In 2019, Bose made the decision to discontinue the original Sleepbuds model.
They did so citing "inconsistent battery performance and the device not charging fully or powering down unexpectedly or both." The Sleepbuds 2 product was introduced to improve on the weaknesses of the original model.
Yes, for many people, especially those who've struggled with falling and staying asleep because of their sensitivity to noise, the Bose Sleepbuds 2 were well-worth the investment of $250.
However, for many others, "they're simply expensive earplugs", and they provided nothing special or unique for their particular cases.
Being one of the pricier options, it might be worth it for cost-conscious consumers to explore less expensive competitors first. But for those who have tried everything and continue to struggle with sleep, the Bose Sleepbuds 2 are well worth a sincere try.
According to Bose in response to this question, Bose noise-masking Sleepbuds "achieve ultra-low radiation exposure because the Sleepbuds do not stream audio or other content throughout the night. Instead, the product plays back files that are stored locally." Additionally, "the sleepbuds use a class III Bluetooth radio which has the lowest transmit power among all the Bluetooth classes. During an entire night, sleepbuds emit a fraction of what traditional Bluetooth headsets emit during a single phone call."
So, it seems that while Sleepbuds do emit some amount of radiation, it's a trivial amount compared to what the average person is exposed to on a daily basis.
Yes, the Sleepbuds 2 by Bose are designed to be safe for use while sleeping. They do not themselves physically contribute to any pain or strain on the ears while in use.
And with regards to the sound and volume they themselves emit, they were measured at their peak dBSPL at 74 dB which is below what would be needed for there to be permanent hearing damage.
