What is Eight Sleep (8Sleep)?
Key Findings
Eight Sleep offers a high-tech mattress system that actively regulates bed temperature, tracks your sleep patterns, and uses smart algorithms to optimise your rest and recovery. The core device is the Pod mattress or cover, which combines hydro-cooling/heating with sensors, a mobile app, and optional subscription features.
Eight Sleep: The Bed Cooling System
If you have heard about Eight Sleep and wondered exactly what it is, the answer is: a futuristic “sleep-fitness” platform wrapped inside a mattress.
Using its advanced technology, it monitors your sleep, adjusts the temperature on each side of the bed, and provides data so you can improve how you sleep.
What Makes Eight Sleep Stand Out
Eight Sleep is more than just a mattress. It uses a built-in network of sensors and a water-based heating/cooling system called the Active Grid in its Pod cover. The system can heat or cool the bed surface in a wide range of temperatures (from around 55°F to 110°F), depending on the model and size.
The companion app lets you:
Adjust your ideal sleep temperature in one-degree increments.
Track sleep metrics like time asleep, sleep latency, heart rate, breathing rate and cycles of deep sleep.
Automate temperature changes through “Autopilot” mode, which adapts across the night.
For couples, each side of the bed can have separate temperature settings, resolving conflicts between hot sleepers and cold sleeper.
How It Works
You set up the Pod system over your mattress (or use the full mattress version) and fill or connect its water-hub. Installation is definitely more intensive than a standard mattress.
The sensors inside the grid track your body’s temperature, heart rate, and other biometric signals. These feed into the app and machine-learning system.
Based on your preferences and data, the system can pre-cool or pre-heat your bed before you lie down, adjust mid-night for optimal deep sleep, or wake you gently with a change in temperature or vibration.
Over time, it learns your sleep pattern and may improve how you fall asleep, how long you stay in deep sleep, and how refreshed you feel upon waking. Reviewers observed meaningful changes in sleep latency and deep sleep duration.
Benefits & Considerations
Like any piece of advanced technology, Eight Sleep offers several impressive benefits but also comes with a few practical considerations. Understanding both sides will help you decide whether the investment aligns with your sleep goals and lifestyle.
Benefits include:
Better temperature regulation throughout the night (important because body temperature drop helps initiate sleep)
Potential for deeper sleep and faster onset of sleep, per user testing and reviews
Strong support for couples with differing temperature needs in the same bed
Built-in sleep tracking without needing a wearable device
Considerations include:
High cost: Smart mattress systems from Eight Sleep can start in the multiple-thousand-dollar range, depending on size and model.
Subscription model: Some advanced features (such as full “Autopilot” and sleep data analytics) may require ongoing subscription fees.
Setup complexity: Installation involves water-hub, tubing, mattress cover fitting and space for the hub system.
It is still a sleep aid product: While it helps optimise conditions, it is not a medical cure for sleep disorders such as severe sleep apnea—those require specialised medical treatment.
Who Might Benefit Most?
Eight Sleep is designed for people who take their rest seriously and want to improve both comfort and performance through data. While anyone can enjoy its temperature regulation and smart features, certain types of users will find it particularly valuable.
Anyone who struggles with night sweats or feeling too hot or too cold in bed
Couples where one partner tends to be hot and the other cold
People interested in quantified self / biohacking / tracking sleep metrics
High-performance individuals (athletes, busy professionals) who recognise sleep as a key performance metric
Those who already have a good mattress and want to enhance sleep environment and tracking
Final Thoughts: What Is Eight Sleep?
Eight Sleep is a premium smart bed system designed for anyone serious about improving sleep through technology, data and comfort.
It pairs state-of-the-art temperature control with sleep analytics to help you fall asleep faster, sleep deeper and wake up more refreshed. If you are considering it, weigh the cost, ongoing subscription and whether the features match your sleep goals.
For the right person, it can be a game-changer in sleep-fitness.
Article FAQ
How does Eight Sleep work?
Eight Sleep uses a water-based system called the Active Grid to regulate your bed temperature throughout the night. The Pod mattress or cover connects to a hub that circulates warm or cool water, while embedded sensors track your sleep, heart rate, and movement. The companion app then analyses this data and automatically adjusts temperature to optimise your sleep quality.
Can Eight Sleep detect sleep apnea?
Eight Sleep cannot diagnose sleep apnea or other medical conditions. However, it can track sleep patterns and metrics such as heart rate, breathing rate, and sleep stages. If you notice irregular patterns or frequent wake-ups in your data, it may be worth discussing these results with a healthcare professional for proper testing.
How cold can Eight Sleep get?
Depending on the model, Eight Sleep can cool your bed surface to around 55°F (13°C). This temperature range helps hot sleepers and athletes reduce overheating at night, promoting deeper and more restorative rest. Each side of the bed can also be set to different temperatures, making it ideal for couples.
Why is Eight Sleep so expensive?
Eight Sleep is a premium sleep system that combines advanced temperature regulation, biometric sensors, and smart algorithms. The high cost reflects the hardware complexity, software development, and research behind its features. Many users consider it an investment in long-term sleep quality, energy, and recovery.
Does Eight Sleep use electricity all night?
Yes, but only a small amount. The system runs continuously to circulate water and maintain your chosen temperature. It is energy efficient compared to room heating or cooling systems and automatically adjusts to use minimal power once it reaches the target temperature.
Is Eight Sleep worth it?
For those who struggle with temperature regulation, disrupted sleep, or inconsistent recovery, Eight Sleep can make a noticeable difference. It provides data-driven insights and customizable comfort, making it particularly valuable for athletes, tech enthusiasts, or anyone serious about improving sleep quality.
