Sleep technology is moving off the wrist and finger. A growing range of devices can monitor sleep from a bedside table or beneath a mattress, offering an alternative for people who find wearables uncomfortable or don't want another device to charge.
How contactless tracking works
The Hatch Sleep Clock uses radar to detect a person's presence and movement from the nightstand. After setup in the Hatch app, users start tracking with a button on the device. Rather than focusing on a single nightly score, it looks for patterns over time and offers suggestions for adjusting routines. It also functions as a sunrise alarm.
Other options use sensors placed in or under the bed. The Withings Sleep Tracking Pad monitors signals such as breathing and heart rate through the mattress, while Eight Sleep's Pod 6 cover tracks sleep-related measures and can adjust the bed's temperature.
Useful for trends, not every metric
Because these devices don't measure signals directly from the body, they estimate sleep using movement and breathing. That can make them useful for following sleep duration and changes in routine, while wearables may provide more direct measurements. Neither approach is a substitute for clinical sleep testing, and sleep-stage estimates can be limited.
Contactless trackers also don't offer the daytime activity and workout features common in watches and bands. Their appeal is a simpler setup: place the device, then let it monitor sleep without something to wear or recharge.
As sensors become more integrated into everyday bedroom objects, sleep tracking may become less intrusive and more focused on long-term habits.
