L29 Sleep Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review: Comfortable for Side Sleepers, With a Four-Hour Catch

This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.

Quick take

The L29 2nd generation sleep earbuds sit almost flush with the ear, so I could lie on my side without pain and they stayed in. They block a fair amount of outside noise, and the sound is gentle and quiet, which suits falling asleep. The big catch is battery life: about four hours of continuous playback, so they will not last the night.

L29 sleep earbuds — The charging case with both earbuds

What I tested

L29 2nd generation sleep earbuds, bought on Amazon Japan (¥5,150 list price at the time of recording)
Fit while lying on my side with the stock ear tips
Volume and sound with an iPhone, listening to music
A recorded sound sample through a dummy-head ear microphone, level-matched against AirPods Pro

What I found

Side sleeping works: almost nothing sticks out, so pressing my ear into a pillow did not hurt.
Good passive isolation: just wearing them makes the room noticeably quieter, and they make little rustling noise when touched.
Stays put: an included hook-style part helps keep them in, so they are less likely to vanish into the bedding.
Quiet by design: even at maximum iPhone volume the sound is comfortable. AirPods Pro go much louder.
Sound is fine for sleep: not bass-heavy, not sparkly, but pleasant for radio and background music.
Battery: about four hours of continuous playback, so no music alarm in the morning.

Sound test — Recording the sound sample with a dummy-head ear microphone

Who it is for

Side sleepers who find regular earbuds painful
People who like quiet radio and music while falling asleep, at home and while traveling
Not for people who want audio all night, and not a way to wake up to music
Not for anyone shopping mainly for sound quality

音質比較【イビキが気になって寝れない夜は】寝ながら使える「寝ホン」を買ってみたら、横向き寝が快適すぎた【Amazonベストセラー】

The video is in Japanese. The recorded sound sample starts around 7:00, with only the volume matched between the two earbuds.

Limitations

This review is based on one pair, used at home. Battery life is the stated figure, not my own measurement.

Products

L29 2nd generation sleep earbuds: on Amazon Japan

Apple AirPods Pro, used for comparison: on Amazon Japan

The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.

More reviews in English