Bose Sleepbuds Are Discontinued: What to Use Instead

If you searched for Bose Sleepbuds and landed here, there is something you should know first: Bose no longer makes them. The Sleepbuds II were discontinued in 2023 when Bose exited the sleep audio category. So the real question is not "should I buy Sleepbuds?" It is "what should I use instead?" Here is an honest map of your options in 2026.

What Happened to Bose Sleepbuds?

The short version: the original Sleepbuds launched in 2018 and were pulled after widespread battery problems, with Bose offering refunds. The improved Sleepbuds II arrived in 2020 and earned a loyal following. Then, in 2023, Bose discontinued them and left the sleep category entirely.

If you own a working pair of Sleepbuds II, they may keep functioning for now, but there is no guarantee of long-term app support, and you cannot buy them new. Secondhand pairs still circulate online, but buying discontinued in-ear electronics with worn batteries and uncertain app support is a gamble we would not take.

The Direct Successor: Ozlo Sleepbuds

The closest thing to Bose Sleepbuds today is not made by Bose. Ozlo was founded by former Bose engineers who continued where Sleepbuds II left off. The Ozlo Sleepbuds add biometric sensors and a personal alarm, and they cost around $299 (or a monthly plan).

If what you loved about Bose Sleepbuds was the sealed fit and engineered noise masking, Ozlo is the truest replacement. We wrote a full breakdown on our Lullabar vs Ozlo page, including the categories where Ozlo wins.

The Budget In-Ear Option: Soundcore Sleep

Anker's Soundcore Sleep series (A20 and A30) brings the sleep earbud concept to a lower price, roughly $150 to $200. The A30 adds active noise cancelling, which the Bose Sleepbuds never had. They are well made, and for loud environments or heavy snoring, a sealed bud with ANC blocks more noise than anything that sits outside your ears.

The trade-off is the same one Bose owners knew well: something sits inside your ear canal all night. Smaller than regular earbuds, yes. Invisible to a side sleeper over eight hours, no. See our full Lullabar vs Soundcore comparison.

The No-Ear Option: A Pillow Speaker

Every product above shares one assumption: sleep audio must come from inside your ear. A pillow speaker rejects that assumption. The Lullabar is an 11mm-slim speaker that slips under your pillowcase and plays sound through the pillow itself. You hear it. Your partner does not. Nothing touches your ears.

Where it wins over any sleep earbud: comfort (nothing in your ears to feel, lose, or clean), simplicity (11 built-in sounds, no app required, plus Bluetooth for Spotify or Calm), and price (under $100, one-time).

Where it loses, honestly: it does not seal your ears, so it masks noise with sound rather than blocking it. If your main enemy is a loud snorer or thin hotel walls, a sealed bud like Ozlo or the Soundcore A30 blocks more. Some people pair Lullabar with soft foam earplugs for the worst nights.

Which One Should You Choose?

• You loved Bose Sleepbuds and want the same experience: Ozlo Sleepbuds. Same lineage, same sealed-fit masking, plus sensors.
• You want sealed buds without the $299 price: Soundcore Sleep A20 or A30.
• You never got comfortable with things in your ears: a pillow speaker. This is the option built for side sleepers and anyone who quit earbuds.
• Your main problem is a snoring partner in the same bed: sealed buds block more, but a pillow speaker lets you mask the sound while keeping one ear free for alarms and kids. Our guide on sleeping with a snoring partner covers the full toolkit.

The Bottom Line

Bose leaving the category was not the end of sleep audio. It split the market in two directions: premium in-ear masking (Ozlo, Soundcore) and out-of-ear comfort (pillow speakers). Which side you land on comes down to one question: do you sleep better with your ears sealed, or with nothing touching them at all?

If it is the second, the Lullabar comes with a 30-night trial, free shipping, and a 1-year warranty. Test it on your own pillow. If it does not help, send it back.