“Everyday stress. Snoring. Noisy neighbours. The news of the day. There’s plenty that keeps you awake. Introducing Sleepbuds™ II. Tiny and comfortable, Sleepbuds™ work with the Bose Sleep app to deliver relaxing sounds to help you fall asleep, and use Bose noise-masking technology so you stay asleep all night.”
Link to Bose Sleepbuds II (Bose)
This is a sponsored review
Sections in this review:
Initial thoughts during unboxing
Setting up
During use
Suggested improvements
Conclusion
Images
Initial thoughts during unboxing
Everything is presented wonderfully, the packaging is basic yet appealing and there’s minimal throwaway packaging which shows thought about the environment. The instructions are clearly presented within the included “START HERE” guide which contains useful information in a good number of languages. The metal case containing the earphones has a good premium feel to it and a good sliding mechanism to the top in order to open it to get to the Sleepbuds inside – there’s no bag included but not really needed as the case will well and truly protect the Sleepbuds. A decent USB C charger cable of a good length is included in the box as well as smaller/larger sleepbud accessories for different sized ears.
Setting up
The Sleepbuds looked and felt like a quality product. I like the fact that no buttons exist on the Sleepbuds to maintain simplicity – they’re not required as everything is controlled via the Bose app. The Sleepbuds were easy to insert into the ears and felt comfortable inside the ears to begin with. The setup process of pairing the Sleepbuds was for the most part easy to complete using the Bose phone app once downloaded, but it felt a little fiddly getting the phone to notice the presence of the Sleepbuds once they were removed from the case (it may have been the way or order I was removing the Sleepbuds from the case) – do make sure to charge the Sleepbuds fully via the included USB as soon as you open the box – but otherwise the instructions are easy to follow. I discovered that you can configure options within the Bose Sleep app only one you have paired the Sleepbuds – the options are basic but is really all that’s needed (including phone free mode, light/dark mode, sleep timer and alert settings).
During use
The quality of the sounds and the Sleepbuds producing those sounds is excellent and it’s easy to change to another sound if the current one is not to your liking. There’s an independent in-app volume control. The Sleepbuds were basically comfortable to wear all night and to answer the most important question “did they help me fall asleep?” – Yes is the answer: I think they really help, not only to calm or relax you, but also to distract you as it’s often the case we’re thinking about something that may delay or prevent our sleep. Placing the Sleepbuds back in the case is easy and I appreciate the built-in magnet that keeps the Sleepbuds in place within the case.
Suggested improvements
Speed-up the time it takes to download/transfer sounds via the Bose Sleep app. Increase the storage space to allow for more sounds to be included. Increase the range of available sounds and even better allow users to transfer custom sounds or music so that they’re not restricted to only Bose’s sounds. Even though I found the Sleepbuds comfortable, make the material of the Sleepbuds even softer as some may feel the use of the Sleepbuds uncomfortable over a long period of time (even though they’re meant to be a temporary sleeping aid/you’re not expected to wear them the whole time). The mechanism of the top of the case could be a little more rigid/stiffer and the top on my case seems to be a tiny bit bigger in circumference than the rest of the case (something could potentially catch on and break the top if rubbed against something). The size of the case is good but given its size I would have thought a built-in battery to charge the Sleepbuds would have been possible (to save using a cable). The Sleepbuds are generally easy to pair and use, however the Bose Sleep app needs to be open before removing the Sleepbuds from the case.
Conclusion
The Bose Sleepbuds are probably one of – if not the – best products intended as a sleeping aid and do what they’re designed to do. They’re comfortable, a good size, the range of sounds is enough and most importantly helps you to fall sleep sooner. The battery life is sufficient, especially if you charge it once a day. The case is compact and helps to protect the Sleepbuds well. They’re wireless, easy to operate and my wife likes to use them from time to time.
Addendum: The case has a built in battery that provides a further two charges, so once fully charged there are 30 hours of charge in the Sleepbuds (10 hours) and the case (2×10 hours) that allow use when away from a power source.
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