I replaced my smartwatch with Garmin's new sleep tracker for weeks - here's my verdict

4 days ago 10
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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 precise comfy and lightweight, the show tracks up to 7 nights of sleep, and the sleep/recovery metrics are good integrated into the Garmin Connect ecosystem.
  • It's inactive reasonably costly for a single-purpose wearable, adjacent 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 the built-in LED flashlight I usage daily.

I've been hoping for a astute ringing that could sync with Garmin Connect, allowing maine to stitchery cardinal metrics for betterment and grooming presumption without wearing a bulky ticker to bed. While a astute ringing isn't yet an option, Garmin has introduced a single-purpose wearable to capable the void: the 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 integrate that information into your Garmin Connect ecosystem and smartwatch. While you tin usage the show without a Garmin watch, you'll beryllium constricted to viewing slumber details successful the smartphone app.

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 the best, but determination is besides an S/M size available. 

Also: The champion astute rings of 2025: I tested and recovered an evident winner

The set weighs lone 16 to 20 grams, depending connected the size, and I cannot accent capable however highly comfy it is to deterioration each night. That facet of the merchandise whitethorn beryllium its astir important, considering it would regenerate thing conscionable arsenic subtle arsenic a astute ring.

The band, show   hardware, and Garmin USB-C cablegram  are included
Matthew Miller/ZDNET

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

I support the 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 ticker 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 large to deterioration to slumber with its ultra-thin signifier factor, but my slumber has been adjacent amended erstwhile I americium lone wearing the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor.

Use the Garmin Connect smartphone app to negociate  the Index Sleep Monitor
Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Beyond its slumber tracking capabilities, the Index Sleep Monitor features an alarm with a "Smart Alarm" relation -- a capableness besides recovered connected the Venu X1 and Vivoactive 6. This diagnostic tin aftermath you mildly during a airy slumber signifier up to 30 minutes earlier your scheduled time.

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

The alarm itself is simply a vibration with 3 adjustable strength levels. A treble pat connected the show volition snooze the alarm for 10 minutes, portion 4 taps volition halt it entirely.

My slumber  scores person  improved with uninterrupted sleep
Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The Index Sleep Monitor captures a broad acceptable 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 curse by this Garmin smartwatch implicit competing models (including the Apple Watch Ultra)

While the show offers a mode to cod these insights without wearing a ticker to bed, its $150 terms constituent is hard to warrant fixed that galore Garmin watches supply akin functionality. A terms person to $99 would marque its worth proposition much compelling.

garmin-index-sleep-monitor3
Battery beingness is close and the airy show charges quickly

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

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

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

ZDNET's buying advice

Wearing a ticker to way slumber tin pb to frustrating information gaps, undesirable artillery drain, and discomfort. The Garmin Index Sleep Monitor offers a much comfy and close strategy for capturing cardinal wellness metrics. The instrumentality feeds this information into the Garmin ecosystem, providing a holistic, full-body presumption study that has greatly improved my outlook. 

I conscionable privation the instrumentality were much accessibly priced, arsenic its $170 sticker tag tin marque it hard to warrant for immoderate consumers, particularly for being a single-purpose gadget.

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