To evaluate the Hatch’s accuracy, I compared its readings with those from my Apple Watch Series 12 and Oura Ring 5. (Hatch says the first few nights are a calibration period, so data may be less accurate during this period.) Sleep duration estimates were generally consistent, but the most noticeable variance appeared in the sleep stages. That’s a metric I tend to take with a grain of salt, regardless of what sleep tracker I’m testing. While it can offer more context into broader sleep patterns, I’m skeptical that any consumer device can precisely map brain activity minute by minute throughout the night, let alone one that only relies on motion-based tracking.
Bedside Manners
The biggest catch with the Sleep Clock is that placement has a significant impact on its tracking accuracy. Hatch instructs you to place the device on your nightstand, roughly level with your mattress and facing your chest while you lie down. It needs to be within 2 to 4 feet of you, with no objects obstructing the space between the device and your body. If your nightstand sits too low, you may need to prop the clock up on a stack of books. If it’s too high, you may need to either raise your mattress or install a wall-mounted shelf next to your bed at the proper level.
Fortunately, my bed and nightstand were at the right height. My nightstand, though, is always cluttered with trinkets, and I have to keep reminding myself to move them behind the Hatch. It’s a minor annoyance, but I’m sure they affect my readings. Unfortunately, I’d have no way of knowing. The app doesn’t flag gaps in its data, and tracking only stops when the device can’t detect a person or isn’t plugged in.
Hatch App via Boutayna Chokrane
Unlike mattress covers like the Eight Sleep that can monitor two sleepers at once, the Hatch only measures the person nearest to it. Couples sharing a bed should keep this in mind, as sleeping arrangements also affect the tracking accuracy.
For sleepers who care about their privacy, you can take comfort in the fact that there are no cameras or microphones pointed at you while you sleep. It won’t pick up snoring or potential sleep disruptions, but it’s a worthwhile trade-off. Hatch also says the device communicates over your local network and doesn’t access your home network or record transmissions.
The Hatch Sleep Clock wasn’t enough to convince me to ditch the bajillion trackers already strapped to me, but it was enough to earn a spot in the bedtime routine. As if I needed one more sleep gadget.
