 | VS. |  |
|---|---|---|
| $799 – $1,699 | Price Range | $1,699 – $2,599 |
| $125 Off Applied In Cart | Offer | $200 Off Applied In Cart |
| Best For |
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| 100 Nights | Trial Period | 100 Nights |
| 10 Years | Warranty | 10 Years |
| Free Shipping and Returns | Shipping Options | Free Shipping and Returns |
| Shop Now | Shop Now |
Note: Purple recently discontinued thePurple Hybrid Premier 3, and Purple Hybrid Premier 4. They are no longer available for purchase. However, Purple released three new collections of mattresses — the Essential, Premium and Luxe collections. Each collection has three mattresses in them.
Purple exploded onto the mattress scene back in 2015 and has since become one of the largest brands in the industry. In this post, we compare and contrast the four Purple models (Original, Purple Hybrid, Purple Hybrid Premier 3, and Purple Hybrid Premier 4).
Here are the main differences when comparing the Original Purple vs. Purple Hybrid vs. Purple Premier:
- Support System – The Original beds use 7.5″ of foam, while the New Hybrid and Hybrid Premier use 7.5″ pocketed coils.
- Price – The Original model retails for around $1,100-$1,200, and Purple Hybrid is in the $2,000+ space (based on queen sizes).
- Weight — While all the Purple mattresses are heavy, the New Purple Hybrid and Premier are especially heavy and are no fun to move.
- Firmness — All Purple beds have a similar firmness, though not exactly the same. The Hybrid model is closest to a medium-firm, while the Original and Hybrid Premier are pretty much exactly a medium.
Purple Mattress Construction
The Original Purple mattress is comprised of three layers and totals 9.25″ thick. Here’s how the construction breaks down.
- Base Layer — 4″ of 2 lb polyurethane foam
- Transition Layer — 3.25″ of 1.8 lb polyurethane foam
- Comfort Layer — 2″ of Hyper-Elastic Polymer
As you can see above, the bed uses a dense layer of foam for its support structure. This is the primary difference between the Original Purple and the New Purple Hybrid mattresses, which use coils instead.
The Purple 2 Hybrid mattress, on the other hand, is composed of four layers and totals 11″ thick. Here’s how the construction breaks down.
- Base Layer — 1″ of dense polyurethane foam
- Primary Support Structure — 7.5″ individually encased coils
- Transition Layer — 1/2″ of polyurethane foam
- Comfort Layer — 2″ of Hyper-Elastic Polymer
The Purple Hybrid Premier 3.0 mattress, like the Purple Hybrid 2.0, is made up of four layers but totals 12″ thick instead of 11″. Here’s how the layers break down.
- Base Layer — 1″ of dense polyurethane foam
- Primary Support Structure — 7.5″ individually encased coils
- Transition Layer — 1/2″ of polyurethane foam
- Comfort Layer — 2″ of Hyper-Elastic Polymer
You might have already caught this, but the main difference between the base Purple Hybrid and the Purple Hybrid Premier 3.0 model is the top layer. The Purple Hybrid Premier 3.0 uses an additional inch of Hyper-Elastic Polymer. As the pattern continues, the only real difference between Purple 3 and 4 that Purple 4 has a 4” Polymer layer.
Purple Mattress Feel & Firmness
Given all four Purple beds use the same Hyper-Elastic Polymer for their top layer, all the models feel pretty similar.
This polymer acts and feels more like a gel material, so as you can imagine, the beds have a gel-like feel to them. As you lay down on the bed, you can feel the polymer below moving, compressing, and shifting.
I have to admit that the feeling is a little odd at first. In fact, the feel is just too weird for some people.
However, we’ve found that after spending a few nights on the mattress, the majority of people end up really enjoying the feel. It’s like trying an exotic type of food for the first time. When you first taste it, you’re not used to it, and you think it’s weird, but overall you’re like, “Hey, it’s not so bad.” Then after you try it again, a light goes off, and you just can’t get enough of it.
If you don’t want to dive right in, though, Purple does allow you to order small samples of Hyper-Elastic Polymer on their website so you can feel it for yourself before pulling the trigger on an entire mattress.
How firm are Purple mattresses?
In terms of firmness, we think the Original Purple comes in around a medium on the firmness scale. Overall, the bed provides a nice balance between support and pressure relief.
The Purple Hybrid mattress is the firmest of all the models. That’s because you basically have a 2″ layer of polymer on top of coils, which again tend to be a little firmer and more supportive than dense foams. It’s rated around a medium-firm.
Since the Purple Hybrid Premier 3 and 4 have extra inches of polymer on top, They’re slightly softer than the base Purple Hybrid. Overall, we think the Purple 3 and 4 Hybrid Premier come in around a medium to medium-firm on the firmness scale.
Purple vs. Hybrid vs. Premier Sleeper Analysis
Other Considerations For Your Purple Mattress
Temperature Regulation
When it comes down to brass tacks, Purple beds excel in this category. In fact, we included Purple on our list of the Best Mattress For Hot Sleepers primarily due to how breathable the beds are.
First, Hyper-Elastic Polymer is naturally a temperature-neutral material. In other words, it doesn’t retain and radiate heat the way common foams do. Picture this—first, imagine sleeping on a pile of memory foam. Then imagine sleeping on a pile of gel. Which one do you think will sleep cooler? Easy answer, right? The pile of gel (or Hyper-Elastic Polymer in this case) will most likely sleep much cooler.
