Anker just announced its new Soundcore Sleep Earbuds 4 and 4 Pro, and the company is continuing its habit of putting screens on just about everything. The latest sleep-focused earbuds are aimed at side sleepers, offering a redesigned fit, better noise cancellation, and a notable new feature: the Pro model’s charging case includes an integrated OLED display for controlling the buds without pulling out your phone.
These new models build on last year’s Soundcore Sleep A30 buds, which earned attention for their audio masking capabilities. That same tech is present here, letting users drown out a snoring partner or other disruptive noises. But the 4 and 4 Pro go further by improving the overall experience with longer playback times, upgraded Bluetooth, and a smaller physical footprint against the ear.
A case with a screen: the SleepHub
The most eye-catching addition is the SleepHub case that comes with the Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro. This is not just a charging case; it includes a small OLED display that allows users to perform many functions without opening an app. You can swipe through preset soundscapes, inspect your sleep stats, set an alarm, and adjust settings right from the case. It effectively turns the case into a remote control that sits on your nightstand.
The fact that Anker continues to add screens to product categories that rarely have them is a consistent design theme. From projectors to earbuds, the company has embraced the idea that a display can add convenience and a premium feel. For sleepbuds, this screen offers a practical benefit: you don’t have to fumble with a phone in the dark or expose your eyes to the bright light of a smartphone when you should be winding down. The OLED display has a soft glow and is designed to be easy to navigate without being disruptive.
The standard Sleep Earbuds 4 case still needs a phone to change settings, but both cases support wireless charging pads, making them easier to top up on compatible chargers. That is a welcome improvement for anyone who has been forced to hunt for a proprietary cable during travel.
Comfort and design for side sleepers
One of the biggest challenges for sleep earbuds is pressure on the ear when lying on your side. Anker says the new buds have a “20 percent smaller contact area” than the A30 buds. That reduction in size should make them less intrusive and more comfortable for people who sleep on their sides, a common complaint with earlier models. The overall shape has been refined so the buds sit more flush against the ear, reducing the chance that they’ll press painfully into the side of your head.
In addition to the smaller footprint, the new earbuds come with a choice of ear tips and wings to ensure a secure but comfortable fit. A secure fit is vital not just for comfort but also for consistent noise isolation and accurate sleep tracking.
Improved battery life and audio features
Battery life is always a key consideration for sleep earbuds, since they need to last all night while also being small enough to wear comfortably. Anker claims that when streaming music, podcasts, or audiobooks over the upgraded Bluetooth v6.0 radio, you’ll get eight hours of playtime with active noise cancellation (ANC) enabled or 11 hours with ANC off. If you prefer to use the built-in local audio soundscapes, the numbers improve to 9.5 hours with ANC on and 14.5 hours with ANC off. These are solid figures for this category and should comfortably cover a typical night’s sleep.
The Bluetooth v6.0 upgrade ensures a more stable connection and better power efficiency than older versions. It also provides improved compatibility with a variety of devices, so you can stream from your phone, tablet, or computer without annoying dropouts.
ANC has also been upgraded. While sleepbuds traditionally rely on audio masking to block out noise, the addition of improved active noise cancellation helps quiet environmental sounds such as traffic, the hum of an air conditioner, or a partner’s snoring. Combined with the audio masking capabilities, the Earbuds 4 Pro are designed to create a much more peaceful sleeping environment.
Pro features: in-ear PPG sensor and BioSync
The Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro add an in-ear photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, a feature that has become increasingly common in modern earbuds from companies such as Sennheiser, Bose, and Apple. This sensor can measure real-time stress, fatigue, and recovery levels by tracking blood flow and other physiological signals. Anker says it will use this data to monitor your sleep state, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV) to assess how well you’re sleeping and then “facilitate relaxation into sleep” by playing “adaptive soothing audio tracks using Soundcore’s BioSync feature.”
BioSync is an interesting concept: instead of simply playing static soundscapes, the earbuds can automatically adjust the audio based on your physiological state. For example, if the sensors detect that your heart rate is elevated or your stress levels are high, the soundscape might shift to slower, more calming tones to help you drift off. This kind of closed-loop feedback system is still in its early days, and it’s something that will need to be tested in real-world conditions before we can judge how effective it truly is.
The PPG sensor also opens the door to more accurate sleep tracking than the previous generation. Instead of relying on simple movement detection, the buds can gather detailed data about your heart rate and HRV throughout the night, giving you a clearer picture of your sleep architecture. This data can be viewed in the accompanying Soundcore app, where you can also see trends over time and set personal sleep goals.
Pricing and availability
Anker will launch the Soundcore Sleep Earbuds 4 in October at a price of $229.99 / £199.99. They are available in white and blue, with a pink option coming at a later date. The Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro arrive in November, priced at $349.99 / £299.99, and they come in slightly different shades of white and blue. The Pro model is significantly more expensive, but it adds the SleepHub display case, the PPG sensor, BioSync adaptive audio, and a few other premium extras.
Given the price difference, potential buyers should consider whether the Pro features are worth the extra outlay. The SleepHub case is certainly a convenience, especially for people who prefer not to have their phone on the nightstand. The PPG sensor and BioSync could also be valuable for those who want more detailed sleep data and adaptive soundscapes. However, if you just need a comfortable pair of earbuds to mask noise and help you sleep, the standard Sleep Earbuds 4 may be more than enough.
The wider context: screens everywhere
Anker’s decision to include a display in the earbuds case is not completely out of left field. The company has been on a bit of a display kick, adding small screens to power banks, chargers, and other accessories. This trend highlights a broader industry move toward integrating displays into devices where they weren’t previously common, from smart tags to air purifiers. In the case of the Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro, the screen allows the case to act as a standalone control center, which could be particularly useful for travelers or anyone who wants to minimize smartphone use before bed.
The sleep-tech market has grown rapidly in recent years, with established brands and startups alike competing to help people improve their sleep. Earbuds are a challenging form factor because they must be small, comfortable, and power-efficient while also housing the necessary sensors and audio components. Anker has been a significant player in this space since the original Soundcore Sleep A10 and A20 models, and the company continues to iterate on its designs.
One of the key criticisms of earlier sleepbuds was the accuracy of sleep tracking. Anker has acknowledged that issue and claims that the new in-ear PPG sensor on the Pro model provides more reliable metrics. Whether that translates to meaningful sleep insights will depend on the algorithm and how well it handles various body positions and movements during the night.
At the end of the day, the new Soundcore Sleep Earbuds 4 and 4 Pro look like significant upgrades over their predecessor. They offer longer battery life, a more comfortable fit, improved ANC, and a handy display on the Pro case. If Anker has also improved the tracking accuracy, these could become a top recommendation for people who need help ignoring a snoring partner or falling asleep in noisy environments. But we’ll have to spend some time sleeping with them to know for sure.
Source: The Verge News