The smallest noise can wake me up—slamming hotel doors, traffic outside the window, or a baby crying three rows back on a plane. For years, sleeping while traveling felt like a losing battle. I tried every kind of foam earplug imaginable, but none of them blocked noise well enough to make a real difference.
Then, a few years ago, I was introduced to Bose’s noise-masking sleepbuds, a revolutionary type of earbud designed to be worn while sleeping and play white noise designed to block out all sounds. I fell in love and immediately my sleep improved. Unfortunately, the Bose sleepbuds were plagued with issues, and I went through about three replacement sets with one or the other earbud dying before Bose discontinued the product.
Thankfully, several former Bose Sleepbuds engineers went on to create Ozlo Sleepbuds, carrying on the original idea while fixing what didn’t work. I switched to Ozlo Sleepbuds as soon as they launched, and after extensive use at home and while traveling, here’s my honest review.
Ozlo Sleepbuds Review
I’ve tested foam and silicone earplugs, Soundcore Sleep A20, Bose Sleepbuds, and Ozlo Sleepbuds—and Ozlo is easily my favorite. I use them every night at home, and never travel without them.
I have small ears, and the Bose and Ozlo Sleepbuds are the only options that don’t bother me at all, even when sleeping on my side. The buds sit completely flat in the ear, making them unobtrusive and comfortable in any sleeping position. They’re also discreet enough to wear on planes without feeling weird.
Ozlo includes multiple silicone eartip sizes so you can get a truly custom fit. Visually, the Ozlo Sleepbuds look very similar to the original Bose version, though the Ozlo buds feel slightly smaller, which I appreciate.
The charging case is another improvement. With the Bose Sleepbuds, I constantly had issues getting the buds to charge properly unless they were positioned just right. The Ozlo Sleepbuds snap easily into place every time, with no fiddling required. You can leave the case plugged in without damaging the battery, or get three to four nights of use without charging—perfect for travel.
Ozlo Sleepbuds Sound & App Experience
The Ozlo sound library will feel familiar to former Bose users, in the best way. You’ll find white noise, nature sounds, and ASMR-style tracks designed specifically to mask disruptive noise. My personal favorite is the rainstorm sound, which does an excellent job of drowning out everything, including snoring.
The app makes it easy to adjust volume, switch sounds, and set a private alarm that plays directly in the Sleepbuds. It’s ideal if you need to wake up early without disturbing a partner.
Battery Life & Reliability
I bought the Ozlo Sleepbuds shortly after launch, and within the first few months, one earbud completely stopped working. To Ozlo’s credit, customer service was excellent—they sent a replacement immediately, no hassle.
Since then, the replacement pair has worked flawlessly for over a year. Battery life has also improved with app updates. I now consistently get about 9 to 9.5 hours of runtime per night, which is enough for a full night’s sleep.
While you can use Ozlo Sleepbuds as regular Bluetooth earbuds for streaming music or podcasts, I personally only use them for sleep.
The Sleepbuds are designed to allow critical sounds, like fire alarms, to come through, and I can verify that when a false alarm shocked me out of sleep at 3 am, I had no trouble hearing it through the Sleepbuds. I tend to keep my Sleepbuds at about 49% volume, which is enough to block intrusive noises for me. Cranking them to 100% is far louder than what’s ideal for long-term ear health.
Ozlo Sleepbuds Pros and Cons
Pros
- Extremely comfortable, even for side sleepers
- Excellent noise masking for hotels, planes, city noise, and snoring
- Flat, low-profile design
- Improved charging case compared to Bose
- Long battery life (9-10 hours of streaming)
- Strong sound library with white noise, nature, and ASMR
- Private in-ear alarm feature
- Can be used to stream music or any other content
- Charging case lasts 3-4 days
- Great customer service
- Uses a USB-C charger
The Cons
- Expensive compared to basic earplugs
- Early versions had some reliability issues (now improved)
- If you do want to sleep for more than 9-10 hours, I find the Sleepbuds wake me up when they die.
Ozlo Sleepbuds for Side Sleepers
If you’re a side sleeper, Ozlo Sleepbuds are one of the best options available. Their low-profile design sits flush with the ear, so there’s no pressure or discomfort when your head is against a pillow. Unlike traditional earbuds, they don’t shift or dig into your ear during the night.
Ozlo Sleepbuds Vs. Bose
Ozlo Sleepbuds are essentially what Bose Sleepbuds should have been. They maintain the same comfort and sound quality while fixing the biggest pain points—charging reliability, battery life, and long-term durability. If you loved Bose Sleepbuds but were frustrated by constant replacements, Ozlo is the clear upgrade.
Ozlo Sleepbuds Vs. Soundcore Sleep
Compared to the Soundcore Sleep A20, Ozlo Sleepbuds win on comfort and fit, especially for smaller ears and side sleepers. Soundcore offers more traditional earbud features, but Ozlo excels at what matters most: sleeping comfortably and blocking noise effectively. You can read my full Soundcore Sleep review here.
Where to Buy
Ozlo Sleepbuds are available directly from Ozlo’s website for $349, but they frequently go on sale. They’re also available on Amazon. I’ve seen refurbished and open box Ozlos on Walmart if you’re looking for a deeper discount.
