5 major sleep problems a smart mattress can fix in just one week
From snoring stopping you sleeping to waking up at night, these are the major sleep problems a smart mattress can help fix
Quality sleep is the foundation of our health, but statistics show that 1 in 3 Americans regularly get less rest than they need. Snoring, discomfort and waking up at night are just some common barriers to a good night sleep — but a smart mattress can help.
Whether it's waking up at 3 a.m. or hot flashes, most of us will experience a short or long term sleep issue at one point in our lives or another. While some sleep issues can only be treated with medical intervention, others can be fixed by sleeping on one of the best smart beds for your sleep needs.
You don't have to buy a smart mattress to solve your sleep woes. But with the advancement of inbuilt sleep tech — including snoring detection and AI-powered temperature control — means that a smart mattress can be an excellent first line of defence against several common sleep issues.
5 major sleep problems a smart mattress can fix
From conflicting sleep comfort preferences to night sweats stopping you from sleeping, there are many things that could be keeping you awake at night.
However, built with world-first technology, leading smart mattresses set out to resolve these universal sleep issues, providing science-backed, expert-approved sleep solutions in your own bedroom.
Problem #1: Snoring stops me from sleeping
Snoring is a major barrier to a good night's sleep. Regardless of whether you're the snorer (and you keep being jolted awake by your exhausted partner) or someone who share a bed with rattles the windows with their loud snorts.
You should consult with a doctor if your loud snoring comes with other symptoms of sleep apnea, such morning headaches, daytime fatigue or gasping and choking during the night.
Loud snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea and, if experienced alongside other symptoms of sleep apnea, should be investigated by a doctor.
However, many people snore without experiencing pauses in their breathing or dangerous drops in oxygen. In this case, a smart bed can help you and your partner get better rest.
How a smart mattress can help
Certain smart mattresses and beds are laced with technology providing anti-snoring measures. Smart beds with adjustable positioning are the ones to look out for here.
For example, the Tempur-Ergo Smart Base from $2,099 at Tempur-Pedic has sensors that detect snoring and automatically adjust your head position to open up airways.
Snoring is the result of soft tissues relaxing in the upper airways and adjusting the head position can prevent that obstruction for easier, quieter breathing.
Similarly, the Anti-Snoring Bundle from $3,857 at Sleep Number can provide relief. This bundle comprises the Sleep Number ComfortNext Mattress, FlexFit 2 Adjustable Base, and Total Protection Mattress Pad.
The FlexFit 2 Adjustable Base has a button you can press when your partner's snoring is getting problematic. It will then gently raise their head to help relieve mild snoring, so you can sleep peacefully.
Problem #2: I keep waking up hot
Sleeping at the optimal temperature for sleep is a real game changer when it comes to getting quality rest. Your body clock relies on temperature cues, specifically a drop in temperature, to produce sleep-inducing hormones.
Therefore, when your body temperature is elevated, be that due to hot weather, an illness, menopausal hormonal changes, or your natural body composition, falling into peaceful sleep becomes harder.
How a smart mattress can help
With temperature being so central to sleep health, smart bed manufacturers have zoned in on tech that can help you sleep cool and comfortable.
From smart mattress covers with water tubes running through them to in-bed cooling fans, there are different systems available to help you banish night sweats and hot flashes for good.
The Eight Sleep Pod excels in temperature regulation. Sensors in the pod keep tabs on your body and room temperature. If you're running a little hot or cold, your bed surface will automatically adjust through the night to keep you at the ideal temperature for peaceful sleep.
Alternatively, the Sleep Number ClimateCool and Climate360 smart mattresses both cool down the bed surface up to 15 degrees cooler via a dynamic airflow system. The Climate360 takes that a step further by warming up to 15 degrees warmer, too.
Problem #3: I keep waking up at night
What's more frustrating than being wide awake at 3 a.m.? Being wide awake at 3 a.m. and not knowing why. That's because not knowing the cause of your 3 a.m. wake ups prevents you from making the changes your body needs to rest seamlessly through the night.
Waking up restless in the early hours, unable to nod back off, can be down to environmental factors. Such as ambient noise waking you up or your bedroom being too hot.
Waking up at night can also be caused by cortisol spikes. These can be triggered by excessive screen time, late night meals, alcohol consumption, or an inconsistent sleep schedule.
