How to sleep well? The best connected objects and apps to improve your sleep

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Sleep well is not within everyone's reach. But if you are a light sleeper, here are some connected objects and applications that can help you join the kingdom of Morpheus.

We spend almost a third of our lives sleeping, whether in our bed or elsewhere. Unsurprisingly, the world of Tech has taken a keen interest in sleep and therefore produces a number of accessories and software to help us sleep well, or at least sleep better.

Even Google uses the camera and microphones in its new Nest Hub to assess (in a somewhat voyeuristic way) the quality of your hours of sleep. We have therefore done a bit of sorting through this plethoric and often very gimmicky offer to select for you the best connected objects to improve your sleep.

The vast majority of connected bracelets and smartwatches also offer sleep tracking. Do not hesitate to read our selections if it is mainly this function that interests you.

Understanding your sleep to sleep well

Withings Sleep Analyzer

Not all sleep trackers come in the form of a bracelet. If you don't want to bother with this type of device, Withings is there for you with its Sleep Analyzer which is installed between the bed base and the mattress. Power is supplied via a 3 m USB cable, so be sure to have a socket within reach.

Once installed under your mattress, the Sleep Analyzer can be forgotten and produces a daily report on the length and quality of sleep. More moose, we have a follow-up of sleep apnea and snoring. As a bonus, the Withings app is a model of clarity.

A complete connected object that is more pleasant to use than a classic bracelet, but which is however quite expensive by being less versatile. Note that this sensor only measures one person, if your spouse wants tracking it will take a second.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5Tracking without breaking the bank

Inexpensive and easy to use , activity bracelets are a good way to track your sleep without breaking the bank. The Mi Smart Band 5 is no longer very young, but it remains a benchmark for us thanks to a design that is comfortable to wear and above all a low price.

Several colors are available for the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 // Source: Xiaomi

Beyond a dozen sports activities, the small bracelet is able to detect the different phases of sleep. We also really appreciate the possibility of deactivating automatic ignition at given times. This is perfect for those who tend to wake up easily from the light. The autonomy of almost two weeks is very solid.

The Mi Fit application, available on Android and iOS, will allow you to find all the data following the sessions, as well as sleep monitoring and stress level. Rarer: it also monitors the menstrual cycle and ovulation periods.

Xiaomi gives us here a simple and effective bracelet. We tell you more in the test of the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5.

Fitbit Versa 2The most versatile

If you want the best in terms of wrist tracking, you will have to switch to a real connected watch. Among the latter, it was Fitbit's Versa 2 that caught our attention.

Not only is it relatively thin, an important point if you can't wake up with something biting your wrist, but above all it offers a 6-day battery life. We will therefore not have to worry about charging it almost every day like an Apple Watch.

Notifications on the Fitbit Versa 2

The tracking provided by FitBit is impeccably accurate, with well-identified phases, but also put in parallel with the heart rate. Among the most original functions is an alarm clock adjusted according to the sleep phases. You enter a target wake-up time and the watch will attempt to wake you up in a REM sleep phase to minimize your head in the polish when getting up.

We obviously find all the classic sports monitoring functions. Note that a Fitbit Sense is also available and adds an integrated GPS and an electrocardiogram. However, it is sold almost twice as much, it's up to you to see if the game is worth the candle.

To fall asleep well

Terraillon Homni: the supercharged alarm clock

Known for its scales, Terraillon has been offering connected objects for a few years now believed to promote sleep. The Homni is the most advanced of them and comes as a smart bedside lamp.

In practice, we are in the presence of the fusion of an alarm clock, a night light and a white noise generator, all connecting via Bluetooth to the smartphone. An optional sensor that attaches to the pillow provides sleep monitoring.

The whole thing is quite convincing, with sound and light programs aimed at helping you relax before sleep. For the alarm clock, we will also have the right to a combo of light and sound for more softness.

If the software part is less developed than that of a FitBit, for example, the set may be of interest to those who want an all-in-one solution.

Bose Sleepbuds II: sound all night long

Known for its excellent audio products, Bose tried its hand at sleep in 2018 with its Sleepbuds, Bluetooth headphones offering relaxing sound loops to listen to all night long.

This second version is even more comfortable than the previous one thanks to its particularly compact size. On the other hand, holding them all night can be a concern. Your servant usually lost one or two in his sleep. And if we are not in the presence of active noise reduction, the insulation is particularly effective and masks a good part of the ambient noise.

Remaining concerns: if the proposed loops are of high quality, we still cannot personalize them or even use the Sleepbuds as simple headphones. A very well finished product, but also very expensive…

Meditation

Relaxing is always a good thing to fall asleep quickly and enjoy a restful sleep. Meditation is a good way to achieve this goal. And if meditation clearly did not wait for the arrival of technology to be practiced, there are apps to achieve mindfulness.

Meditate with Petit BamBou

Petit Bambou is THE benchmark for mediation apps in France. With a very careful design, it revolves around ten-minute sessions combining music and relaxing voices. The app itself is free and nine sessions are offered. Beyond that, it will cost you 42 euros every six months.

Namatata - Meditation in French

Are you a beginner? Namatata is here for you. Thought to facilitate the initiation to meditation, this application goes all out to help you learn the basics effectively. She also offers many specialized sessions to support you in stressful times. The first 7 days are free and the next six months are charged at 39 euros.

ASMR Apps

If you don't want to invest in hardware, some ASMR apps can be useful for relaxing and falling asleep. We've picked out two for you here, but take a look at our more comprehensive selection of ASMR apps.

Tingles - ASMR sleep-promoting sounds

Requiring a subscription, Tingles is a very clean app that provides a large catalog of sounds. A " Sleep Time " function allows playback to be stopped after a programmed duration.

Asmr Calm Relax Sleep

Not always easy to use, ASMR Calm Relax Sleep has the good taste of being free. In addition to offering a bank of sounds, it allows you to mix them to create a background sound to your liking.

Airplane mode

It's a bit of a joke, but the best way to sleep well is to be undisturbed. God knows how tempting it can be to open your eyes to check that latest notification or doomscroll Instagram to death (and we're not even going to mention Tik Tok).

To ensure a peaceful sleep, abuse iOS sleep mode and Android bedtime mode. Personally, I use the nuclear option by sticking my phone in airplane mode when I go to bed. And if the temptation is too strong: put your phone away from the bed. I promise, it works very well!

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