Home LivingWellnessSleepEight Sleep Pod Pro 3 is the next generation in sleep fitnessThe Pod Pro 3 brings improved sensors, processing and Wi-Fi to an already impressive set-up. Is it worth it? The proof has to be in the resultWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Eight Sleep)T3 VerdictThe best temperature-controlled bed cover just got better. Thanks to the increase in sensors, more powerful Wi-fi and processing, the Pod Pro 3 is a hard option to beat. It delivers great sleep, and all the data to go with it.Reasons to buy+Improved sensors for more accurate readings+Better and more stable Wi-Fi+Incredible heating and cooling+Very comfy to sleep onReasons to avoid-Hub unit is too large to go under the bed-Updates from the previous model are not immediately obviousWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Home LivingWellnessSleepEight Sleep Pod Pro 3 is the next generation in sleep fitnessThe Pod Pro 3 brings improved sensors, processing and Wi-Fi to an already impressive set-up. Is it worth it? The proof has to be in the resultWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Eight Sleep)T3 VerdictThe best temperature-controlled bed cover just got better. Thanks to the increase in sensors, more powerful Wi-fi and processing, the Pod Pro 3 is a hard option to beat. It delivers great sleep, and all the data to go with it.Reasons to buy+Improved sensors for more accurate readings+Better and more stable Wi-Fi+Incredible heating and cooling+Very comfy to sleep onReasons to avoid-Hub unit is too large to go under the bed-Updates from the previous model are not immediately obviousWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The Pod Pro 3 brings improved sensors, processing and Wi-Fi to an already impressive set-up. Is it worth it? The proof has to be in the result
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Eight Sleep)T3 VerdictThe best temperature-controlled bed cover just got better. Thanks to the increase in sensors, more powerful Wi-fi and processing, the Pod Pro 3 is a hard option to beat. It delivers great sleep, and all the data to go with it.Reasons to buy+Improved sensors for more accurate readings+Better and more stable Wi-Fi+Incredible heating and cooling+Very comfy to sleep onReasons to avoid-Hub unit is too large to go under the bed-Updates from the previous model are not immediately obvious
(Image credit: Eight Sleep)
(Image credit: Eight Sleep)
T3 VerdictThe best temperature-controlled bed cover just got better. Thanks to the increase in sensors, more powerful Wi-fi and processing, the Pod Pro 3 is a hard option to beat. It delivers great sleep, and all the data to go with it.Reasons to buy+Improved sensors for more accurate readings+Better and more stable Wi-Fi+Incredible heating and cooling+Very comfy to sleep onReasons to avoid-Hub unit is too large to go under the bed-Updates from the previous model are not immediately obvious
T3 VerdictThe best temperature-controlled bed cover just got better. Thanks to the increase in sensors, more powerful Wi-fi and processing, the Pod Pro 3 is a hard option to beat. It delivers great sleep, and all the data to go with it.
T3 Verdict
The best temperature-controlled bed cover just got better. Thanks to the increase in sensors, more powerful Wi-fi and processing, the Pod Pro 3 is a hard option to beat. It delivers great sleep, and all the data to go with it.
Reasons to buy+Improved sensors for more accurate readings+Better and more stable Wi-Fi+Incredible heating and cooling+Very comfy to sleep onReasons to avoid-Hub unit is too large to go under the bed-Updates from the previous model are not immediately obvious
Reasons to buy+Improved sensors for more accurate readings+Better and more stable Wi-Fi+Incredible heating and cooling+Very comfy to sleep on
Improved sensors for more accurate readings
Better and more stable Wi-Fi
Incredible heating and cooling
Very comfy to sleep on
Reasons to avoid-Hub unit is too large to go under the bed-Updates from the previous model are not immediately obvious
Hub unit is too large to go under the bed
Updates from the previous model are not immediately obvious
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
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The Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3 is the latest version of the company’s flagship offering. In essence, this is a temperature-controlled mattress topper that uses tiny tubes of water to warm or cool the bed to the optimum sleep temperature. But it’s more than that. It also provides state-of-the-art sleep tracking to help you analyse how you slept and uses that data to offer improvements on its temperature settings to optimise them.
I reviewed the previousEight Sleep Pod Prolast year and found it one of the best beds I’ve ever slept on. For the US market, this came complete with Eight Sleep’s own premium foam mattress or just as a mattress cover, allowing you to fit it over your existing mattress. In the UK, it was only available as the cover, not with the mattress.
