NextSense Smartbuds bring EEG brain sensors to wireless earbuds for the first time
- NextSense Smartbuds are the first truly wireless earbuds with built-in EEG sensors.
- The $399.99 earbuds ($249 early-bird pricing) measure brain activity during sleep and deliver timed audio stimulation to enhance deep sleep quality.
- Smartbuds require an iPhone 12 or newer and include a mandatory Fit Kit subscription ($14.99/month after three free months).
NextSense has officially launched Smartbuds, bringing electroencephalography (EEG) brain-sensing technology to truly wireless earbuds for the first time. The $399.99 earbuds ship now with early-bird launch pricing of $249.
EEG sensors have appeared in headphones before—most notably through Neurable’s partnerships with Master & Dynamic on the MW75 Neuro—but NextSense marks the first implementation in a wireless earbud form factor. Where Neurable’s approach focused on tracking and training conscious focus during waking hours, NextSense is using EEG data to actively improve deep sleep at night. I got hands-on time with Smartbuds at CES 2026, where the company demonstrated the technology’s transition from over-ear designs to the more compact earbud chassis.
The earbuds use six EEG sensors to detect brain activity in real time, measuring when users enter light sleep, deep sleep, or begin waking. Unlike traditional sleep trackers that infer sleep stages from movement or heart rate data, Smartbuds measure actual brain wave patterns. The system then delivers timed audio frequencies designed to strengthen slow-wave sleep—the deep sleep phase associated with physical recovery and memory consolidation.
Beta testing data from 106 nights showed increases in slow-wave activity, with nearly 50% of participants reporting better sleep and improved morning recovery. The company has collected over 1,000 nights of real-world in-ear EEG data across multiple testing cohorts—one of the largest consumer sleep EEG datasets outside controlled clinical studies.
Smartbuds require an iPhone 12 or newer running iOS 17 or later. The purchase includes a Fit Kit subscription service that delivers fresh ear tips and wings monthly to maintain the clinical-grade contact needed for accurate EEG readings. The first three months are included; after that, the subscription costs $14.99 per month. Users can pause or cancel the subscription, though doing so will likely impact sensor accuracy.
The earbuds are available now at nextsense.io.
