Imagine slipping into bed, your mattress cooling to a crisp 55°F while a blanket warms your toes to a cozy 80°F. As you settle in, surround-sound speakers hum a soothing white noise track, lulling you into a meditative state. If you start to snore, the bed gently tilts your head to open your airways—without waking you. This isn’t a sci-fi fantasy; it’s the promise of Eight Sleep’s Pod 5, the latest iteration of a smart sleep system that’s part mattress, part personal sleep coach, and entirely extravagant. But at a starting price of $2,849 (and up to $6,099 for the full setup), plus a $199 annual subscription, is this high-tech cocoon worth the cost? Let’s dive into what makes the Pod 5 tick, why it’s turning heads, and whether it’s a game-changer for your sleep—or just a pricey gimmick.

Since bursting onto the scene in 2015, Eight Sleep has carved out a niche as the world’s self-proclaimed “first sleep fitness company.” Its mission? To transform your bed into a data-driven, AI-powered hub that optimizes sleep through temperature control, elevation, and biometric tracking. The company’s earlier Pods—mattress covers that heat or cool your bed while tracking heart rate and sleep patterns—have earned praise from tech enthusiasts, athletes, and even sleep-deprived journalists.

The Pod 5, launched on May 14, 2025, builds on its predecessors with two headline-grabbing upgrades: a hydro-powered blanket and integrated surround-sound speakers. Add to that a souped-up health monitoring system and a base that adjusts to your snoring, and you’ve got a sleep setup that feels like it’s ripped from a futurist’s playbook. But before we get too starry-eyed, let’s break down what’s new, what’s carried over, and what it all means for your nightly slumber.

What’s new in Pod 5?

A blanket that’s smarter than your thermostat

The star of the Pod 5 show is its hydro-powered blanket, a first for Eight Sleep. This isn’t your grandma’s electric blanket. Connected to the Pod’s mattress cover (a fitted sheet-like layer packed with water tubes), the blanket syncs to deliver precise temperature control from 55°F to 110°F. Like the cover, it offers dual-zone settings, so you and your partner can avoid those classic “I’m freezing!” versus “I’m roasting!” debates. The blanket wraps you in what Eight Sleep calls a “thermo-regulated cocoon,” doubling the thermal coverage compared to the Pod 4.

This immersive temperature control is powered by the Pod’s Hub, a bedside unit that pumps water through the cover and blanket. The Hub isn’t exactly sleek—it’s a bulky box that sits on the floor—but it’s the brains behind the operation, using AI to adjust temperatures based on your sleep stages, biometric data, and even room conditions. If you’re a hot sleeper (like me), the idea of a bed that stays cool all night is tantalizing. And for couples with different temperature preferences, the dual-zone setup could be a relationship saver.

Surround-sound for your dreams

The second big upgrade is a set of surround-sound speakers built into the Pod 5’s adjustable base. These aren’t just for blasting your favorite playlist (in fact, there’s no Bluetooth option to play your own audio). Instead, Eight Sleep has partnered with neuroscientist and podcaster Dr. Andrew Huberman to curate a library of Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) guided meditations. NSDR, a practice akin to yoga nidra, uses deep breathing and body visualization to lower heart rate and promote relaxation. Huberman’s tracks, exclusive to the Eight Sleep app, aim to guide you into a restorative state before sleep.

Beyond NSDR, the speakers offer white noise, pink noise, and other calming soundscapes designed to slow your nervous system. You can program the audio to fade out once the Pod’s sensors detect you’ve fallen asleep or keep playing all night. Reviewers, like those at The Shortcut, have compared the sound quality to an IMAX theater, with “deep bass and crystal-clear mids.” For anyone who relies on a white noise machine or meditation app to drift off, this integrated system could streamline your bedtime routine—assuming you’re okay with the app’s curated selection.

Health check: your bed as a doctor

Eight Sleep has always leaned hard into sleep tracking, using sensors in the mattress cover to monitor heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory rate, and sleep stages (REM, deep, light, and wake). The Pod 5 takes this a step further with Health Check, a new feature that uses AI-powered algorithms to flag cardiovascular and respiratory abnormalities. If your heart rate spikes or your breathing patterns shift—potential early signs of illness or stress—the Eight Sleep app will notify you in the morning.

Unlike wearable trackers like the Oura Ring or Apple Watch, the Pod 5’s health monitoring is passive, requiring no devices on your body. Eight Sleep claims its heart rate tracking is 99% accurate, matching clinical electrocardiograms (ECGs). The system builds a personal baseline over two to four weeks, alerting you to subtle changes that might indicate you’re about to get sick. For example, a rising heart rate or dropping HRV could signal an oncoming fever, as noted by Eight Sleep’s CEO, Matteo Franceschetti, in a Tom’s Guide interview. While these features aren’t FDA-approved for medical diagnosis, they position the Pod 5 as a preventative health tool—a bold claim for a mattress cover.

