The Ozlo Sleebuds 2 launch today and I’ve been testing them for a week — here’s how they're already helping decode my 3 a.m. wake-ups so I can sleep through the night

Following their release in 2024, we rated the original Ozlo Sleepbuds as one of the best sleep headphones you can buy. Today, the sleep brand has announced the launch of the Sleepbuds 2, an updated and upgraded version of the much-loved originals

I’ve been testing the Sleepbuds 2 for the past week and they still deliver on everything we loved about the originals. Most notably their lightweight, low-profile design, which makes them super comfortable in all sleep positions — including devout side sleepers like myself. According to Ozlo, the Sleepbuds 2 set the standard as the smallest earbuds designed specifically for sleep.

To find out more about what we could expect from the Sleepbuds 2 ahead of their launch, I caught up with Charles Taylor, Ozlo President and co-founder, to get the lowdown on the latest model.

“The SleepBuds 2 are really our improvement after years of listening to customers and we realized there's a handful of things that people really care about, and we wanted to make sure that we release something that really knocks those out of the park,” Taylor tells me.

“The biggest differences are around battery reliability and connectivity, making sure that when you are going to sleep, that we are doing our job of really protecting the night,” says the former Bose employee.

That means you’ll get 14 hours of battery life vs the original 10, along with 2-3 extra charges from the case. Plus, you can expect seamless Bluetooth connectivity — and no more connection dropouts during the night.

“We protect [against] the disturbances that wake you up, and we help coach you to sleep in the first place,” says Taylor. This happens through excellent noise masking technology (they’ve doubled down on their decision not to include ANC — more on that below) and via environmental sensors built into the Smart Case that highlight which external factors are disturbing you.

New notable features also include phone-free access to key controls (you don't have to pick up your phone to play a sleep sound or silence your alarm). Plus 5 different Sleep Modes so you can choose when and how you access your audio throughout the night.

I expected the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 to help me drown out noise disturbances so I could sleep better — and they do. Combined with my silk blackout sleep mask, the superb audio quality and noise-masking tech made me feel like I was climbing into my own sensory deprivation tank each night.

What I didn't expect was how the environmental sensors built into the Smart Case, which include light, sound and temperature, could help me unpack why I kept waking up in the middle of the night.

At $279, they're undoubtedly expensive. But if noise disturbances are currently stopping you from snoozing, they're a worthwhile investment in peaceful sleep.

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 Review: Cheat Sheet

What is it? Ultra small soft silicone earbuds designed specifically for sleep
Who is it for? Those susceptible to noise disturbances during sleep, as well as those who like to fall asleep to sleep sounds or meditations
What does it cost? $279
What do we like? Comfortable, low-profile design and crisp audio for soothing sleep sounds
What don’t we like? Premium price (but we think they're worth it)

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 Review: Specs

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 Review: Price & availability

• The Sleepbuds 2 launch with a sale price of $279 from $337
• Premium price sits in line with biggest rivals, including QuietOn and Soundcore A30

Launching with an MSRP of $337, there's $58 off the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 right now. That brings them down to $279, which is undoubtedly on the pricey side.

In comparison, the Soundcore A30 (our current #1 in our guide to the best sleep headphones) retails at $229.99/£199. Meanwhile, the QuietOn 4 ANC-only earbuds retail at $299/£232.99.

So the Ozlos are priced comparably to their rivals. And as the fit is superbly comfortable (yes, even for side sleepers), the sound is crisp and clear and the noise masking tech actively drowns out disturbances that could wake you up, I'd say the price is justified.

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2: was $337 now $279 at Ozlo

The Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 launch with a sale price of $279, down from $337, which is on the pricey side but worth it for a piece of tech of this calibre. As you would expect, shipping is free and comes with a one-year manufacturers warranty. For a limited time Ozlo will throw in a free 3D Sleep Mask with your purchase.

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Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 Review: Design & comfort

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• The Sleepbuds 2 are the smallest earbuds designed specifically for sleep
• Lightweight, comfortable and sit flush to the ear
• Custom-fit soft, silicone wingtips ensure they stay in place all night

Like their predecessor, the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 are small, lightweight and sit flush to the ear, which means they’re comfortable for all types of sleeper. That includes those who sleep on their sides, who require a low-profile fit in order to avoid dreaded pillow pressure and earache.

