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Ever wondered what it’s like to have a pair of earbuds designed just for sleep? The Kokoon NightBuds are built with that exact purpose in mind. They’re small, packed with tech, and designed to fit in your ears for nighttime use. This article takes a close look at their specs, breaking down what they’re made of, how they work, and what you can expect if you pop them in before bed. 

What Are the Kokoon NightBuds?

The Kokoon NightBuds are in-ear headphones built to play audio and block out some noise during the night. They’re not your typical earbuds for jamming out to music or taking calls on the go. Instead, they focus on blocking out noise and playing audio that helps you wind down. Paired with a companion app, they track basic info about your night through sensors. They come from Kokoon, a company that’s teamed up with Philips for some versions, though the NightBuds stand on their own as a distinct product.

What sets them apart? They’re slim, lightweight, and designed to stay put even if you’re a side sleeper. Plus, they’ve got some clever features like fading out audio when you drift off. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how they’re built and what they do.

Design and Build

Physical Specs

The NightBuds are tiny. Each earbud is just 5.4mm thick, about a fifth of an inch, which makes them one of the slimmest options out there for sleep earbuds. The whole setup, including the control unit that sits behind your head, weighs around 22.4 grams (0.79 ounces). That’s light enough that you’re not likely to feel them tugging on your ears while you’re trying to get comfortable.

• Height: 1.5 cm (0.59 inches)

• Width: 20.5 cm (8.07 inches, including the cable)

• Depth: 3 cm (1.18 inches)

The earbuds themselves are gray, a simple and neutral color that doesn’t stand out. They’re connected by a flexible, springy cable that wraps around your head, with a small control box sitting at the base of your neck. This box is curved to fit the shape of your neck and covered in soft silicone, so it’s not some clunky thing digging into you while you sleep.

Ear Tips and Fit

You get five sets of silicone ear tips with the NightBuds, ranging from extra small to large. Each set has a little wing-like piece that hooks into your ear to keep them secure. The idea is to find the size that fits you best, so they don’t slip out in the middle of the night. Swapping them out is straightforward, just pull off one set and snap on another. It’s a small detail, but it makes a difference if you’ve got smaller or larger ears.

The thin design is a big deal for side sleepers. At 5.4mm, they don’t stick out much, so your ear isn’t pressing awkwardly against the pillow. The cable’s zigzag shape also helps, it hugs your head without dangling loose or getting tangled up.

Tech Inside the NightBuds

Power and Battery Life

The NightBuds run on a 100mAh lithium-ion battery tucked into the control unit. Fully charged, they’ll last about 10 hours of playback. That’s enough to get you through a full night, maybe even with some extra time for a slow morning. Charging happens via a USB-C port on the control box, and it comes with a short USB-C cable in the box.

Here’s how it works in practice:

1. Plug them into a USB power source (like a wall adapter or laptop).

2. A green LED flashes four times to show charging’s started.

3. Once full, the light either stays solid or pulses green, depending on the firmware version.

You can’t use them while they’re plugged in, but a quick five-minute charge gives you enough juice to start, though an hour is better if you want them to last all night. Checking the battery level is easy through the MyKokoon app.

Connectivity

These earbuds use Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to your phone or tablet. That’s a solid standard, nothing cutting-edge, but it’s reliable and keeps the connection steady up to about 10 meters (33 feet). Pairing is simple: hold down the power button on the control unit, and it’ll show up in your device’s Bluetooth menu. The app helps with setup, but you don’t need it to listen to audio.

One catch: if another paired device is nearby, it might snag the connection. If that happens, you’d have to unpair and reconnect to your preferred device.

Audio and Controls

The NightBuds use balanced armature drivers instead of the more common dynamic drivers. These are tiny components with a reed between two magnets that vibrates to produce sound. They’re not built for booming bass or crystal-clear highs like music-focused earbuds, but they handle podcasts, soundscapes, and white noise just fine.

The control unit has three buttons:

• A multifunction button for power and play/pause.

• Volume up and down buttons on either side.

There’s also a microphone built in, so you could technically take calls, though that’s not really their main gig. The focus here is audio for relaxation, not chatting.

Sleep Features: What Makes Them Special

Noise Masking

The NightBuds don’t have active noise cancellation (ANC), which uses tech to cancel out sound waves. Instead, they rely on passive noise masking. The silicone tips block some outside noise by sealing your ear canal, and the audio you play, like white noise or gentle soundscapes, covers up the rest. It’s not total silence, but it’s enough to muffle things like traffic or a partner’s snoring.

