Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover Review
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover is a sophisticated sleep device that helps to control sleep temperature, via an app on your smartphone.
The information below relates to the flagship model, the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover with ‘Perfect Fit’ which is designed to fit mattresses of all heights. The Pod 2 Cover and the Pod 3 Cover form the other models in this range.
The Eight Sleep Pod Covers require an ‘Autopilot’ plan for at least the first 12 months, which is an additional cost to the product itself.
✏️ Product summary
- Personalised heating/cooling during sleep
- Controlled via a smartphone app
- Tracks sleep quality and vital signs
- 30 night free trial period
- Up to a 5 year warranty
- Click SHOP NOW for best price
Purchase and delivery
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover can be ordered online, through the Eight Sleep website. Shipping is free Australia wide.
Our product arrived in two seperate boxes attached together with strong plastic straps. The package was heavy so we would be mindful of correct lifting technique if you are carrying this on your own.
The smaller box on the bottom contained the hub and power cable, whereas the larger box (on top) contained the pod cover. The pod cover also comes with a handy carry bag.
The boxes were made of thick, robust cardboard box, presumably to keep the product components well protected during transport.
Removing the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover from its packaging was very user friendly. Cleverly designed handles within the boxes made sliding the components out, nice and easy.
Unpacking all of the parts should only take around 5 minutes but you will need to consider the packaging materials in terms of waste disposal and recycling.
In terms of aesthetics, the components of the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover present with a sleek, modern style. The parts have a black and dark grey colour theme that is consistent with Eight Sleep branding.
Product components
As we touched on earlier, the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover contains a number of components.
1. The Hub
The Hub is the main unit where the initial water supply is placed into. This water is then circulated through the pod cover.
2. Power Cable
As the name implies, this cable connects the Hub to a power source, allowing it to operate.
3. Pod Cover
The Pod Cover is essentially a high-tech mattress topper that is placed over your mattress. The Pod Cover connects to the Hub via attachment tubes.
Initial set up
It takes about 3 hours to set up the Eight Sleep Pod completely, ready to use.
Before you get too concerned, it’s worth mentioning that most of this time is simply waiting for the device to go through the set up process on its own.
Keep in mind that you will need a reliable wi-fi connection to use this device.
To make it easy for first time users, we have compiled a step by step description of how to best set up your Eight Sleep Pod Cover.
Setting up your device
1. Place the Eight Sleep Pod Cover over your mattress
2. Attach the Pod Cover tubes to the Hub
3. Attach the power cable to the Hub and to a power source
4. Download the Eight Sleep app on your smartphone (search ‘Eight Sleep’ in the App Store)
5. Follow the steps in the app. These steps includes questions about your sleep preferences
6. As indicated on the app, fill the water tank (located in the pod) twice
7. You will need to wait for 15 minutes and then 90 minutes to allow the water to circulate
8. You should receive a notification saying that the Eight Sleep Pod 3 is ready to use
The Eight Sleep app also allows you to add a partner so that each person can control the temperature of the bed on each side.
The app also allows you to control multiple Eight Sleep Pod Covers via the app, in the case that you have extra devices throughout the home.
How does it work?
As we’ve established by now, the Eight Sleep app allows you to control the sleep temperature of your mattress.
This can be done manually in current time, or you can set up a routine that includes your bedtime and wake times. You can then set temperatures for bedtime and a thermal and/or vibrational alarm at wake time.
Considering that water is required to be placed in the hub, it’s probably no surprise that this device uses water as part of its heating and cooling capabilities. Essentially, the device circulates water throughout the The Pod, cooling it or heating it as instructed from the app.
One setting that we would recommend activating straight away is the ‘Use Real Temperatures’ setting. This can be found by clicking on the home icon (house symbol), then click on the name of your Pod, App, Experimental features, Use Real Temperatures.
This allows you to adjust the temperature in degrees Celsius, rather than the default which is just a plus or minus setting.
As you set the temperature of your Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover, you may hear the gentle movement of water around the hub. We found that it took around 5 minutes for the device to adjust to the correct temperature, but this depended on the temperature adjustment range.
The Autopilot is another noteworthy setting that can be activated in the ‘Your Temperature’ screen (bed/thermometer icon). Autopilot reviews your sleep stages and environment and automatically adjusts the temperature of your Pod as you sleep.
Autopilot seemed to work effectively with our product, particularly in cooling the Pod during warmer nights. The Autopilot feature is the perfect example of the technology and sophistication that this device offers.