The new Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3 promises many improvements over the former model but importantly for buyers outside of the US, it will be available with and without the mattress. For this review, I was sent the mattress cover version, so although this won’t be in contention forbest mattress, it is set to replace the Pod Pro in thebest mattress cooling padsguide, and is equally suited to thebest electric blanketguide for the winter months.
As I’ve mentioned though, the Eight Sleep products are designed to do more than simply heat and cool. As its marketing materials state, this is about sleep fitness. Providing you with a better night’s sleep through the very latest technology.
If you want to learn more about how we review products on T3, take a read of ourhow we testpage.
Encasement (that goes under the cover)(Image credit: Future)
Encasement (that goes under the cover)
Encasement (that goes under the cover)
(Image credit: Future)
Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3 cover review: price and availability
The Eight Sleep Pro Pro 3 cover was launched on 27 July 2022. Available in the US, UK, Europe and Australia from theEight Sleep website, prices start at $2,095 (roughly £1740 / AU$3020) for the full size, $2,195 (£1820 / AU$3160) for the queen-size and $2,395 (£1990 / AU$3450) for king / California king. This is around $400 more per size than the previous Pod Pro. The Pod Pro 3 will also be available with the perfect fit cover (for deeper mattresses) and complete with the Eight Sleep mattress.
The unit I tested was the queen-sized cover with perfect fit and I put this over a Nectar Hybrid mattress.
The cover attaches to the encasement with a zip and is tightened with straps under the mattress.(Image credit: Future)
The cover attaches to the encasement with a zip and is tightened with straps under the mattress.
The cover attaches to the encasement with a zip and is tightened with straps under the mattress.
(Image credit: Future)
Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3 cover review: design and features
The Pod Pro 3 comes in three main parts. First there’s the encasement, which is like an undersheet for the Pod Pro cover that fits over your mattress and locks it into position. There’s the active grid cover itself, which contains all of the sensors as well as the small pipes through which either heated or cooled water is pumped. Then there’s the hub, the heart of the system that holds the water, cools/heats and pumps it into the cover.
At first inspection, not much appears to have changed in the look and feel of the product, compared to the previous Pod Pro. That’s no bad thing though, as (like the former) it appears very stylish and well made. The cover and encasement are a mix of high-quality grey and black material, both featuring the simple 8 logo. The hub is a little on the large size – like an old desktop PC tower – but has a rounded front and rear and a minimalist look.
The hub features a more powerful quad-core processor and a new dual-band Wi-Fi chip. This allows it to connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, including mesh support for more stable connectivity.
According to Mr He, it’s not just what the Pod Pro can do now that’s important. The sensor design has made the platform future-proof and we should expect more functionality to be released over time. Much like how Tesla built hardware into its cars and released features over time, it seems Eight Sleep has a similar idea with the Pod Pro 3.
The Eight Sleep app takes you through the set up process(Image credit: Future)
The Eight Sleep app takes you through the set up process
The Eight Sleep app takes you through the set up process
(Image credit: Future)
Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3 cover review: set up and app
The setup procedure for the Pro Pro 3 is very clear. When you remove the kit from the separate boxes there are both written instructions and a link to download the app. Once you download the app, it also walks you through the installation process, complete with short videos for extra clarity.
As I was testing the Pod Pro 3 before its launch, I was using a Beta version of the app. Once this was installed on myiPhone(also available forAndroid) the process was much like that for the previous model.
The encasement first fits over the mattress and tucks underneath it, like a fitted sheet. Then the cover is placed over the top and zipped into the encasement. Straps are then attached to all sides and passed underneath the bed before being tightened. This is a much more effective system than I’ve seen on other temperature-controlled covers and keeps it firmly in place.
From the back or top of the cover comes a thick pipe that then attaches to the hub unit, which is placed next to the bed. With most beds, you can pass this pipe under the bed and gives you lots of room to spare. Once attached to the hub, the hub can be switched on and paired with your phone.
Connecting to the hub is much quicker thanks to the dual-band Wi-Fi.(Image credit: Future)
Connecting to the hub is much quicker thanks to the dual-band Wi-Fi.
Connecting to the hub is much quicker thanks to the dual-band Wi-Fi.
(Image credit: Future)
Thanks to the new dual Wi-Fi chip, pairing the hub is much quicker and is all done from within the app – rather than having to pick it from your network options first. Once paired you can then start the priming process. The water container holds just over a litre of water and should be mixed with a couple of teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide (to keep the pipes clean). After the first prime, which takes about 15 minutes, you will need to refill the water container with another litre or so of water. The app will warn you if the water is running low after that but I haven’t needed to top it up since.
