NextSense launches Smartbuds to help prevent 3 a.m. wake-ups.

NextSense's Smartbuds use six EEG sensors and timed audio to detect brain activity and play targeted soundscapes intended to return users to deep sleep; in a 106-night beta the company reported increased slow-wave activity and about half of participants saying their sleep was improved.

NextSense has introduced Smartbuds, earbuds that combine EEG monitoring with precisely timed audio to address middle-of-night awakenings. The company says the device monitors brainwave changes and plays proprietary soundscapes aimed at reinforcing slow-wave, deep sleep. In controlled beta testing over 106 nights, NextSense reports increased slow-wave activity and that nearly half of participants described their sleep as better or much better. The earbuds also work as regular headphones and connect to an app that shows when audio interventions occurred. Key details: - The Smartbuds use six EEG sensors to detect light sleep, REM sleep, and deep sleep and to identify when a user may be close to waking. - When brain signals indicate an impending wake-up, the device plays proprietary soundscapes timed to support slow-wave activity; the company highlights precise timing and volume control as important. - NextSense reports that in a 106-night controlled beta the earbuds increased slow-wave activity and that about 50% of participants reported improved sleep. - The product price is listed at $399.99, with an early-bird offer of $249; purchases include a Fit Kit subscription with the first three months free and a $14.99 monthly fee thereafter as reported. - Additional features include nap mode, meditation settings, calming soundscapes, and traditional sleep-tracking metrics such as a slow-wave count. - NextSense describes the Smartbud as a platform that could be applied beyond sleep, for example in memory or learning support. Summary: NextSense presents the Smartbuds as a device that moves beyond tracking to actively modulate sleep by detecting brain activity and delivering timed audio to reinforce slow-wave sleep, with reported beta results showing increased slow-wave activity and subjective improvement for many participants. The company has an early-bird offer and says it plans to expand the platform to other applications; broader rollout timing and long-term outcomes are undetermined at this time.