Oslothe sleep headphone startup from former Bose engineers is launching its next device. On Tuesday, the company introduced the Sleepbuds 2, an updated version of its original product that addresses key areas of improvement, including battery life, connectivity and sound quality. The new model costs $279, a $30 increase from the original Sleepbuds, which were $249 last month with an MSRP of $349.
The launch marks Ozlo’s first major update since the launch of its original device and reflects the company’s evolution from a continuation of the Bose brand to its own sleep platform.
The original Sleepbuds, released in late 2024, were intended to fill the hole left by Bose’s exit from the category the previous year. Ozlo co-founders NB Patil, Brian Mulcahey and Charlie Taylor were Bose veterans who had been deeply involved with the Sleepbuds program and saw the potential to take the business forward. These acquired and licensed the Sleepbuds research and IP to their new company, Ozlo, making its first product essentially a continuation of Bose’s previous efforts.
The original headphones, which now have more than 200,000 customers, were smaller and more low-profile than AirPods. This made them more comfortable to wear at night, especially for side sleepers. They also offered built-in sleep sounds, Bluetooth streaming, passive noise cancellation, in-ear alarm, sleep tracking, and other features.
The Sleepbuds 2 promise a number of improvements, including, most notably, 14 hours of battery life instead of around 10 hours. Additionally, the charging case can now store enough power for two to three nights of use per charge, and adds a button that lets users play a sleep sound or snooze the alarm without reaching for their phone.
The update also addresses one of the biggest customer complaints: Bluetooth connectivity, which could be patchy, though software updates have improved it over time. Ozlo claims the Sleepbuds 2 offer longer Bluetooth range, a more reliable connection and dedicated pairing controls for faster setup. The improvements come from a redesigned antenna and extension, Ozlo said.
The audio system has also been updated with an integrated amplifier for better sound coverage and improved sound quality. Personalized Audio Tuning is also new, optimizing audio for specific use cases, such as Spoken Word, Airplane mode and Focus mode, in addition to Balanced mode.
Another new feature is Sleep Shield, which will block incoming calls, notifications, notifications and Bluetooth audio streaming. This works if the user hasn’t already enabled their phone’s built-in sleep focus feature.
Ozlo’s sleep insights have been expanded to include more details about sleep patterns. Biometrics in the buds track breathing and movement, while the case monitors room conditions such as sound levels, light and temperature. This can help users learn which sleep environments lead to deeper, more restorative sleep, helping them improve their sleep over time.
The company outlined its plans to become a broader platform for sleep data during an interview with TechCrunch at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, including plans to use artificial intelligence to better interpret users’ sleep patterns. It’s also developing an AI “sleep buddy” that users could chat with about their sleep data.
To kick off the launch, Ozlo is offering a sleep mask and travel case with every purchase for a limited time. The $279 Sleepbuds 2 also come with four pairs of silicone tips in different sizes, the charging case and a USB-C cable.
Additionally, I purchased my own Ozlo Sleepbuds after reading initial product reviews and found them to be an effective tool for blocking out noise and streaming audio and music, and much more comfortable than sleeping on my AirPods. They never fell out overnight.
However, I’ve found that I prefer streaming from the Calm app rather than using Ozlo’s built-in sounds. (Apparently, I’m not alone: Ozlo and Calm collaborating (in a co-branded affair last year that included a year’s subscription to Calm’s library of sleep sounds, stories and other sleep experiences.)
I can’t wait to try out the new Sleepbuds 2 to see if they’re worth the upgrade for an existing Sleepbuds owner like myself.
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