I've always been a sleepy kind of guy, and the idea of a gadget that can help me understand and improve my sleep habits is appealing. So, when I heard about the NextSense Smartbuds, I was intrigued. These wireless earbuds are designed to track your sleep and play frequencies to help you get a better night's rest. But do they live up to the hype? Let's find out.
The Science Behind the Smartbuds
The Smartbuds use an electroencephalogram (EEG) to monitor your brainwaves and determine your sleep stages. They can detect when you've entered deep sleep and play frequencies to help you stay in that restorative stage. The idea is that by improving the quality of your sleep, you'll wake up feeling more refreshed and better-rested.
However, the science behind this approach is still evolving. Some studies suggest that listening to pink noise and similar frequencies can help improve sleep, while others suggest it may be counterproductive. So, before you buy in, keep in mind that the effectiveness of the Smartbuds may be subjective.
Setting Up the Smartbuds
Setting up the Smartbuds is easy. There's a brief tutorial that shows you how to fit the earbuds into your ears snugly for accurate EEG readings. There's even a signal check feature that tells you whether the sensors are making adequate contact. If the default ear tips aren't your size, there are three other sizes in the box.
The App and Sleep Tracking
The NextSense app is surprisingly functional and easy to use. You can choose different soundscapes to fall asleep to, such as rain noises, forest sounds, and white noise. The app also provides a breakdown of each night's sleep, including sleep efficiency scores, boost provided, time awake, and total sleep time.
I found the app to be inviting and easy to digest, especially for a relatively unproven company. However, the data didn't quite live up to my expectations. According to the Smartbuds, I'm sleeping quite well, with a sleep efficiency score ranging from 96% to 97%. But I didn't notice a huge difference in my alertness during the day.
Comfort and Design
The Smartbuds are designed to be as flat as possible to avoid discomfort when sleeping. However, they don't quite match the comfort of the Soundcore Sleep A30, which are specifically designed for side sleepers. The Smartbuds are better-suited for people who sleep on their backs.
Bluetooth and Software Frustrations
I did experience some software frustrations, such as having to disconnect and re-pair the earbuds because they weren't being recognized by the app. Additionally, you're supposed to swap out wing tips once every 21 sessions, which can be an inconvenience. But, at least it's not a paywalled software!
Battery Life
The Smartbuds have a solid battery life, with nine hours of use and an additional 36 hours in the charging case. To play white/pink noise, you download sounds onto the earbuds, which play locally. This helps avoid a battery-killing Bluetooth connection to your phone.
The Verdict
The NextSense Smartbuds are an intriguing example of what sleep-tracking wearables can do with the right sensors. However, they may not be the best option for everyone. If you're a side sleeper, you may find them uncomfortable, and if you're looking for a pair of sleep earbuds that can block out the world while you snooze, this isn't the ideal pair.
In my case, I'm not sure that the results were particularly profound, but I also acknowledge that everyone will have a different experience. Maybe your tiredness is a direct result of not getting enough slow-wave sleep, and you're not worried about being uncomfortable sleeping on your side. In that case, the Smartbuds might make a notable improvement in your sleep and general alertness.
Overall, the Smartbuds are worth considering if you're looking for a gadget that can help you track and improve your sleep habits. But, for now, they're an intriguing example of what sleep-tracking wearables can do, albeit with some hiccups in hardware and software to tidy up.
