Sleep trackers put to the test: wristband vs. bedside
One straps on, one just sits on the nightstand. After six weeks of parallel tracking, the results were closer than we expected.
By Ada Renner · 2026-07-02
Sleep tracking promises self-knowledge while you're unconscious. We wore a wristband and ran a bedside sensor side by side for six weeks to see whether either earns a place in your bedroom.
What we found
- Sleep duration — both nailed it within minutes. The basics are solved.
- Sleep stages — the two frequently disagreed, which tells you how to treat those charts.
- The wearing problem — the bedside unit wins by demanding nothing; the band needs charging and commitment.
VerdictBuy whichever you'll actually use nightly — consistency beats precision. And treat the trend line, not any single night's score, as the signal.