I Was Skeptical, But This Device Works Wonders For Focus & Relaxation

From sleep trackers to HRV monitors, it’s fair to say the wellness community is obsessed with sporting fancy gadgets in pursuit of better health—but most of them simply provide motivation for you to better your own habits rather than helping you actively make a change.

Apollo Neuro is an exception; it uses the power of vibration to inspire less stress and better sleep. The result? An instant, noticeable improvement to your mood. 

If you’re skeptical about a vibrating bracelet soothing your worries, I hear you—because I was too. However, I put this device to the test for more than 45 hours. And while it may sound strange at first, this vibrating bracelet has actually improved my focus and supported my daily wind-down routine more than I imagined.

Final thoughts

Apollo Neuro

Who should try it

If you're someone who actively uses wearables and wants to reduce stress, the Apollo Neuro is a worthy investment. After 45 hours of testing, I found that it helps me get into the zone to improve focus just as well as it helps me zone out for a more relaxed state.

Who should skip it

If you don't use wearables, the Apollo Neuro may not be the best place to start considering the price point. It's almost $300 and really requires you to commit to regular use to see the most benefits.

Invented by board-certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist David Rabin MD, PhD, the Apollo Neuro is based on decades of research into vibration therapies (and how they impact the body and the mind). 

The small, vibrating device is about the same size as a matchbook; you can either clip the Apollo Neuro onto a shirt, a bracelet, or an anklet.

To make the most of the wearable, you'll need to download the Apollo Neuro app, where you can select your "vibe" or goal for wearing the device.

Each vibe has a unique vibration intensity and pre-set duration curated by the Apollo Neuro team. You can alter these setting to best suit what your body is craving (i.e. less intensity or more intensity; shorter time frames or longer ones).

Need to stay focused? There’s a vibe for that. Want to unwind? There’s a vibe for that, too. There’s even a vibe for sleep, so you can wear your Apollo Neuro all night long for optimized rest. 

My testing method

Now let me be clear, I didn't just test this product for half an hour and come up with a consensus. I've been a dedicated wearer—clocking over almost 45 hours thus far (and yes, the app tracks how often you use it). I've tried every setting and each wear position, so I'd consider myself a worthy tester at this point.

When I first attached the Apollo Neuro to my T-shirt, I felt a sense of comfort that was unique compared to other ease-inducing devices, supplements, or practices that I’ve tried before. 

It's like my mind can finally stop buzzing because something on my body is already buzzing. The situation reminds me of listening to piano music while working; the vibrations eliminate the space for random thoughts, keeping me in the zone. I found that wearing this device helped stop cyclical chatter in the back of my mind, which was preventing me from really calming down before. 

Given my success with the relaxation function, I was doubtful the same device could be used to enhance focus—but it did just that. When the “focus” vibe is selected, the vibration intensity and speed are kicked up just a bit, lighting a fire to my motivation. 

The “fall asleep” vibe is another favorite—an incredibly gentle, oddly comforting vibration that really does assist in the process of dozing off. 

The Apollo Neuro has gone through extensive research including double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. There’s been a total of 1700 participants studied—with even more underway right now. 

A few potential benefits of adding the device to your routine include:

Should you decide to invest in the device, let me give you a piece of advice: Wear it consistently—I'm talking about the full 90 minutes during the day and 90 minutes during the evening or night. This is where the greatest benefits come. Don't worry about logging it on your own, because the Apollo app takes care of that for you.

If you do wear a wellness tracking device such as an Apple Watch or Oura Ring, you can actually track some of the improvements your Apollo Neuro brings you, like balanced HRV, a better sleep score, improved athletic performance, and so on. 

Feeling more relaxed and having better cognitive performance can’t necessarily be tracked on the basic wearable devices, so these are effects that you’ll have to feel for yourself. As someone who started out the journey skeptical of a wearable device promising better well-being, I have to say this one is actually worth it—the research echos my conclusion, too—and it’s only just beginning.