Bose Sleepbuds 2 vs Amazfit ZenBuds (2021): Which Earbuds Is Better For Sleep?

For many of us, a good night’s sleep is a luxury. If you’re one of many light sleepers, in particular, who are kept awake by even the littlest of noises, then any way to block out these distractions is a welcome change. Thankfully, today’s earplugs are no longer static devices. The Bose Sleepbuds 2 and Amazfit ZenBuds are among the few modern earbuds specifically designed for sleep.

Bose’s latest buds combine new acoustics and battery for improved, all-night reliability. The ZenBuds, on the other hand, include smart features that make it a more all-around device. A glance at their specs and their design, however, show fairly similar devices. So which one is better? Read our comparison below to find out which wireless earbuds for sleep you should get.

Bose Sleepbuds 2 vs Amazfit ZenBuds Comparison Chart

Design and Comfort

The Bose Sleepbuds 2 and Amazfit ZenBuds are both lightweight, ergonomic, and sophisticated-looking earbuds.

When it comes to design, the Bose Sleepbuds 2 and Amazfit ZenBuds more closely resemble today’s wireless earbuds than your traditional earplugs. The big difference, however, is in the ergonomics. Since they’re specifically made for sleep, they need to be secure and comfortable enough even when you’re tossing and turning in bed.

Now, both devices make use of an umbrella-shaped earbud tip to block off the noise. This design also means the earbuds extend deeper into the ear canal to make for a better seal. However, it can also feel a little invasive at times. It’s a good thing the Sleepbuds 2 and ZenBuds are both lightweight devices—2.2 grams and 1.78 grams, respectively. This helps minimize the fatigue from wearing them.

For a snug fit, the Amazfit ZenBuds make use of an elongated U-shaped tip to nestle comfortably across the ear ridge. In contrast, the Bose Sleepbuds 2 sports a fin-like tip that, like the ZenBuds, is made of flexible silicone. The ZenBuds come with four tip sizes out-of-the-box, while the Sleepbuds 2 include three pairs.

Like most leading wireless earbuds, you get a charging case with these devices. The Bose Sleepbuds 2’s case features a circular form factor and a sophisticated neutral color palette. Even its warm LED indicators follow this new design aesthetic. Meanwhile, the ZenBuds’ case makes use of a rotatable mechanism in a minimalist form and finish. Both the Sleepbuds 2 and ZenBuds are only available in white.

Noise Masking

The Sleepbuds 2 and ZenBuds make use of passive noise blocking, and noise-masking sounds.

Both the Bose Sleepbuds 2 and Amazfit ZenBuds rely on its in-ear design for passive noise blocking. These earbuds then play noise-masking sounds and music to help block off the noise. The tracks are available through the respective Bose Sleep, and Zepp apps but can be stored on the buds as well.

Due to the size of these earbuds, active noise cancellation (ANC) isn’t practical to incorporate into the device. Bose also shares ANC is usually better for environments with constant low-frequency sound—like the public transit or a not-so-quiet café. But if you’re trying to block off loud noises like a car horn or a blaring snore, for example, noise-masking is the way to go.

Bose Sleepbuds 2

The Sleepbuds 2’s sound library currently includes several masking tracks to cover up traffic sounds, street noise, chatter, and of course, snoring. Coming from the first series of Sleepbuds, however, Bose has since then expanded the selection to include Tranquilities and Naturescapes. The former offers relaxing tracks to help people get to sleep, while the latter takes inspiration from the soothing sounds of nature. Bose has shared that more content will be added to the sound library through future software updates.

Amazfit ZenBuds

Amazfit’s ZenBuds, on the other hand, boasts of a more extensive catalog of sleep-inducing and white-noise sounds to drown out the distractions. Mose of these tracks simulates different relaxing scenarios or natural environments. Among them are seabird calls that evoke a seaside calm and stringed instruments that recall the quiet countryside. There is even an ASMR option for that tingling sensation. Only official music from the Zepp app, however, can be uploaded to the earbuds.

Other Features

Amazfit’s ZenBuds offer more smart features compared to the Bose Sleepbuds 2.

Given the seal these earbuds create, is there a way to hear your alarm while wearing either the Sleepbuds 2 or the ZenBuds? Fortunately, both companies have included an in-ear alarm feature in these devices. It works both ways, too — you don’t wake up from another person’s alarm, while the other person doesn’t hear yours.

How about important alerts like smoke alarms or even intruders? As expected, one’s awareness of his or her surroundings is lessened while wearing these devices. To solve this, Bose allows users to set a timer to stop the noise masking after a certain amount of time, typically once you’re already asleep. You can also set alerts to remind you not to go above a particular volume level.

Users can similarly adjust the playback duration of music on the ZenBuds, just like with the Sleepbuds 2. However, the Amazfit device does Bose’s better with its auto-stop feature. Essentially, the ZenBds will automatically detect when you’re asleep and pause playing — no timers needed.

But the smart features don’t end there. Amazfit is best known for its sports and fitness devices, so true to this, the ZenBuds are also equipped with sleep monitoring tech. The earbuds can track heart rate, sleep position, and sleep quality. Users can then view the data on the Zepp app.

Battery Life

These sleep earbuds will more often than not last the night.

The Bose Sleepbuds 2’s predecessor—the Sleepbuds 1—had a lot of promise but were discontinued because of battery issues. Although the cutting-edge silver-zinc battery delivered 16 hours of runtime, there were also unexpected shutdowns. On the Sleepbuds 2, Bose returns to a more conventional yet reliable nickel-metal hydride battery. It only offers up to 10 hours of battery life, but at least you’re sure it will last the night.

Amazfit’s ZenBuds, on the other hand, make use of lithium-ion batteries that can deliver up to 12 hours of battery life. Take note these stats are based on using the buds playback duration mode for 3 hours with the sleep monitoring working all night. If you turn off the sleep monitoring feature and opt for the unlimited duration mode, you get around 8 hours of battery life instead.

Both the Bose Sleepbuds 2 and Amazfit ZenBuds come with a USB Type-C charging cable. Charging the Sleepbuds 2’s case takes about 3 hours, while the earbuds need about 6 hours before being fully charged. The ZenBuds, on the other hand, claims a charge time of 2.5 hours.

Verdict

The Amazfit ZenBuds offers more features than the Bose Sleepbuds 2, while also costing less.

The Sleepbuds 2 successfully refreshes Bose’s series of wireless earbuds for sleep. The original earbuds were hampered by battery issues that kept them out of the limelight. With the new Bose Sleepbuds 2, you get a product that has learned its lessons and applied them. The Sleepbuds 2 is a sophisticated and ergonomic device that now reliably delivers what it advertises.

Meanwhile, the Amazfit ZenBuds offers one of the few competitors of Bose. It works the same way as the Sleepbuds while also following a similar design aesthetic. But the lightweight and minimalist device carves its own identity by incorporating smart features, including auto-stop and sleep monitoring. It also boasts a longer battery life.

Between the two, we’re inclined to recommend the ZenBuds not only for its additional features but also because it retails a hundred dollars less than the Sleepbuds 2. So unless you have deep pockets to splurge on some Bose earplugs, you’ll get a good night’s sleep having saved money on the Zenbuds, instead.

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