Why we like them
The Ozlo Sleepbuds are impressively effective at their job: getting you to bed. Once the Sleepbuds are in your ears, they produce noise-masking (not noise-canceling) white noise that’s dialed at the perfect volume to reduce external distractions and help you quickly fall asleep (and you don’t even need to connect them with a phone or the app for this to work). My bedroom overlooks a bustling Brooklyn street that is always polluted with noise, like police sirens, screaming ambulances, neighbors singing and celebrating into the wee hours of the night, and pedestrians yelling at each other. These earbuds simplified my descent into sleep — I put these earbuds in and couldn’t hear a song or chatter outside my window.
If you download the app, you can customize your sleep sounds with up to 10 to choose from, set up an alarm in the earbuds, and put a timer on the earbuds for them to shut down after you’ve gone to bed. Some features, like sleep tracking, will also be coming soon in an over-the-air app update.
As far as comfort goes, you won’t find a sleep earbud that’s more comfortable to sleep in. This is thanks to the stabilizing ear wings that keep the buds in place without additional pressure buildup (that tends to cause soreness and sensitivity). I’m a side sleeper and found these the most comfortable to wear as I turned from one side of my head to the other. In my review, I write that they dissolved into my ears, becoming nearly invisible as I fell asleep, which is all that you really want out of a sleep earbud.
Who should buy them
Of course, $300 is still a pretty penny to pay for a decent night of uninterrupted sleep. But the Ozlo Sleepbuds are the best earbuds for a reason: they have a thoughtful design, are an effective sound-masking technology, and are a comfortable fit that makes me want to wear them every night.
If I could describe the Ozlo Sleepbuds’ perfect customer, it would be someone who has a noisy partner or bedroom conditions that prevent them from easily falling asleep. They have some money to spend on the finest sleep earbuds on the market. Maybe they’re a side sleeper and are seeking out a sleep earbud that will feel comfortable as they lie on their side.
Who should look elsewhere
If $350 is too much to spend right now, I’d suggest the Anker A20 sleep earbuds, which also produce noise-masking soundscapes and offer a flat, comfortable fit, but are half the price.
Also: I actually want to put these $350 sleep earbuds in my ears every night
Ozlo Sleepbuds tech specs: Form factor: Earbuds | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Battery: 10 hours in the earbuds | Fit: In-ear
