Product test
Sleep at the touch of a button? The «Snoozy» claims to make it child’s play
by Katja Fischer
A flawed analysis: Withings Sleep Analyzer put to the test
18.10.2024
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Pictures: Martin Jungfer
The Sleep Analzyer from Withings is placed under your mattress, collecting data about your sleep. It provides some interesting insights, but a smart watch would be more accurate.
Good sleep is considered the key to a healthy and longer life. It’s no wonder then that more and more gadgets to measure and monitor your sleep are coming out. The Withings sleeping mat has the advantage that it doesn’t need to be directly on your body. I tested it.
Set-up
The Sleep Analyzer comes in snazzy packaging. For a price of around 120 francs or euros (as of October 2024), you get an almost Apple-like unboxing experience. The box is sturdy, has a magnetic closure and is nicely organised, with the quick guide in a compartment in the lid. The mat’s USB cable has two plugs: one for the EU, one type G plug for the UK.
In the quick guide, a QR code leads me to the Withings Health Mate app, which I download onto my iPhone. It requires a user account to work. Some data, such as body weight, age and height, don’t have to be entered again, but can be taken from Apple’s Health app. Withings has integrated things well. Google Fit is apparently also compatible with Withings, but I haven’t tried it.
After software, I turn to the hardware. The Sleep Analyzer’s a fabric mat, a good 60 centimetres long and 20 centimetres wide. The mat is slightly thicker at one end, around five centimetres. That bit contains a flat box in a pocket. A grey cable, about two metres long, hangs from the box. It supplies power for the sleeping mat via USB-A and the supplied plug adapter.
Calibration begins after another click in the app. During this time you shouldn’t sit on the bed so as not to mess up the pressure sensors. The mat will probably feel my weight later when I go to bed anyway, I think to myself.
That’s it for the installation, now I can start collecting data. The mat under my mattress now measures and records the waves that my heartbeat emits. On top of that, the microphone in the little box listens to hear if I’m snoring.
Night data
After waking up, the Sleep Analyzer connects to my smartphone via Bluetooth and transmits data from the night. This results in a Sleep Score. It’s made up of four factors:
- Duration
- Recovery
- Regularity
- Interruptions
How good is apnoea detection really?
The screenshot above should put my mind at rest. All good, according to the Sleep Analyzer? I doubt how accurate its measurements are. For snoring, I can directly compare with the Sleep Cycle app on my iPhone lying next to me on the bedside table. On some nights, Withings claims I had a completely quiet night without any snoring. This is contradicted by measurements in the app and the most reliable and strictest snoring detector: my wife next to me in bed.
For accuracy in sleep apnoea testing, I give the sleep mat to my colleague Lorenz. He’s diagnosed with sleep apnoea and places the Sleep Analyzer under his mattress. During a night without using his breathing-supporting sleep mask, Withings actually measured more snoring and significantly more interruptions than during the night with it on.
Lorenz doesn’t trust the Withings device to provide a precise sleep apnoea diagnosis. Offers such as Sleepiz (tested here by colleague Patrick Vogt) are much more precise and reliable. For example, many also measure blood oxygen on your finger.
In a nutshell
Useful data | not precise
The Sleep Analyzer from Withings provides plenty of data. However, some are little more than a nice gimmick – such as the sleep score. Whether I get 85 or 90 points for a night also seems a bit random. Either way, I start my day just as well even after a poorly rated night. Conversely, even a 90-plus night is no guarantee of a working day at maximum energy.
I could also collect the data provided by the mat from a smart watch on my wrist – probably more accurately too. Many apps record snoring more precisely via your smartphone microphone. Still, the Withings mat will be your device of choice if you don’t want an electronic device in or on your bed.
What is intriguing is the information on sleep apnoea. If you snore a lot and often get out of bed feeling exhausted in the morning, the Sleep Analyzer will at least give you concrete indications as to whether you may have sleep apnoea. If the Withings device detects it, a visit to a specialist for further clarification is recommended. Turns out the gadget really can be the first step towards better sleep and a healthier life.
Pro
- Good integration of Apple and Google apps
- Simple and easy-to-understand installation
- Provides solid evidence of possible sleep apnoea
- Can be used without constant data transmission; synchronisation occurs only after waking up
Contra
- Power connection near bed required
- Fairly inaccurate measurement
Header image: Martin Jungfer
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
