Step inside the futuristic ‘tanning bed from the future.’
By Timothy Beck Werth on March 14, 2026
Plug yourself in like a phone.
Credit: Kenneth Butler / Mashable
There are many emerging technologies at SXSW — AI voice restoration, robotaxis, XR experiences. But there’s only one Ammortal Chamber — a $160,000 red light bed with advanced restoration and rejuvenation technology.
As a millennial nearing middle age and a fan of luxury spa experiences, I took a break from SXSW tech panels to try the demonstration version at the Fairmont Hotel spa.
Like a phone battery recharging, the Ammortal Chamber recharges you — at least, that’s the premise.
What is the Ammortal Chamber?
Resembling a futuristic tanning bed, the Ammortal Chamber has a striking design. During treatment, you lie on a zero-gravity glass bed with electromagnetic coils, surrounded by infrared lights.
The chamber combines red and infrared light, molecular hydrogen inhalation, guided meditation and breathwork, vibroacoustic sound therapy, and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy into an immersive experience.
I’ve written about gadgets and AI and explored male grooming. I first encountered red light therapy through those masks that resemble Hannibal Lecter’s and was skeptical. However, dermatologists confirmed that consistent light therapy can be an effective skincare tool, and it’s popular for workout recovery.
Despite skepticism, I wouldn’t expect results after one red light session, even in a futuristic chamber. I can’t assess the health benefits of the Ammortal Chamber, but I can describe the experience inside one.
What the Ammortal Chamber is like
Using a control panel, you select a 15 or 25-minute experience. I chose “Energize,” featuring music, breathwork, and specific settings for each experience.
A technician helped with molecular hydrogen inhalation, and the treatment began.
Though initially intimidating, the chamber didn’t feel claustrophobic. The upper panel lowered, bright lights activated. Even with goggles, the lights were intense. (The chamber uses 60nm red light, 850nm near-infrared light, and 100mW/cm2 red light.)
A loud soundscape enveloped me, syncing with acoustic vibration. It was intense. Vibrations resonated through my body. With PEMF, a slight tingling possibly resulted from a placebo effect. A mild electric field shocked a colleague filming the experience when touched me (the chamber uses 0.5 Hz to 50 MHz frequencies).
A soothing voice guided breathwork meditation at the start and end. The session was meditative, and I felt energized.
When the session ended, I still felt buzzed. Did I feel energized? Restored? Rejuvenated? I’m unsure, but I wanted to go again.
Who is the Ammortal Chamber for?
The $160,000 Ammortal Chamber is for the wealthy. But regular people may encounter it at spas among ice baths, infrared saunas, and hyperbaric chambers.
An Ammortal representative said the machines are used by several NFL teams, with some players expressing interest in home installation.
While I can’t speak to the machine’s medical benefits or long-term effects from a short session, it might offer wealthy individuals a short-term buzz. If so, I commend Ammortal.
But I definitely want to book another session before leaving Austin.
Topics: Health, SXSW
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Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable. He has over 15 years of experience covering consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Tim studied print journalism at USC and splits his time between Brooklyn, NY, and Charleston, SC. He’s working on his second novel, a science-fiction book.