Smart Cover vs Pod 5
The $18M challenger vs the incumbent
Specification Comparison
Score by Category
How each product performs across our five evaluation criteria.
Cooling Performance
Orion reaches 50°F — 5 degrees colder than Eight Sleep's 55°F minimum. Both use water-based cooling with AI optimization. Orion has the wider range, but Eight Sleep's Autopilot has years of learning data and refinement behind it. Slight edge to Eight Sleep on overall cooling intelligence.
Smart Features
Near parity. Both offer AI temperature optimization, biometric tracking, dual-zone control, and mobile apps. Orion's Sleep Optimization Test personalizes from night one; Eight Sleep's Autopilot takes a week to learn. Eight Sleep adds snoring detection, which Orion lacks.
Value for Money
Orion ($2,295 Queen) is roughly 25% cheaper than Eight Sleep ($3,049). Both require subscriptions ($200/yr vs $204-504/yr). Orion offers more cooling per dollar, but Eight Sleep's proven reliability factors into long-term value.
Reliability & Track Record
Eight Sleep has years of customer data, proven hardware, and an established support team. Orion launched in late 2025 — no long-term reliability data exists. This is the biggest risk factor for Orion buyers.
Noise Level
Both are quiet. Eight Sleep's hub runs under 30 dB. Orion's Control Tower is estimated at 25-35 dB depending on intensity — competitive but unverified by independent testing.
Pod 5 Wins
Eight Sleep wins on reliability and maturity; Orion wins on price and cooling range.
This is the most interesting rivalry in bed cooling. Orion matches Eight Sleep's core features at a lower price with a colder minimum temperature. Eight Sleep wins on proven reliability, years of AI training data, and additional features like snoring detection. Early adopters should consider Orion. Risk-averse buyers should stick with Eight Sleep's proven track record. Both are excellent systems — Orion just needs time to prove its durability.