Further, the way in which Purple designs the top layer helps, too. The top layer is not just a slab of pure polymer. Instead, Purple designed the Hyper-Elastic Polymer in a grid formation. This creates columns and rows of tiny polymer squares that allow air to move freely near the top of the bed.
Motion Isolation
We were actually pleasantly surprised with how the Purple beds performed in this department. The Hyper-Elastic Polymer actually does a pretty decent job of deadening movement. In other words, despite its bouncy nature, we noticed very little motion that was transferred from one side of the bed to the other.
Now, we’re not saying Purple beds are the best ever at deadening movement, but we think they are good enough to where it won’t be an issue for you and your partner.
Edge Support
This and motion isolation are especially important when it comes to sleeping with a significant other. Comparing Purple vs. Purple Hybrid, we’d have to give it to the Purple hybrid mattresses here. They offer more support with their pocketed coil layers, making the edges more sturdy. Unless you and your S.O. are big cuddlers, we’d recommend one of the hybrid models.
Purple Mattress Comparison Price Table
In terms of price, the Purple Hybrid 2.0 is quite a bit more expensive than the Original Purple but less than the Purple Hybrid Premier 3.0 and Purple Hybrid Premier 4.0.
The Purple Hybrid and Premier mattresses are no longer available for purchase.
| Size | Purple | Purple 2 | Purple 3 | Purple 4 |
| Twin | $599 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Twin XL | $849 | $1,499 | $2,099 | $2,599 |
| Full | $1,049 | $1,699 | $2,299 | $2,799 |
| Queen | $1,199 | $1,799 | $2,399 | $3,099 |
| King | $1,499 | $2,199 | $2,999 | $3,699 |
If Purple is too pricey for you, be sure to check out our list of the Best Budget Beds.
Other Purple Reviews:
Purple Shipping, Return Process, Trial Period, & Warranty
Let’s discuss Purple’s company policies.
- Trial period length: Purple gives you a 100-night risk-free trial period. If, after 100 nights, you decide you don’t like your Purple mattress, contact customer support and they’ll arrange for a third-party service to come remove the mattress from your home for no additional cost.
- Warranty policy: Purple backs their mattresses with a 10-year limited warranty. If you want more detail on the warranty, we’d recommend checking it out on the company’s website.
- Shipping info: All Purple mattresses come with free shipping and the Purple Hybrid Premier models come with free white glove delivery.
Also, just so you’re aware, all these policies (sans free white glove delivery) are pretty standard for the online mattress industry. Most beds you purchase online will come with free delivery, hassle-free returns, a long trial period, and an extended warranty.
More About Purple’s Hyper-Elastic Polymer
Now, a large part of why the company has achieved so much success and why they have differentiated themselves from the competition is because of their Hyper-Elastic Polymer. This material, which Purple uses for the top layers on all their mattress models, is actually patented by the founders of the company.
Just to be clear, Hyper-Elastic Polymer is not a foam material. It actually functions more as a gel or silicone-like material. As you can see below, this polymer material is very flexible, stretchy, and responsive. In fact, Hyper-Elastic Polymer can be stretched 15x its original state, and then it will immediately snap back to position. It’s pretty incredible.
It truly is a unique material that helps separate Purple mattresses from pretty much all other beds on the market.
What Do Purple Beds Feel Like?
Given all four Purple beds use the same Hyper-Elastic Polymer for their top layer, all the models feel pretty similar.
As we stated above, this polymer acts and feels more like a gel material, so as you can imagine, the beds have a gel-like feel to them. As you lay down on the bed, you can feel the polymer below moving, compressing, and shifting.
I have to admit, the feeling is a little odd at first. In fact, the feel is just too weird for some people.
However, we’ve found that after spending a few nights on the mattress, the majority of people end up really enjoying the feel. It’s like trying an exotic type of food for the first time. When you first taste it, you’re not used to it, and you think it’s weird, but overall you’re like, “Hey, it’s not so bad.” Then after you try it again, a light goes off, and you can’t get enough of it.
If you don’t want to dive right in, though, Purple does allow you to order small samples of Hyper-Elastic Polymer on their website so you can feel it for yourself before pulling the trigger on an entire mattress.
With 4” of the brand’s special Hyper-Elastic Polymer, Purple 4 is the most expensive mattress in the line-up of Purple mattresses.
The above-mentioned 4” of Hyper-Elastic Polymer not only makes Purple 4 the most expensive Purple mattress, but it also makes it the softest in the line of Purple mattresses.
We think the best Purple mattresses for heavy sleepers over 250 lbs are Purple 2, 3, and 4 because they have pocketed coil bases that provide maximum support for sleepers with bigger builds.
If you weigh over 230 lbs or just want extra support and firmness, we say go with the Purple Hybrid 2. If you’re on a budget looking to save money, the Purple Original is a great choice. Side sleepers, on the other hand, will probably like Purple 3, 4, or the Original.
Purple Hybrid is the firmest of the Purple hybrid beds. Purple Hybrid Premier is also offered in two different models, one has a 3” comfort layer, and the other has a 4” comfort layer. Both are rated in between medium to medium-firm on our scale, while Purple Hybrid is more of a solid medium-firm.
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