According to Ozlo, the Sleepbuds 2 set the standard as the smallest earbuds designed specifically for sleep.

To ensure they stay in place all night long, they come with custom-fit soft, silicone wingtips that act as an anchor. The sizes range from 0 (the smallest) through to 3 (the biggest).

They come with size 2 wing tips pre-loaded, but it’s well worth experimenting to see which wing tip size best suits the shape of your ear (too small and they’ll fall straight out and too large and they’ll bunch up and pop out).

This clever design is hugely effective — the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 are the only earbuds I’ve worn to bed that have still been there in the morning. You don’t feel as though you need to wedge them into your ear canal, either. They sat comfortably in my ear and they stayed that way all night.

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 Review: Features

• The Sleepbuds 2 rely on noise masking (not ANC) to drown out disturbances
• Biometric sensors in earbuds provide basic sleep tracking
• Environmental sensors in the Smart Case track your sleep environment

Like the original Ozlo Sleepbuds, the Sleepbuds 2 have shunned Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This, says Taylor, is down to the fact that ANC isn't as effective against night time noise disturbances as sound masking. Sound masking uses soft, consistent audio to cover up disruptive noises.

"Active noise cancelation, which is what your ANC is, is really effective for environments we understand," explains Taylor. "So think airplanes, with a very consistent noise. We found them less effective in a sleep environment.

"So when you're sleeping, it's already generally pretty quiet. There's not this large ambient noise. You get more jagged noises; the snoring of a partner, the bark of a dog. And ANC isn't really that great for that. It can ultimately be distracting in sleep."

Instead, the Sleepbuds 2 rely on noise masking technology to drown out noise disturbances so you can sleep comfortably all night long, regardless of what racket you're up against.

This does have some downsides when it comes to versatility. While sound masking might be good for sleep, if you want to use your earbuds on a plane or in the office, you don't have ANC to rely on. (An ANC earbud like the Soundcore A30 might be better for multiple use cases.)

The updated Sleepbuds also come with five new Sleep Modes, so you can customize how you listen. Plus, a Sleep Shield feature that blocks notifications while streaming from your phone.

Before bed, you can use your earbuds to steam music, audio books, or other content. But when you start to drift off, the in-built biometric sensors will detect you're falling asleep and automatically transition into sleep masking sounds. (Or you could set a timer, or ask it to make the switch once the content stops.)

I opted for the low-distraction mode of the Sleepbuds. That means as soon as I place them in my ear, they start playing my chosen sleep masking sound from the 30+ options available (Jade Static is my fave.) No scrolling on my phone or Bluetooth connection required.

As well as masking noise and protecting your rest (two things they do incredibly effectively), the Sleepbuds 2 provide basic sleep tracking. But, as Taylor point out, they are not a sleep tracker as such.

"We are not a tracker, and so we very much on purpose do not want to be a tracker," Taylor tells me. The sleep tracking provided, through accelerometers in the buds themselves, is able to detect sleep stages and timing.

This basic sleep tracking, combined with the light, sound and sleep temperature trackers built into the smart case, helps provide a picture of overall sleep quality. Including the disturbances that might be behind your late night wake ups.

Understanding your sleep patterns and environment will arm you with the knowledge of what you need to do to unlock better sleep, says Taylor.

"How cold or warm was the room? How loud was the external noise? How bright was it? So we try and give you all these data points, and then track how we think you're sleeping to ultimately let you make the decision on how to get better sleep," he explains.

For me, I liked being able to monitor the sound disturbances I encounter during an average night (note the 94-decibel sound my Smart Case detected at 03.17 a.m. the other morning).

As someone who frequently finds herself awake at 3 a.m., I found it useful to discover that noise disturbances could at least partly be to blame.

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 Review: Audio quality

• Redesigned audio system leads to richer sound quality
• New Audio Tuning feature allows you to tweak audio to suit chosen sound

The Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 have been designed and engineered specifically for wearing to sleep, so they were never going to be heavy on the bass. However, the good-enough sound quality of the originals has been redesigned for improved sound clarity.

