Screenshots: Julia Forbes
I spoke with Raj Mills, Sleep Number’s senior vice president of partnerships and research. He tells me, “Our AI models take foam depth into account and still maintain the same level of accuracy regardless of how deep the sensors are in the bed.” He shared that they jointly make a ballstocardiograph, which monitors the blood flow produced by the heart and ultimately determines your heart rate. How effectively they can do it is debatable.
In the end, I found that there is little difference in terms of the number of nights calculated on both ends. On a good night, both point to high scores, but the final number can vary by up to 10 points. In the Sleep Number app, I found out that most of the time, my Sleep Score numbers weren’t as high as I thought they would be—my average over the three-week test period was 74.
Matrix Matrix
If you choose a remote, that’s either a separate cost ($50) or a potentially different bed altogether. The only way to use this mattress is by creating an account and downloading the app in advance. The security of personal data is very important to many, and I wanted to know how the large amount of data collected by Sleep Number’s customer base was handled. When you first register your account, you can share your data with Sleep Number or opt out completely. Of those who voluntarily share their data—about 550,000 people, according to Mills’ data science team—Sleep Number conducts research and presents its findings to its consumers at major sleep conferences, including SLEEP and the World Sleep Congress.
It’s a comprehensive data set to work with, and it continues to evolve with dynamic AI at play, including SleepIQ technology. According to Mills, the company’s AI models are designed to analyze sleepers on an individual level, because every sleeper has a different makeup, age, pain issues, and different needs. According to the Sleep Number privacy policy, the company does not sell your information to third parties, and you can withdraw your consent to share information at any time. At the end of the day, Sleep Number is a business that may use your data to develop new products, and it’s up to you whether that’s worth it or not.
Power Couple
The adjustable base is what allows each side of the mattress to independently adjust the head and foot angles. I tested the FlexFit 3 adjustable base next to the P6 mattress, which is a premium sleep number offering. It offers a timed foot warm-up (which takes about two minutes to heat up and has a two-hour default setting) to help blood flow away from your spine and help you fall asleep faster. There’s also a zero-gravity setting, partner snoring (you lift your head and neck slightly to help open up your airways), and motion that detects the light under the bed. I loved the gentle light source for late-night shower breaks, and the split-master setup allowed me to engage in late-night reading without disturbing my partner. However, the only thing that separates the base FlexFit 2 from the FlexFit 3 is the inclusion of foot warmers, and it’s a $400 charge for a queen size.
Photo: Julia Forbes
