Can This Garmin Sleep Tracker Replace My Smartwatch? My Buying Advice After Weeks

1 week ago

Garmin Index Sleep Monitor

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Garmin Index Sleep Monitor is disposable for $170 successful S/M and L/XL sizes.
The set is very comfortable and lightweight, nan show tracks up to 7 nights of sleep, and nan sleep/recovery metrics are good integrated into nan Garmin Connect ecosystem.
It's still reasonably costly for a single-purpose wearable, moreover though FSA/HSA sum is supported.

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As a regular scholar of my work, you apt cognize I'm a instrumentality of Garmin watches, particularly for nan built-in LED flashlight I usage daily.

I've been hoping for a smart ringing that could sync pinch Garmin Connect, allowing maine to stitchery cardinal metrics for betterment and training position without wearing a bulky watch to bed. While a smart ringing isn't yet an option, Garmin has introduced a single-purpose wearable to capable nan void: nan Index Sleep Monitor.

Also: The champion Garmin watches you tin buy: Expert tested

The Index Sleep Monitor is designed to way a week of slumber and merge that information into your Garmin Connect ecosystem and smartwatch. While you tin usage nan show without a Garmin watch, you'll beryllium constricted to viewing slumber specifications successful nan smartphone app.

The band, show hardware, and Garmin USB-C cablegram are included

The strategy consists of an ultra-comfortable set that measures 2.5 inches wide. Two varying lengths are available, depending connected your precocious limb circumference. The L/XL size fits my limb nan best, but location is besides an S/M size available.

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The set weighs only 16 to 20 grams, depending connected nan size, and I cannot accent capable really highly comfortable it is to deterioration each night. That facet of nan merchandise whitethorn beryllium its astir important, considering it would switch thing conscionable arsenic subtle arsenic a smart ring.

The Index Sleep Monitor module is besides ray astatine 14.5 grams (0.5 ounce) and charges up pinch a modular Garmin charging cable. Garmin advertises up to 7 nights of slumber search pinch 8 hours of sleep. I mostly slumber astir 7.5 hours per night, and nan advertised artillery life has been accurate.

I support nan Index Sleep Monitor connected my nightstand and descent it connected erstwhile I spell to bed. I trial a batch of wearables, but my penchant is not to deterioration a watch erstwhile I slumber since I roll, and watches sometimes get hung up underneath me, causing maine to suffer slumber data.

The Venu X1 has been awesome to deterioration to slumber pinch its ultra-thin shape factor, but my slumber has been moreover amended erstwhile I americium only wearing nan Garmin Index Sleep Monitor.

Use nan Garmin Connect smartphone app to negociate nan Index Sleep Monitor

Beyond its slumber search capabilities, nan Index Sleep Monitor features an siren pinch a "Smart Alarm" usability -- a capacity besides recovered connected nan Venu X1 and Vivoactive 6. This characteristic tin aftermath you mildly during a ray slumber shape up to 30 minutes earlier your scheduled time.

Also: I bought nan 2025 type of Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra - here's nan exemplary I'd urge instead

The siren itself is simply a vibration pinch 3 adjustable strength levels. A double pat connected nan show will snooze nan siren for 10 minutes, while 4 taps will extremity it entirely.

My slumber scores person improved pinch uninterrupted sleep

The Index Sleep Monitor captures a broad group of metrics, including full sleep, stages, movement, breathing disturbances, resting bosom rate, bosom complaint variability, humor oxygen, and tegument temperature. This information is critical, arsenic it feeds straight into Garmin's Body Battery, recovery, and women's wellness calculations.

Also: Why I committedness by this Garmin smartwatch complete competing models (including nan Apple Watch Ultra)

While nan show offers a measurement to cod these insights without wearing a watch to bed, its $150 value constituent is difficult to warrant fixed that galore Garmin watches supply akin functionality. A value person to $99 would make its worth proposition much compelling.

At its existent price, nan Index Sleep Monitor could service arsenic much than conscionable a slumber tracker. Its sleek creation and set are well-suited to usability arsenic a bosom complaint show for activities wherever a watch isn't allowed aliases optimal, specified arsenic hoops aliases football, capturing captious capacity data.

Also: I've tested nan Apple Watch, Oura Ring, and different slumber trackers - 5 tips to get nan champion results

After respective weeks of use, nan show has consistently provided much meticulous slumber information than a watch, which sometimes showed gaps. This newfound accuracy, on pinch nan comfortableness of not wearing a watch to bed, allows maine to afloat perpetrate to nan Garmin ecosystem, nary longer needing to supplement pinch a smart ringing for cardinal metrics.

ZDNET's buying advice

Wearing a watch to way slumber tin lead to frustrating information gaps, undesirable artillery drain, and discomfort. The Garmin Index Sleep Monitor offers a much comfortable and meticulous strategy for capturing cardinal wellness metrics. The instrumentality feeds this information into nan Garmin ecosystem, providing a holistic, full-body position study that has greatly improved my outlook.

I conscionable wish nan instrumentality were much accessibly priced, arsenic its $170 sticker tag tin make it difficult to warrant for immoderate consumers, particularly for being a single-purpose gadget.