plugged into the Apple ecosystem, this one’s a no-brainer. Its sleep tracking is precise, and the privacy features are top-notch. But all this pizzazz comes at a price, both in dollars and battery life. Did you know this little gadget is so keen it can track the rise and fall of your chest as you breathe?
The Whoop is the most accurate. Designed as a lightweight, screenless bracelet, five LEDs and four photodiode sensors offer ultra-accurate health metrics. It suggests optimal sleep and wake times and uses a gentle haptic alarm to wake you at the ideal moment in your sleep cycle. Yes, you’ll need a paid subscription to access all this sleep wisdom.
Finally, Garmin. It’s not the cheapest option, and some say its sleep tracking isn’t as accurate as the competition. But it adds a unique dimension by tracking stress — because who knew? Stress hormones can mess up your sleep.
Beds and mattresses
Yes, mattresses have entered the digital age. Sleep Number leads the pack here with its customizable firmness and advanced sleep tracking. But you’ll need to open up that wallet with prices ranging from $1,000 for the basic models to upwards of $5,000.
Eight Sleep is a sleeping pad worth noting. It’s like sleeping on a cloud — if that cloud also recorded every toss and turn and adjusted the temperature accordingly. You’ll sleep like a baby, but you might cry like one when you see the price tag, starting at about $2,695 for a queen size. Fun fact: cranking down the temperature can spike your REM sleep by 20%.
Let’s not forget standalone gadgetsÂ
Withings Sleep slides under your mattress and syncs with your smart home setup for around $180. It’s easy-peasy but a little limited compared to others. It even dims your lights as you drift off. Talk about setting the mood.
Hapbee tracks sleep under your pillow and comes with an app to get your scores. The manufacturer says you may be able to stop taking sleep supplements, but your mileage may vary.
Finally, there are apps like Sleep Cycle that offer a lot for the frugal sleep enthusiast. They’re user-friendly and provide sleep analysis right on your phone. The caveat? Accuracy can be hit or miss. Btw, I will try the Oura ring (and its slew of competitors!) soon, so I didn’t include it on this list.Â
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