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Whether you’re an ardent technophile or someone who’s just curious about the benefits of smart mattresses, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve spent countless hours researching about smart beds and I’ve also reviewed some of the best models on the market today. Here at Sleepline, our main goal is to help you get better sleep as soon as possible; and we’ve found smart beds to be extremely helpful for many reasons. Read the full article and find out how smart bed technology can change your life for the better.
How smart bed technology works
Smart bed technology offers two main benefits for sleepers: collecting relevant information as you sleep, and actively performing useful functions to improve your sleep.
Unlike traditional mattresses which require you to get used to it, smart bed technology was developed to adjust to your specific needs and help you optimize your sleep. For the past decade, smart mattresses have been revolutionizing the sleep of many people through features such as adjustable firmness levels, temperature control, and sleep tracking.
Although newer non-smart mattresses have been more than promising, hybrid or memory foam mattresses don’t have the cutting-edge sleep technology that’s been integrated in smart beds.
So how exactly do smart beds work?
Most smart bed features are usually app-controlled, but some models also have manually controlled components. Smart mattresses typically work by using sensors that gather and collect your sleep data to give you a clear idea on what you can do to improve your sleep.
For me, the most attractive thing about smart beds is that they allow for greater customization than you can ever get from a regular mattress. With the right smart mattress, you can improve your sleep quality by modifying its firmness, and also by adjusting its temperature.
Smart mattresses usually offer the following features:
- Temperature regulation
- Firmness configuration
- Sleep tracking
- Smartphone apps
- WiFi connectivity
I’ll go into more detail on each feature below.
Temperature regulation
Although not all smart beds offer a temperature control feature, there are a few smart bed manufacturers that specialize in actively cooling mattresses. Modern mattresses typically contain gel memory foam or gel-infused memory foam to provide cooling. And even though these materials work for absorbing body heat, they don’t actively cool the surface of a mattress.
So how does a smart bed regulate temperature? The answer is by using a water-based cooling system. You can now adjust your mattress and make it cooler or hotter depending on your needs.
Firmness configuration
Usually done through the use of adjustable air chambers, firmness configuration is the original smart bed feature. Since people have different body types and sleeping positions, there’s no single firmness level that’s perfect for everybody. Adjustable firmness helps you get the right setup regardless of your weight or sleep position.
Whether it’s making the mattress softer or firmer, you’re free to do whatever you want as long as it gives you the most comfort and support. This results in better and longer sleep and it keeps your body pain-free.
Some smart mattress models will even let you adjust the firmness on each side of the bed. This is the perfect feature for couples who have different firmness preferences or needs.
Customizing the firmness of a smart mattress can be done through a remote control or by using an app on your smartphone. Additionally, other smart beds can also automatically adjust their firmness based on your sleep habits and movements.
Sleep tracking
With the use of both pressure sensors and biometric sensors, smart beds track your sleep patterns and monitor things such as your breathing and heart rate. Newer models use more advanced technology which also monitors your sleep environment. This includes the temperature, light, and noise in your bedroom.
Smart beds gather all this information and provide you with feedback on the quality of your sleep. You can often view this through their connected apps where some smart mattresses provide a sleep score which helps you figure out how to enhance your sleep.
Smartphone apps
The most convenient thing about smart beds is that you can control them just by downloading an app on your phone. Depending on the brand, you can adjust a smart bed’s firmness, temperature, and other additional features using their integrated smartphone app.
You can also view your sleep data on these apps as well as insights on how you can adjust your sleep habits to get better and deeper sleep.
WiFi connectivity
Unlike older smart beds which could only be controlled using remotes, most modern smart beds have taken advantage of the increasing smart technology and WiFi connectivity. As I mentioned in the previous section, you can now connect a smart bed to your smartphone. You basically just need to download an app and you’ll have complete control over your smart bed and its features.
Is smart mattress technology worth it?
Here’s the deal, smart beds cost a lot because they use cutting-edge technology on top of high-end materials. The design and construction of smart beds are top-notch among the mattress industry. Buying a smart mattress is a sizable investment and you have to determine if it’s going to be worth it for your particular situation. Fortunately, we did all the hard work and research for you and I’ll be mentioning who should buy a smart mattress and who should avoid it below.
If you’re someone who wants to experience the best and latest sleep technology, a smart mattress is definitely a worthy investment. You can check out our best smart beds article for our top recommendations.
But, if you prefer the simplicity of a regular mattress that provides the comfort and support that you need, a smart bed is not for you.
Smart bed pros
- Couples with different firmness preferences
- Health-oriented individuals
- Hot sleepers
- Tech-savvy individuals
- Those with sleep disorders such as insomnia and narcolepsy
- People with chronic pain
- People who have extra cash to burn
Smart bed cons
- Budget shopper
- Someone who wants a simple and traditional mattress
- Fan of specific mattress types like memory foam or latex
FAQs
Smart beds can’t completely cure or fix sleep apnea. However, smart mattresses that feature adjustable bases can help lessen its symptoms by moving your head and upper body into an incline position.
Most smart bed brands have online stores that you can visit and order from. Although there are some brands that also have brick-and-mortar stores, a high-quality smart mattress can mostly be bought online.
Conclusion
All things considered, smart bed technology is certainly making waves in the mattress industry and it might be something you would like to try. We’ve reviewed a couples of smart beds in the last year and I have to say that it’s a completely different experience from sleeping on a regular foam or hybrid mattress. With features such as automatic firmness adjustments and temperature control, smart mattresses are perfect if you want to be in full control of your sleep and change your lifestyle for the better.
Next step: Read our Eight Sleep mattress review. Eight Sleep is the most popular smart bed for a reason. We like it because it’s easy to use, has great sleep tracking, and is excellent at temperature control. If you aren’t sure which smart bed to get, go with Eight Sleep.
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