That means better sound masking capabilities and higher volume. A new feature for the Sleepbuds 2 is Audio Tuning, which adjusts the audio to suit the sound you're consuming.

"In part of adding a whole bunch of new things into the buds, one of those things is now the ability to do more audio tuning," explains Taylor. "So very simply, it's just changing the audio and changing the settings of the audio for an environment."

Playing around with the different profiles, which include Balance, Focus, Spoken Word and Airplane Mode, means you can choose a sound that suits your particular environment or audio.

The Focus Audio mode suits my needs best. It delivers crisp audio when listening to sleep mediations, masking noise disturbances or playing soundscapes.

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 Review: App & controls

• Improved Bluetooth connectivity prevents connection dropping out during sleep
• Smart Case acts as connection bridge between phone and Sleepbuds
• App access is required for Sleep Mode and sleep feature alterations

A phone and an active Bluetooth connection are necessary to initially set up the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 and to stream audio.

However, you can configure your buds to automatically play your chosen built-in sleep sound as soon as you take them out of the case (which, as a recovering doomscroller who's trying to kick the habit, I choose to do).

To access the Ozlo app you need to flick open the Smart Case and connect to your phone. It sounds like a fuss, but connection is seamless and happens within seconds.

Bluetooth connection in the Sleepbuds 2 is an improvement on the originals, says Taylor. This translates to better reliability and a longer range. I haven't experienced any issues with my phone finding the Sleepbuds, or connection dropping out (which some customers reported on original version).

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Once in the app you're able to control how you use your Sleepbuds. Here, you can select your soundscape, sleep masking sound, set your in ear alarm, adjust the volume or change your Sleep Mode.

For a piece of tech that claims not to be one of the best sleep trackers, I found the sleep insights useful (and largely married up with the findings from my Fitbit Inspire 3).

The earbuds track sleep consistency, efficiency (the time it takes you to fall asleep) and duration. They also collect data surrounding your sleep cycles and wakeful periods. This is useful to track alongside the environmental sensors, so you can see if your sleep issues are down to external factors.

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 Review: Battery life

• Battery life has been extended to 14 hours from 10
• The case includes an addition 2-3 charges
• I placed on charge after wearing to bed for five nights as a precaution

One of the biggest upgrades from the originals to the Sleepbuds 2 is the extended battery life. Thanks to their long-life, lithium-ion battery, the Sleepbuds 2 pack 14 hours of battery, compared to the original’s 10.

That roughly translates to two full night’s sleep of constant audio play, with the battery stretching longer when using shorter bursts of sleep sound. The case also packs an additional 2-3 charges. Approximately 28-42 hours more use.

Placing the buds back in their case after waking up tops them back up to full charge, while placing the case on charge every three days or so will mean your buds will always be operational. I listen to sleep audio at the beginning of the night, which means I can leave longer stretches between charges (I put on charge after five days as a precaution).

The case charges via a provided USB-C cable.

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 Review: Should you buy?

A tiny pair of earbuds that drowns out noise disturbances, the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 get my recommendation. Whether it’s my husband’s snoring, the busy street below or my cat yowling in my face at 5 a.m., I’ve found the Sleepbuds effective at creating a peaceful noise barrier so I can stay dreaming through disruptions and comfortable in all sleep positions.

It’s important to note, however, that this is done through noise masking technology, not through Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). There’s over 30 sleep sounds available, featuring soundscapes that help you fall asleep to soothing masking sound to drown out disturbances.

But if you’re someone who likes to drift off in complete silence, the Sleepbuds 2 won’t be right for you. Instead, I recommend a comfortable pair of ANC earbuds for sleeping, like the Soundcore A30.

However, in order to accommodate ANC, the A30s come with an ever so slightly bigger build. That means they could be uncomfortable for some sleepers (our lead reviewer noted slight discomfort when sleeping on his side).

For complete silence only (and no other sound), go for the QuietOn 4 earbuds — zero connectivity, just total, reliable silence and superbly comfortable in all sleep positions.

After trying the Sleepbuds 2, I can say that I personally prefer the reliable sound of noise masking. The immersive feeling of the soundscapes and the masking sounds are predictably soothing, regardless of what racket is actually happening in my bedroom.