Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 launch alongside a completely redesigned app

Ozlo has launched Sleepbuds 2 with up to 14 hours of battery life, improved Bluetooth connectivity and a new physical button on the Smart Case. The accompanying Ozlo Sleep app has also received a major redesign, adding new Sleep Modes, Sleep Shield and a larger sound library.

I recently tested the original model, and comfort was easily its strongest feature. They sit almost flush inside the ear and work particularly well for side sleeping, although the dependence on the app and Smart Case adds more complexity than you get from ordinary earbuds.

The overall concept with this new version has not changed much. These remain tiny earbuds built specifically for overnight use, combining passive isolation with masking sounds rather than active noise cancellation.

Longer battery life and better controls

The headline improvement is battery life, which rises from around 10 hours on the original model to as much as 14 hours on Sleepbuds 2. The Smart Case stores enough power for another two or three nights, making the new version a little easier to use while travelling.

The original Sleepbuds already lasted through a normal night during my testing, so the extra four hours may not change much for lighter users. It should provide more breathing room when streaming podcasts or audiobooks before switching to an overnight masking sound.

Ozlo also says Bluetooth reliability and range have improved, while new pairing controls should make connecting the buds less troublesome. The Smart Case now has a physical button that can start a stored Sleep Sound or snooze the private in-ear alarm without opening the app.

The Ozlo app gets a substantial update

The accompanying smartphone app now has a redesigned interface with new colours, updated branding and simpler navigation. It also introduces five Sleep Modes that control how audio behaves as the night progresses. Users of both the new and old version of the device will benefit from this.

You are able to stream music, podcasts or audiobooks before automatically moving to a masking sound after falling asleep, when a timer expires or when streaming stops. A simpler mode can begin playing a stored Sleep Sound immediately, without maintaining an active Bluetooth connection.

Sleep Shield blocks calls, notifications, alerts and unexpected Bluetooth audio from interrupting playback. The update also adds four alarm sounds, more than 60 Sleep Sounds and a new Nocturnes collection built around softer musical tracks.

Sleep Patterns has now officially left beta. The earbuds monitor movement and breathing, while sensors in the Smart Case track bedroom noise, light and temperature, giving users a broader view of what may have affected a particular night.

Sound masking remains the main approach

Sleepbuds 2 still do not include active noise cancellation. Instead, the silicone tips reduce some outside noise before masking sounds help cover disturbances such as snoring, traffic or noisy neighbours.

Ozlo has redesigned the audio system with a built-in amplifier, promising higher volume and stronger masking performance. There are also Balanced, Focus, Spoken Word and Airplane presets for different types of audio and surroundings.

This remains a very different approach from ANC sleep earbuds or products designed to create silence. The choice largely comes down to masking unwanted sound or trying to remove it. This device is trying to mask it.

Ozlo Sleepbuds 2 are available in the US for $279, including four ear-tip sizes, the Smart Charging Case and a USB-C cable. Existing owners who already have stable connectivity may not find enough here to justify replacing the original model, but new buyers are getting longer battery life, better controls and a considerably more flexible app.