How a smart mattress can help
After a week of collecting data, alongside noting any lifestyle or environmental changes you make, you should be able to identify what it is interrupting your sleep cycles. Or, on the flip side, what's improving your sleep quality.
Both Sleep Number and Eight Sleep smart beds offer leading sleep tracking functionality. With the Eight Sleep Pod, contactless sensors in the smart mattress cover track everything from your sleep stages to your heart rate and HRV. Changes in these biometrics can explain why you may be waking up at night.
Meanwhile, Sleep Number mattresses pack research-grade sensors that monitor your presence, movement, heart rate, and breathing patterns hundreds of times per second to give a holistic view of your sleep habits and health.
Again, understanding how your sleep metrics change in response to lifestyle factors can help you make healthier choices (like avoiding caffeine later in the day and reducing stress come evening).
Problem #4: I can never get comfortable
Choosing the right mattress to suit your sleep style and body type can be a challenge. Ideally, you need a mattress that’s soft enough to take pressure off your joints, providing ample cushioning around your shoulders, hips, and knees.
However, it should be firm enough to prevent your hips from sinking too far, which is a recipe for back pain.
Sleep position and body weight play crucial roles in sleep comfort, too. Simply put, heavier bodies tend to need firmer beds for extra support, while lighter bodies benefit from softer mattresses with more cushioning.
How a smart mattress can help
What you need in a mattress can change with time, age and any injury you might be experiencing. However, there are plenty of smart beds on the market that offer adjustable firmness options to support your evolving sleep needs.
Such as the remote-controlled Saatva Solaire Adjustable Firmness Mattress, built with 50 different firmness levels to suit various sleep styles.
Alternatively, Sleep Number mattresses are renowned for their adjustable firmness functionality. They are lined with air chambers that inflate and deflate, providing 100 different firmness levels with 0 being the softest and 100 being the firmest.
When setting up a Sleep Number bed, you follow a “find your number” test where the bed starts out extremely soft and incrementally firms up until you figure out what feels right for your body.
After a few nights sleeping on it, you should figure out the exact firmness that provides the right amount of cushioning and spinal support for your body.
Problem #5: We can't agree on the mattress we need
Sharing a bed can mean compromising on your sleep comfort. You might prefer a rock hard mattress that feels cool to touch, while your partner prefers a soft bed they can sink right into, while being nestles under a mountain of blankets.
In this instance, trying to meet somewhere in the middle to ensure you both get the rest you need can feel futile. And no one gets a good night's sleep.
How a smart mattress can help
In 2026, most smart mattresses come with a dual comfort system. That means you can alter and operate smart settings independently on either side of the bed. Depending on the model you buy, that could include climate control, firmness levels or sleep tracking.
With smart heating and cooling beds, such as the latest Eight Sleep Pod, the Tempur-Pedic ActiveBreeze smart bed, and Sleep Number Climate360, you can sleep at a completely different temperature to your partner.
Dual-control applies to firmness, too. For example, on the ComfortMode from Sleep Number you can enjoy a blissful, soft feel while your partner gets the support they need from a firm bed surface, or vice versa.
Finally, with separate sleep tracking sensors, you'll each be given your own sleep report and personalised insights every morning. That way you can monitor how well you're sleeping and, crucially, how well your body is recovering each night, regardless of what your partner is doing on the other side of the bed.
Do I need a smart mattress to solve my sleep problems?
Sleeping on a smart mattress often results in immediate improved sleep quality. However, investing in a smart bed isn't the only way you can achieve top sleep scores and wake up feeling refreshed and well rested every morning.
Lifestyle changes will make a huge difference, too. Whether that's cleaning up your sleep hygiene, such as cutting down on screen time or decluttering your bedroom. Or replacing your heavy bed sheets for a breathable bedding set or opting for a cooling pillow.
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Eve is a sleep tech product tester and writer at Tom's Guide, covering everything from smart beds and sleep trackers, to sleep earbuds and sunrise alarm clocks. Eve is a PPA-accredited journalist with an MA in Magazine Journalism, and has four years’ experience writing features and news. In her role as Sleep Tech Product Tester and Writer for Tom's Guide, Eve is constantly trying out and reviewing the latest sleep products from brands such as Apple, Garmin, Whoop, Hatch, Sleep Number, Eight Sleep, and Oura. A fitness enthusiast who completed the London Marathon earlier this year, Eve loves exploring the relationship between good sleep, overall health, and physical performance, and how great sleep tech can make that relationship even better.
