Somnox 2 for $599: Offering all the same features as the original in a more compact package with better battery life and improved speakers, the Somnox 2 (6/10, WIRED Review) can help you drift away. The addition of Bluetooth streaming (currently iOS only) for listening to your own selection of content is also welcome, but the add-on is simply too expensive.
Sandman Doppler for $225: This chunky bedside alarm clock has Alexa inside, offers some nifty customization options (set the color of the big time display, or attach Alexa processes to the buttons), and boasts multiple charging ports for your devices (3 USB-C and 3 USB-A ). Speakers sound good for the size; It’s perfect for podcasts or audio to lull you to sleep at night and can be relied on to wake you up in the morning. But it’s huge, overpriced, and a bit ugly.
Sensation 2 for $299: This strange device is like a large vibrating pebble that you place on your chest during short relaxation sessions (10 to 30 minutes). The manufacturers claim that the vibrations can help tune your vagus nerve to improve your Heart Rate Variation (or HRV). I don’t know much, and it seems very expensive for what it’s worth, but the vibrations, guided controlled breathing, and original sounds are very relaxing.
Jabees Serenity Sleeping Mask for $40: While pairing a Bluetooth headset with a sleep mask is a smart idea, the mask was too bulky for me and I found the headset uncomfortable. Your mileage may vary. Sound quality is decent, and it’s easy to stream music, podcasts, or relaxing sounds to small headphones. The thick mask effectively blocks the light. It’s also relatively cheap for a sleep device.
Sleep phone for $100: If you find it uncomfortable to wear headphones or want to sleep on your side, this foam fabric headband with a small speaker inside could be the answer. You connect via Bluetooth to stream music, podcasts, or soothing sounds of your choice. The headband is machine washable and hardly any sound will disturb a sleeping partner. On the other hand, the controller shifts around and isn’t comfortable for a back sleeper, with no indication of remaining battery life and overall quality low for the price.
Morphee for $100: The lovely clock-shaped wooden music box design makes this a desirable bedside device, and it offers a variety of sounds and meditations. The kid version looks like a super cute wooden radio. Both are expensive, and we didn’t like the Micro USB port for charging or the 20-minute time limit for sleep audio.
Muse S for $280: If you have trouble meditating, the Muse S headband can help guide you and it will measure your heart rate, breathing rate, brain activity, and movement. But I felt uncomfortable wearing it in bed and struggled to get through the night with it. It helps me relax but not my insomnia.
Embr Wave 2 for $300: This wrist-worn device can help you cope with feeling cold or warm. It is recommended to reduce hot flashes but can also help you sleep better. It’s comfortable but also thick, so not ideal to wear to bed. It doesn’t affect my sleep quality much.