Sleep Sensing

A standout feature is the sleep-sensing tech. The right earbud has an optical heart rate sensor that shines an infrared light into your ear to track your heart rate and its variability. The MyKokoon app uses this data to estimate when you might be winding down. When it detects that shift, it fades out whatever you’re listening to, say, a podcast or meditation, and switches to white noise to keep disturbances at bay.

This isn’t about diagnosing anything; it’s just a way to tweak your audio experience based on how awake or asleep you seem. The app also logs basic info, like how long you used them and a simple summary of the night, though it’s not super detailed.

The Kokoon App

The NightBuds pair with the MyKokoon app, which is where a lot of their functionality lives. You get a 12-month premium membership included with purchase, giving you access to:

• A library of soundscapes (think waves, rain, or campfires).

• Guided meditations and binaural beats.

• The ability to stream your own audio from apps like Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

The app’s smart fade-out kicks in when the sleep sensor picks up that you’re nodding off. It’s handy if you don’t want to miss part of an audiobook but still want a quiet night. You can also tweak settings, check battery life, and see your sleep summary each morning.

What’s in the Box?

When you unbox the NightBuds, you’ll find:

1. The earbuds themselves with medium tips pre-installed.

2. Four extra sets of silicone tips (XS, S, M wings, L).

3. A USB-C charging cable.

4. A slim fabric carrying case.

5. A quick-start guide.

It’s a no-frills package, but it covers the essentials. The case is light and keeps everything together, though it’s not heavy-duty, good for tossing in a bag, not for serious protection.

Extra Bits and Pieces

Accessories

Kokoon offers add-ons you can grab separately:

• NightMask

• The Nest Pillow

• Pillow Mist

These aren’t tied to the NightBuds’ specs but can pair with them for a fuller sleep setup.

Pricing and Packages

The NightBuds come in a couple of buying options:

• Single unit: €216.95 (£215.99).

• Couple’s package (two pairs): €378.95 (£not listed, but similar range).

You can split the cost over three months interest-free, which breaks down to about €72.31 per payment for the single unit. Shipping’s free and takes 2-4 days in places like Ireland and the UK.

Limitations

They’re not perfect. There’s no ANC, so loud environments might still seep through. The battery life is decent but not standout, and you’ll need to charge them daily if you use them every night. The sleep tracking is basic, don’t expect in-depth analysis like you’d get from a fitness tracker.

Another Choice for Calm Nights

Ozlo Sleepbuds®

An amazingly restful and peaceful sleep every night, free from distractions and noise, is the greatest gift you can give!

What are Ozlo Sleepbuds?

Ozlo is a science-driven, one-stop-shop for the best sleep of your life. Unlike other headphones and earbuds, our tiny Sleepbuds® are engineered to be super comfy, even for side sleepers, while blocking out sleep-disrupting sounds.
Sleepbuds® play audio for up to ten hours, letting you enjoy our noise-masking tracks or stream anything you like, including audiobooks, podcasts, white noise, and YouTube.

The Ozlo Difference

At Ozlo, we're dedicated to helping you achieve the best sleep possible through innovative audio solutions. Our company, founded by three former Bose engineers, focuses on creating products that not only help you fall asleep, but stay asleep throughout the night.

Ozlo Sleepbuds® simply don’t feel like other earbuds. Sleepbuds stay in place even when you toss and turn. The tiny earbuds, with their comfortable silicone tips and anchor-in-place wings, are designed for all-night comfort, no matter your sleeping position. Sleep on your back, side, or whatever works for you, and Ozlo Sleepbuds® will remain in place throughout the night.

Key Highlights

• Founded by three former Bose engineers with extensive experience in audio tech
• Sleepbuds® actively mask unwanted sounds like snoring, traffic, and environmental noises with calming, science-backed audio.
• Ultra-soft silicone tips designed to support every sleeping position, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit.
• Up to 10 hours of continuous use with extra charges from the Smart Case.
• Built-in biometric and environmental sensors offering personalized sleep reports
• Personal alarm gently wakes you without disturbing your partner

Learn More

Conclusion

So, there you have it, a full rundown of what the Kokoon NightBuds bring to the table. They’re tiny, thoughtful earbuds with a slim design that fits snugly and a feature that fades out audio based on sensor data. Whether it’s the 10-hour battery keeping you covered or the soft silicone tips staying put while you roll around, these little guys show a lot of care went into the details. They’re not about drowning out the world completely or giving you a fancy report, but they let you enjoy your chosen audio in a quieter setup.

For anyone curious about tweaking their nighttime routine, the NightBuds offer a practical mix of comfort and tech without overcomplicating things. They sit alongside options like the Ozlo Sleepbuds, but with their own vibe, super slim, app-driven, and focused on easing you into the night. It’s all about what clicks for you, and now you’ve got the scoop to figure out if these earbuds might fit the bill.

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