Zero-gravity elevation and snore detection

Carried over from the Pod 4 Ultra, the Pod 5’s adjustable base remains a standout. It fits under your existing mattress (or can stand alone with an optional leg kit) and uses sensors to detect snoring. When it does, the base gently elevates your head to open your airways, reducing snoring by up to 45%, according to Eight Sleep. This happens automatically, without disturbing you or your partner. The base also offers “zero-gravity” elevation modes for reading, relaxing, or relieving back pressure, which could be a boon for anyone with chronic pain or circulation issues.

Safety is a priority here. The base includes passive IR sensors to prevent it from moving if it detects heat or motion underneath (a relief for pet owners worried about curious cats). Buttons on each side of the cover let you tweak temperature, elevation, and audio volume without fumbling for your phone, a small but welcome upgrade from the Pod 4’s less intuitive tap zones.

The autopilot AI: your invisible sleep coach

Tying all these features together is Eight Sleep’s Autopilot, an AI engine trained on nearly 10 million hours of sleep data. Autopilot learns your sleep patterns, preferences, and biometric trends, making real-time adjustments to temperature, elevation, and sound. Had a tough workout? It might cool the bed to aid recovery. Snoring more than usual? It’ll tilt your head before you wake your partner. The system even accounts for external factors like room temperature or local weather, ensuring your bed stays optimized no matter the season.

This level of personalization is what sets Eight Sleep apart from traditional mattresses or basic sleep trackers. As Franceschetti puts it, “Pod 5 lets you sleep in a microclimate. We personalize all the environmental factors.” For tech nerds and data-driven sleepers, this is catnip. But it also raises questions about whether all this automation is necessary—or if it’s just overengineering a basic human need.

The catch: price and subscription

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the cost. The Pod 5 starts at $2,849 for the Core model, which includes just the mattress cover and Hub. Want the hydro-powered blanket? That’s $4,099. Go all-in with the adjustable base and speakers, and you’re looking at $6,099 for a queen size. (Full, king, and California king sizes are also available, with the Core model offered in full.) Oh, and don’t forget the mandatory subscription, which starts at $199 per year for access to the app’s full features, including Autopilot, Health Check, and the audio library.

To put that in perspective, a high-end traditional mattress from brands like Tempur-Pedic or Saatva typically costs $2,000 to $3,000, with no subscription required. Even smart mattresses like the Sleep Number 360, which also offer temperature control and sleep tracking, start closer to $3,000 without the need for a yearly fee. The Pod 5’s price tag is a tough pill to swallow, especially when you consider that it’s not a full mattress—just a cover, blanket, and base that work with your existing setup.

Eight Sleep does offer a 30-night trial with free shipping and priority upgrades for existing members, but the upfront investment is steep.

Who is the Pod 5 for?

The Pod 5 is a niche product, but it’s not hard to see who it’s targeting. If you’re a tech-savvy professional, an athlete, or someone who geeks out over sleep data, this system is designed to speak your language. It’s also a godsend for hot sleepers, couples with clashing temperature preferences, or anyone who struggles with snoring or back pain. The health monitoring features could appeal to health-conscious folks who want to catch potential issues early, without strapping on a wearable.

But for the average sleeper, the Pod 5 might feel like overkill. If you’re happy with a $20 white noise machine, a cooling mattress topper, and a free sleep-tracking app, you might not see the value in spending thousands on a smart bed. And while Eight Sleep claims the Pod can save $20 a month on electricity by reducing your reliance on AC or heating, that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the system’s cost.

Sleep tech in 2025

The Pod 5’s launch comes at a time when sleep tech is booming. From wearable trackers like the Oura Ring to AI-powered apps like Sleep Cycle, consumers are increasingly obsessed with optimizing their rest. Eight Sleep is betting big on this trend, with revenue reportedly growing tenfold since 2020 and plans to expand into China and Singapore, according to Bloomberg. The company’s CEO even hinted at an eventual IPO, signaling confidence in the growing demand for high-tech sleep solutions.

Yet, Pod 5 also highlights the challenges of the sleep tech market. At these prices, Eight Sleep risks alienating all but the wealthiest customers. And while features like NSDR meditations and AI health alerts sound cutting-edge, they’re only as good as their execution. Early reviews of the Pod 5 are promising but limited—full tests, like the one promised by The Shortcut, will tell us whether the blanket, speakers, and health tracking live up to the hype.

Eight Sleep’s Pod 5 is a bold leap forward for sleep technology, blending immersive temperature control, surround-sound relaxation, and AI-driven health monitoring into a single, futuristic package. For those who can afford it, it promises to transform your bed into a personalized sleep sanctuary, potentially delivering deeper rest and better health insights. But at $2,849 to $6,099, plus a yearly subscription, it’s a luxury reserved for the few. If you’re intrigued, the 30-night trial offers a low-risk way to test the waters—just be prepared for sticker shock.

For now, the Pod 5 is a glimpse into the future of sleep: a world where your bed knows you better than you know yourself. Whether that’s a dream come true or an overpriced novelty depends on your budget and your obsession with the perfect night’s rest.