It then takes two further priming sessions of around 90 minutes each before the bed is completely ready. However, you can start to use the functions at this stage if needed (the system will just be a little louder than normal).
The sleep report from the Eight Sleep app(Image credit: Future)
The sleep report from the Eight Sleep app
The sleep report from the Eight Sleep app
(Image credit: Future)
Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3 cover review: in use
Eight Sleep describes the Pod Pro 3 as being about sleep fitness, and in many ways it is. For me though, the experience is best divided into two main parts. First, there’s the sleep experience; it’s the feeling of getting into your bed and it feeling the perfect temperature (nice and cool in the summer or toasty warm in the winter) and then staying at the perfect temperature all night. This should mean you don’t need to kick off the covers at night because you’re too hot or wake up freezing cold.
The second part is the data that the Pod Pro offers on how you slept. Though you use the app to set the temperature of the cover in advance, its main use is to review the data afterwards. Your sleep report gives you a simple score out of 100 for how you slept but then also breaks that down into your time slept, your wake-up consistency, time to fall asleep, the time it took you to get out of bed, as well as a timeline and a graph of your sleep stages.
I personally find the sleep stages graph really interesting, as you can see when you moved between deep sleep, light sleep and REM sleep. You can also view your sleeping heart rate in a graph here, and see the number of times you tossed and turn in the night – I tend to move very little once I’m asleep it seems.
(left to right) The main temperature control, health report and sleep tops on the Eight Sleep app(Image credit: Future)
(left to right) The main temperature control, health report and sleep tops on the Eight Sleep app
(left to right) The main temperature control, health report and sleep tops on the Eight Sleep app
(Image credit: Future)
In addition to the sleep report, the app also provides you with a health report and this is where you really get to see how advanced those sensors are. The health report covers your heart rate variability (HRV), your sleeping heart rate and your sleeping respiratory rate. All this is designed to give you feedback on the quality of the sleep you had and identify recovery. A low HRV, for instance, can signal illness, while a high HRV shows recovery. Equally a lower sleeping heart rate is a sign of good rest, while a high number could be a sign of stress.
All of this data can plug directly into your regular fitness tracking apps, likeAppleHealth, Peloton and Fitbit. That means that you don’t need to wear your watch or fitness trackers to bed – the Pod Pro is one big fitness tracker. Eight Sleep’s David He hinted that this health tracking is an area where the Pod Pro is likely to expand in future months and years, as the sensors and processing power have lots more potential. There’s no limit here on battery usage or size, so in theory, it could provide much more than a wearable ever could.
Some of the Eight Sleep features are only available as part of the 8+ Pro membership that costs $15/£14 per month. These include the temperature autopilot, which adjusts the nighttime temperatures for you, a collection of sleep tools, such as guided meditations, breathing exercises, and relaxing audio tracks. This does feel a little steep considering the price for the main product but is a well-established model among other fitness products, so doesn’t feel particularly out of place.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3 cover review: verdict
While the Pod Pro 3 doesn’t current feel like a huge step up from the previous version, the potential is huge. If you currently have the Pod Pro, there’s probably not enough reason to upgrade just yet.
However, if you are considering buying one for the first time, I would absolutely go for this version. The experience sleeping on this temperature controlled cover is incredible. So much so that you’ll never want to be with out it. This new model is more comfortable, connects much easier to Wi-Fi (and is far more stable) and offers greater accuracy in its readings. While that last part is difficult to prove either way, the sheer number of extra sensors make me believe it.
One big benefit Eight Sleep has over its competitors, is how well the cover fits over a mattress, and stays in place. Others can feel like badly fitting electric blankets while the Pod Pro 3 just feels like part of your mattress – and just as comfy.
The one thing i’d love to see is a shorter hub unit – even if it’s slightly wider – so that it is able to fit under your bed. As right now, the unit does take up quite a bit of room, and while it’s not unattractive, not everyone will want it on display.
Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3 cover review: also consider
There is an option with the former Pod Pro to buy with the mattress in the US and I’ve been reliably informed that the new Pod Pro 3 will have this option globally. The advantage of buying the option with the mattress included is that the cover simply zips on in seconds – no need for straps or encasement covers. The downside is that the foam mattress is a little on the softer side, so won’t suit everyone.
Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3: Price Comparison
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