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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThe company behind the headline is NextSense, a Google-era spinoff that now sells Smartbuds, earbuds designed to record electrical signals associated with brain activity. “Spy on your brain” overstates what the product is described as doing: NextSense says it detects patterns related to sleep and focus, not thoughts, memories, or emotions. It positions Smartbuds as a wellness product, not a medical diagnostic or treatment device.
What are NextSense Smartbuds?
WIRED described NextSense as born at Google and spun out of Alphabet’s X division. MD+DI reported that the company spun out in 2020 and is based in Mountain View, California. WIRED’s 2022 profile and MD+DI’s February 10, 2026 account describe the company’s path from research concept to consumer product.
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NextSense currently lists Smartbuds for $299. The company says they have six dry-contact EEG sensors and features for sleep, meditation, and daytime focus. Its product page also lists a 1,000 Hz sampling rate and a weight of 5 g; these are manufacturer specifications, not independently assessed performance figures. NextSense’s product and FAQ pages describe the earbuds as sensing brain activity and adapting audio in real time.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The appeal is the form factor: earbuds are familiar and portable, unlike a dedicated headband. But wearing a sensor in the ear does not by itself show that it can capture useful signals consistently. Fit, electrode contact, and movement can affect EEG recordings, and WIRED’s reporting noted questions about whether small ear-based sensors can reliably capture the signals.
#1 Best Overall
- Works great on its own — access core EEG-powered feedback and session tracking right out of the box; optional Premium subscription adds AI Coach, deeper brain insights, and access to 500+ meditations.
- Personal Meditation Coach — Meet MUSE 2, a smart headband that helps you understand your brain and live a more relaxed, present life. Begin improving your overall brain health and mental wellbeing by harnessing the calming power of meditation.
- Wearable Neurofeedback — To begin, put on the headband and position it so the sensors are in contact with your skin. Next, connect to Bluetooth through the MUSE app, select your meditation experience, take a deep breath, and begin to relax.
- Tune Into Your Body — After each session, you are provided with a calm score. Track your progress to improve your meditation practice overtime and develop an understanding of your internal cues to learn how to relax, build energy and optimize performance.
- Safe, Trusted and Certified — MUSE is backed by research from prestigious institutions and is used by neuroscience researchers around the world. Our SmartSense EEG sensors are award winning and our company is built on credibility and trust.
What does “brain-sensing” mean—and does it read your mind?
EEG, short for electroencephalography, records electrical potentials at electrodes and uses the resulting patterns to characterize brain activity. It is not a direct transcript of a person’s thoughts. NextSense’s FAQ says: “No. EEG detects patterns like sleep depth or transitions—not thoughts, memories, or emotions.” That is the company’s explanation of its product, rather than an independent assessment of what its sensors can detect.
In practice, the headline’s word “spy” is more alarming than the capabilities described in the available product information. NextSense presents Smartbuds as tracking broad states such as sleep depth or focus, not decoding private thoughts. The available sources do not establish how accurately the earbuds classify those states for individual users.
Rank #2
- Real-Time EEG Neurofeedback Headband for Brainwave Monitoring: Monitor your brain activity in real time using advanced EEG sensors. Track key brainwave patterns such as alpha, beta and theta waves to understand how your brain responds during meditation, focus sessions, relaxation and sleep preparation.
- Smart App with Guided Meditation & Brain Training – No Subscription Fees: The companion app offers guided meditation and neurofeedback exercises with real-time brainwave feedback. As your mind calms and focus sharpens, visuals and sound become clearer, helping you practice mindfulness, enhance focus, improve sleep, and train mental control.
- Track Your Brain Training Progress: The app records your sessions and brainwave data, letting you monitor meditation duration, focus levels, and training history. Download your data freely to track progress and understand your brain performance.
- Train Focus and Calmness with Real-Time Neurofeedback: Turn brain activity into meaningful feedback that guides your mind toward deeper calm and concentration. Neurofeedback training helps make meditation more effective while strengthening awareness, focus and relaxation.
- Soft Hydrogel Sensors for Better Comfort & Signal Stability: Flexible hydrogel skin-contact sensors adapt naturally to your forehead, improving comfort and maintaining stable signal transmission. The low-impedance hydrogel interface enhances EEG signal quality for more reliable brainwave analysis.
A separate 2026 US patent application assigned to Neurable describes an in-ear brain-computer interface that derives EEG and estimates brain state. It discusses possible ways to identify movement artifacts, including a contact microphone, accelerometer, or gyroscope. That application is not a description of NextSense Smartbuds, and a patent does not demonstrate that any commercial device achieves a particular level of accuracy. The Neurable application is useful only as an example of technical challenges and approaches in the broader field.