The finer details
The build quality of the Eight Sleep Pod 3 is excellent. The components all seem well made, and the Pod fabric feels soft and comfortable.
One issue that we noticed was the size of the Pod. Our product was a queen size and it seemed a bit small for our queen mattress. As a result it was difficult to fit, and when we measured the white piping (presumably to indicated the edge of the mattress), it was smaller by 4-5cm on each side.
Furthermore, the bed ‘size guide’ on the product shop page strangely is not accurate to Australian bed sizes.
The Pod contains a small hard case on each side (much larger on the left) as part of the gadgetry. This may or may not be noticeable when getting in and out of bed, but it was worth mentioning in terms of usability.
The tubes that connect the Pod to the hub are positioned cleverly at the top of the mattress and shouldn’t be noticeable during sleep.
The hub is quite a large unit (37cm high, 37cm deep, 15cm wide) so you will need to find a space for this on one side of the bed. This may involve making some space between the bed and a bedside table.
One aspect of the Eight Sleep Pod Cover 3 that is impressive is the extremely low level of noise. Other products that we have tested (such as the Dock Pro Sleep System) involved more significant operating noise. This device is so quiet, you can barely notice the sound.
One aspect of this product that is worth mentioning is the Autopilot plan. This is required as part of the purchase with a Standard Plan ($24 per month or $288 per year) or the Enhanced Plan ($38 per month or $456 per year).
Comparable products (Dock Pro Sleep System, OOLER Sleep System) that we have tested did not require a subscription of any kind. So, paying for a subscription on top of the product price may deter some buyers. It’s worth noting though that the Autopilot plan is only required for 12 months, so you can cancel after this time.
The website is flashy and modern looking, but it doesn’t provide a huge amount of information about the product. We couldn’t locate things like product weight, delivery times, and instruction manuals.
The website does have a virtual assistant ‘live chat’ but it only seemed set up for United States and European customers.
Trial period and warranty
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover comes with a 30 night trial period. This means that you can return the product for a refund if you are not satisfied.
This refund includes both the product and membership purchases.
This device also comes with a 5 year warranty (on the Enhanced Autopilot plan) to cover any defects in materials and workmanship. The standard Autopilot plan comes with a 2 year warranty.
Available sizes
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover range is available in 3 sizes (to fit a king, queen, or double mattress) so it should accommodate most sleep arrangements.
Here are Australia’s standard bed (mattress) sizes in 2024.
Final verdict
The overall usability, sophistication, and quality of the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover is truly quite remarkable. It easily takes its place as Australia’s premier sleep temperature device.
Bedbuyer’s rating: 4.7 / 5
If you have any questions about the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover, please comment below.
Retail Prices
- King Mattress: $4,045
- Queen Mattress: $3,745
- Double Mattress: $3,545
Eight Sleep Payment & Finance Options
VISA, Mastercard, AMEX, UnionPay.
Delivery information
Delivery is free Australia wide.
Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover with Perfect Fit
We make sleep personal
The Pod personaliSes your sleep setup with Autopilot to create the ultimate sleeping environment for deeper and higher quality sleep.
Perfect temperature on each side of the bed
As your body temperatures change overnight, Autopilot heats and cools each side of the bed to match the body’s natural rhythm, keeping you and your partner in deep sleep for longer.
Up to one more hour of sleep every night
That’s up to 15 days of extra sleep per year
Put your sleep on Autopilot
Experience a new era of sleep with Autopilot. Autopilot never stops learning about what you need for the best night of sleep, based on your personal profile such as age, biological sex, sleep history, and local weather.
Cools or heats to your perfect temperature
Autopilot makes smart temperature adjustments to your Pod, and can cool or warm each side of the bed as low as 12°C and as high as 43°C.
Sleeping at the right temperature for each sleep stage increases time spent in deep and REM sleep.
Tracks your sleep and health vitals
The Pod tracks your sleep and vital signs, without the need for wearables. Wake up to a detailed report each morning that includes time spent in each sleep stage, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and more.
Monitoring your sleep patterns and heart metrics gives you daily feedback on your sleep and physical fitness, allowing you to see improvements and irregularities.
Wakes you up gently
Autopilot wakes you up with a gentle vibration and thermal alarm. Wake up feeling refreshed every morning, without disturbing your partner.
Gentle wake-ups reduce cortisol spikes, easing stress and promoting a balanced and relaxed start to the day.
Better sleep means better health
- Improve cardiovascular recovery by up to 17%
- Enhance cognitive function by 13%
- Boost energy levels by 34%