Pod 5

Design & Build Quality

The Pod 5 is the cover-only version of Eight Sleep's flagship system — same Active Grid technology and hub, but designed to lay over your existing mattress rather than replacing it entirely. This makes it a compelling option if you already own a mattress you love but want to add active temperature control and sleep tracking. The cover is impressively slim and wraps around your mattress with fitted-sheet-style elastic corners, staying firmly in place even on pillow-top or thicker mattresses up to 16 inches deep.

Setup is straightforward: lay the cover, connect the water lines to the hub, fill it, and let it run through its initial calibration cycle. The whole process takes about 30 minutes. The hub connects to your home Wi-Fi for app control and over-the-air firmware updates, which Eight Sleep pushes regularly with new features and algorithm improvements.

Cooling & Heating Performance

The cover delivers the same 55°F to 110°F temperature range as the Ultra, with dual-zone independence if you opt for the split configuration. Cooling performance is genuinely transformative for hot sleepers — the water circulating through the Active Grid absorbs and dissipates body heat far more effectively than any gel-infused foam or phase-change material can. Within minutes of climbing into bed, you can feel the surface temperature shifting toward your target setting.

One thing to note: performance depends partly on the mattress underneath. Memory foam mattresses that already trap heat may work slightly harder than an innerspring or hybrid, but users on all mattress types report significant improvements. The heating function is equally impressive, turning your bed into a warm cocoon during winter months without the uneven hot spots that electric blankets create.

Smart Features & Sleep Tracking

You get the full suite of Eight Sleep intelligence with the Pod 5 cover — sleep stage tracking, heart rate and HRV monitoring, respiratory rate detection, and the daily Sleep Fitness Score. The Autopilot temperature adjustment works identically to the Ultra model, learning your patterns and making micro-adjustments throughout the night. The GentleRise thermal alarm is included as well, gradually warming or cooling you awake at the optimal moment.

The app experience is polished and information-dense without being overwhelming. Weekly and monthly trend views help you correlate sleep quality with lifestyle factors, and the system integrates with Apple Health and Google Fit for a unified picture of your health data.

Noise & Maintenance

The hub produces the same roughly 30-decibel operating noise as the Ultra — a soft, low hum that most sleepers acclimate to quickly. Maintenance is minimal: top off the water reservoir monthly, run the cleaning cycle when prompted, and occasionally wipe down the hub. The cover itself is removable and machine washable, which is a practical touch given how much time you spend on it.

Who Should Buy This

The Pod 5 cover is the right choice if you want Eight Sleep's industry-leading temperature control and sleep tracking without replacing your current mattress. It's especially attractive for hot sleepers who've already invested in a high-quality mattress and don't want to start over, or for renters and people who move frequently. The cover transitions easily to a new mattress if you upgrade later. The main limitation versus the Ultra is the absence of the adjustable base and its snoring response — if those features matter to you, the Ultra is worth the premium. For everyone else, the Pod 5 cover delivers 90% of the experience at a meaningfully lower price.