What sleep results has NextSense reported?
MD+DI reported figures attributed to NextSense: a controlled beta period covering 106 nights in which the company said Smartbuds increased slow-wave activity; nearly 50% of participants said their sleep was “better” or “much better” and their morning recovery improved; 69% of participants familiar with earbuds rated the sound superior; and the company said it had collected more than 1,000 nights of real-world EEG data across beta cohorts. These are company-reported results as described by MD+DI, not independent findings.
Rank #3
- Deep Sleep Boost – Newest feature designed to detect slow-wave sleep and sustain it longer for a more continuous deep sleep, supporting better physical and mental recovery. It complements the Sleep Assist feature that helps you fall asleep faster.
- Longer Focus, Less Stress, More Calm – Muse S Athena is a smart brain-sensing headband designed to help you better understand your brain so you can improve focus, calm your busy mind, and develop a stronger mental fitness foundation.
- Ready to use immediately — get advanced EEG + fNIRS tracking for sleep, focus, and recovery; optional Premium subscription adds AI Coach, deeper brain insights, and access to 500+ meditations.
- Wearable EEG and fNIRS Biofeedback — Put on the soft, adjustable headband and position the sensors to make skin contact. Connect to the Muse app via Bluetooth, select a meditation, sleep or brain training experience, and begin to focus, relax or unwind.
- Safe & Trusted — Built on years of scientific validation, Muse is trusted by neuroscientists, researchers and wellness professionals. Our award-winning SmartSense EEG sensors combined with new fNIRS technology brings the most advanced Muse experience yet.
MD+DI’s account does not provide enough study detail to assess sample size, control conditions, statistical analysis, durability, or clinical significance. The figures therefore do not establish that Smartbuds treat insomnia, improve health outcomes, or will produce similar results for a particular user.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is it a medical device, and what happens to the data?
NextSense says Smartbuds are for wellness, not diagnosis or treatment. The company’s Head of Product, Caitlin Shure, PhD, told MD+DI: “We’re not claiming to diagnose or treat any clinical conditions — no claims around insomnia, sleep apnea, or anything like that. It’s truly a wellness product.”
Rank #4
- Deep Sleep Boost – Newest feature designed to detect slow-wave sleep and sustain it longer for a more continuous deep sleep, supporting better physical and mental recovery. It complements the Sleep Assist feature that helps you fall asleep faster.
- Longer Focus, Less Stress, More Calm – Muse S Athena is a smart brain-sensing headband designed to help you better understand your brain so you can improve focus, calm your busy mind, and develop a stronger mental fitness foundation.
- Ready to use immediately — get advanced EEG + fNIRS tracking for sleep, focus, and recovery; optional Premium subscription adds AI Coach, deeper brain insights, and access to 500+ meditations.
- Wearable EEG and fNIRS Biofeedback — Put on the soft, adjustable headband and position the sensors to make skin contact. Connect to the Muse app via Bluetooth, select a meditation, sleep or brain training experience, and begin to focus, relax or unwind.
- Safe & Trusted — Built on years of scientific validation, Muse is trusted by neuroscientists, researchers and wellness professionals. Our award-winning SmartSense EEG sensors combined with new fNIRS technology brings the most advanced Muse experience yet.
NextSense says data sharing is off by default, information is encrypted and stored securely, data is anonymized before leaving the device, and users can delete data in the app. These are vendor statements; no independent privacy or security audit was established in the sources cited here. Anyone considering brain-sensing wearables should read the current privacy terms and app settings to understand what is collected, where it is stored, and how deletion works.
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Don’t confuse Smartbuds with Pixel Buds Attention Alerts
Google’s experimental Attention Alerts for supported Pixel Buds detect sounds such as a baby crying, a dog barking, or an emergency-vehicle siren. Google says supported sound detection happens locally and that it does not collect the data. This feature analyzes environmental sounds; it is not EEG sensing and is unrelated to NextSense Smartbuds. Google’s Attention Alerts help page explains the separate feature.
Quick Recap
What to check before considering brain-sensing earbuds
- Intended use: Is the device marketed for sleep, focus, meditation, or general EEG tracking?
- Sensor contact and fit: Where are the electrodes, how do they contact the ear, and what happens when fit or movement changes?
- Evidence: Are performance claims supported by transparent methods and independent evaluation, or only by company-reported figures?
- Data handling: What information is stored or shared, what settings control it, and how can you delete it?
- Ongoing cost and upkeep: NextSense lists replacement ear tips and wings, and says replacement components are needed to continue collecting brain data. Check the manufacturer’s current listings for compatible parts and prices.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
