Ozlo, the sleep headphone startup from former Bose engineers, is launching its next device. On Tuesday, the company unveiled Sleepbuds 2, an updated version of its original product that addresses key areas of improvement, including battery life, connectivity and sound quality. The new model costs $279, a 12% increase over its predecessor.

The launch marks Ozlo’s first major update since the launch of its original device and reflects the company’s evolution from a continuation of the Bose brand to its own sleeping platform.

The original Sleepbuds, released in late 2024, were intended to fill the void left by Bose’s exit from the category the previous year. Ozlo co-founders NB Patil, Brian Mulcahey and Charlie Taylor were Bose veterans who had been deeply involved with the Sleepbuds program and saw the potential to continue the business. They acquired and licensed the Sleepbuds research and intellectual property for their new company, Ozlo, making their first product essentially a continuation of Bose’s previous efforts.

The initial earbuds, which now have more than 200,000 customers, were smaller and lower profile than the AirPods. This made them more comfortable to wear at night, especially for side sleepers. They also offered built-in sleep sounds, Bluetooth streaming, passive noise blocking, in-ear alarm, sleep tracking, and other features.

The Sleepbuds 2 promise a number of improvements, including, notably, 14 hours of battery life instead of about 10 hours. Additionally, the charging case can now store enough power for two to three nights of use per charge and adds a button that allows users to play a sleep sound or snooze the alarm without having to pick up their phone.

The update also addresses one of the biggest customer complaints: Bluetooth connectivity, which could be poor, although software updates have improved it over time. Ozlo claims that the Sleepbuds 2 offer longer Bluetooth range, a more reliable connection, and dedicated pairing controls for faster setup. The improvements come from a redesigned antenna and extender, Ozlo said.

The audio system has also been upgraded with a built-in amplifier for better sound masking and better sound quality. Custom sound tuning is also new, optimizing audio for specific use cases like spoken word, airplane mode, and focus mode, plus a balanced mode.

Another new feature is Sleep Shield, which will block incoming calls, alerts, notifications, and Bluetooth audio streaming. This works if users have not yet enabled their phone’s built-in sleep focus mode.

Ozlo’s sleep insights have been expanded to include more details about sleep patterns. Biometrics on the buttons monitor breathing and movement, while the case monitors room conditions such as sound levels, light, and temperature. This can help users know which sleep environments lead to deeper, more restful sleep, helping them improve their sleep over time.

The company outlined its plans to become a broader platform for sleep data during an interview with TechCrunch at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, including plans to use AI to better interpret users’ sleep patterns. It is also developing an AI “sleep companion” that would allow users to chat about their sleep data.

To kick off the launch, Ozlo is offering a sleeping mask and travel case with every purchase for a limited time. The $279 Sleepbuds 2 also ship with four pairs of silicone eartips in different sizes, the charging case, and a USB-C cable.

Additionally, I purchased my own Ozlo Sleepbuds after reading initial reviews of the product and found them to be an effective tool for blocking noise and streaming sounds and music, and much more comfortable than sleeping with my AirPods. They didn’t fight overnight either.

However, I found that I prefer streaming from the Calm app rather than using Ozlo’s built-in sounds. (Apparently I’m not alone: ​​Ozlo and Calm partnered on a co-branding case last year that included a one-year subscription to Calm’s library of sounds, stories, and other sleep experiences.)

I’m looking forward to trying out the new Sleepbuds 2 to see if they’re worth the upgrade for a Sleepbuds owner like me.