‘It’s added a literal hour to my sleep’: NextSense is waging war on 3 a.m. wake ups with new sleep tracking earbuds that know when you’re about to wake up in the night, then help you fall back asleep

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I spoke to NextSense CEO Jonathan Berent to learn how Smartbuds are going from sleep tracking to active sleep improvement

A woman lies on her back asleep in a dimly lit room wearing a pair of NextSense Smartbuds. In the top left corner, an indent image shows a close up of the Nextsense Smarbuds in their case
(Image credit: NextSense Smartbuds)

Sleep trackers help us understand our rest but do they really benefit our sleep? Not according to NextSense, whose new sleep earbuds aim not just to track your sleep but to actively improve it.

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(Image credit: Future)

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The NextSense Smartbuds combine EEG technology with precise audio stimulation to enhance deep sleep, building the overall quality of your rest in ways that improve your day.

"We sleep to be awake," says Berent, "and the Smartbud platform is really helping you be awake."

NextSense Smartbuds
NextSense Smartbuds: was $399 now $249 at nextsense.io

Save on the recently launched NextSense Smartbuds in the early bird sale, which reduces a set from $399 to $249. Your purchase also includes a subscription to the Fit Kit, which delivers new tips and wings monthly to ensure clinical-grade monitoring (first three months are free, Fit Kit is $14.99/month following.)

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NextSense Smartbuds: How it works

An EEG (or electroencephalogram) monitors electric signals to understand brain activity and it's traditionally used during polysomnography, a form of gold standard sleep tracking.

So far, so sleep tracker.

However, NextSense steps beyond tracking by monitoring and responding to brain signals with precisely timed audio, designed to support the brainwaves associated with deep sleep.

"We go beyond tracking, we have a way to actually improve the sleep now," says Berent. "We can only do that because we're enhancing the brainwaves."

NextSense earbuds use six EEG sensors to detect light sleep, REM sleep and deep sleep. When changes in brainwave activity indicate you're close to an unwelcome wake-up in the middle of the night, the Smartbuds play proprietary soundscapes targeting slow wave activity to send you back to deep sleep.

"It's been demonstrated in many scientific studies that slow waves lead to better memory and better cognitive function the next day," explains Berent.

A man lies in bed on his back with his hands behind his head, wearing a pair of NextSense Smartbuds, with a line graphic demonstrating the EEG/ audio stimulation. POn the left, a close up of a hand holding the Smartbuds in their case.

(Image credit: NextSense)

Berent describes these proprietary sounds as the "secret sauce" of the Smartbuds, and on the connected NextSense app, you can see exactly when these sounds kick in during the night.

And if that all sounds a little disruptive, Berent notes that volume is another key ingredient in the NextSense's secret sauce.

"That is part of the challenge, that is why this is difficult tech," he says. "It's also a reason why you couldn't have just a pair of earbuds play our sounds. Even if you they got lucky and guessed they wouldn't know the right volume."

"We believe we can enhance that sleep process"

"People evolved to sleep," explains Berent. "Now, we believe we can actually, through science, enhance that sleep process."

It's added a literal hour to my sleep

In controlled beta testing over 106 nights, Smartbuds were shown to increase slow-wave activity, with nearly 50% of participants reporting 'better' or 'much better' sleep.

Berent himself credits the Smartbuds with adding "a literal hour" to his sleep.

Even if the Smartbuds can't get you to that magical eight hours, they may be able to improve the quality of sleep on nights when you find yourself unable to drift off.

"I think the good news is that if you, because of travel or you're in a new bed, and you only get that 6 hours, yeah, it does boost it," says Berent.

But he's keen to emphasize that NextSense aims not to make up for lost sleep, but to improve your overall sleep hygiene.

A close up of a man lying in bed asleep on his side in a dark room, wearing a pair of NextSense Smartbuds

(Image credit: NextSense)

The brain activity tracking and audio stimulation are key to this, but the NextSense Smartbuds feature other, more traditional sleep hygiene features, including a nap mode, meditation settings, and calming soundscapes.

And for lovers of standard sleep tracking, the NextSense also gives you that all important data, including a 'slow wave' count you can watch tick upwards.

But Berent suggests sleep tracking is perhaps the least important element of these sleep trackers.

"Trust your body, not your tracker," he says, "which may seem kind of funny coming from my sleep company, but it's like, you don't need to track every aspect of sleep you need to be able to trust your body."

NextSense Smartbuds: Price and availability

NextSense Smartbuds are $399.99, but in the early bird offer you can pick up a set for $249 at NextSense.

Purchase also includes a 'Fit Kit' subscription; new ear tips and wings delivered monthly to ensure clinical grade EEG. The first three months of Fit Kit are free, after which it costs $14.99 a month.

A man wearing a pair of NextSense Smartbuds takes a nap on the couch

(Image credit: NextSense)

This premium price tag is comparable to other luxury ear buds and sleep trackers, including competitors Oslo Sleepbuds ($349 MSRP at Ozlo) and Oura Ring fitness tracker ($349 MSRP at Oura.)

And the Smartbuds can double up as regular ear buds — when we spoke to Berent, he was wearing them the entire time.

"It's a smart bud platform and not a sleep platform"

The NextSense Smartbuds aren't all about sleep. Or, at least, in time sleep will become just one aspect of the technology.

"We have a unique interface to the brain, so how many apps would like to use that?" says Berent.

That might include becoming your next study aid, as Berent points to the connection between slow wave technology and improved memory and learning.

"I'm excited to get this out in the public, see what people want, and then we can build," he says. "That's why it's a smart bud platform and not a sleep platform or a sleep bud platform."

Ruth Jones
Ruth Jones
Senior Sleep staff Writer

Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

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