Purple Mattress vs Tempurpedic Mattress Review 2020

Purple may have only been born this decade, but it has 40 years of cushioning expertise behind it. Its founders are known for licensing the patent for their cushioning technology to giant companies like Nike. This tech is none other than the Hyper-Elastic Polymer used in making the Purple Mattress. 

Having been around for more than two decades, Tempurpedic rides the new mattress wave with its own brand of tech. This Swiss company arrived in the United States in 1992. And it’s been using cushioning technology based on research by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Our Purple Mattress vs Tempurpedic Mattress guide makes an interesting rivalry. One is a relative newcomer while another is an old-timer in the industry. But both of them have captured the hearts and minds and got their customers backs since they started.

Table of Contents

Purple Mattress vs Tempurpedic Mattress Comparison

Purple Mattress vs Tempurpedic Mattress Review

Construction & Materials

The Original Purple Mattress has caught the attention of customers through its unique grid structure. Known as the Smart Comfort Grid, this material leverages the Hyper-Elastic Polymer technology patented by Purple founders. This cushioning tech has been licensed to international companies from other industries such as Nike. But the founders have found a way to apply it on a king-size bed via a machine called the Mattress Max.

With that in place, we can now easily identify the other layers inside the Purple mattress. 

  • Smart Comfort Grid – Referring to the top layer, the Purple grid is a gel-like, open-grid structure that delivers conforming support, pressure relief, and cooling. The Hyper-Elastic Polymer used to make it is super stretchable. Also, you can feel the grid as you hit the sack, which can be different from the typical bed surface.
  • Support Layer – A high-density polyurethane foam that is 3.5 inches thick and 1.8 pounds heavy. It is firm enough to push you back as the comfort layer lets you sink in a bit, providing maximum comfort.
  • Base Layer – A high-density polyurethane foam that is 4 inches thick. This base also weighs 2 pounds and is durable and supportive.
  • Soft, breathable cover – Completing the Purple mattresses is a soft, breathable cover that bears the signature  Purple colors (white, gray, and purple).

Tempurpedic is also backed by time-tested technology. Its signature material was originally based on research by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Known as the Tempur foam, this component was inspired by the cushioning materials NASA had been developing for airplane seats as a safety feature during emergency situations. Now, we know this as the memory foam that acts as a comfort layer inside the Tempur-Adapt Mattress.

This part is combined with a high-density polyfoam support core layer. This tandem is found not only in Tempur-Adapt but also in other Tempurpedic models. For the longest time, customers have been okay with knowing that the company has engineered a science-backed component into its mattresses. It doesn’t need to disclose their exact content. It may be accepted as a trade secret, but transparency is also a thing nowadays.

Winner: Purple (for transparency)

Read our full review of the Original Purple Mattress.

Firmness & Feel

Online or traditional mattress companies alike are scrambling for the attention of modern customers. To cater to more and more people, they are creating models that offer multiple firmness options. With all the plush, medium, and firm offerings out there, how do you know which one suits you? The answer to that is the 1 to 10 Firmness Scale, where 1 is softest and 10 is firmest.

Check this out:

  • Ultra Soft – 1-2
  • Soft – 3-4
  • Medium – 5-6
  • Firm – 7-8
  • Ultra Firm – 9-10

Meanwhile, here is the weight classification followed by mattress experts and reviewers (including the PhatFusion team):

  • Lightweight – 90 pounds and below
  • Average weight – 90 to 230 pounds
  • Heavyweight – 230 pounds and above

Each mattress manufacturer may have its own interpretation of the scale. But you can rely on it to tell you which firmness level is fit for your sleeping position and weight

The Original Purple snags a 6.5 firmness score. See that it is between Medium and Firm on the standard scale. The company then labels it Medium Firm. Here, you will feel gentle firmness at the surface, and then some pushback as you reach the core and support layers. Except for lightweight individuals who snooze on their stomach, all kinds of sleepers are supported by this mattress model.

Tempur-Adapt may deviate a little from the standard scale. It registers a 5 firmness rating, which its maker refers to as Medium Firm. While all weight groups can feel comfortable on this bed, those who sleep on their back or side get optimal benefits.

Winner: Tempurpedic

Cooling

Both mattress models use a mix of foams, including memory foam. This material, in its traditional version, is a heat trap. So brands have been racing to create the best innovation on memory foam. This is how options like those infused with gel, copper, or graphite came to be. 

As for Purple, its grid is mainly responsible for regulating temperature. Remember the super stretchy Hyper-Elastic Polymer? It resulted to an open grid structure, and in that grid, air can flow freely. Aside from producing a well-ventilated comfort layer, it wicks heat away from your body. 

Still, some users say it sleeps warm at some point. Sleeping warm is an issue among all-foam designs. This can be a good thing during winter. But it may cause a lot of discomfort to those who sleep hot during summer.

On the other hand, Tempurpedic’s all-foam model lists memory foam as its comfort layer. This memory foam has been great at closely conforming to your body’s curves. This has brought a lot of comfort to sleepers. But it’s also been notorious for sleeping hot. Through the years, Tempurpedic has worked on improving this situation. The result is shown in the memory foam being infused with cooling properties.

This has been applied in other Adapt line models. A cooling cover is also included to boost airflow. But the company does not disclose further information about its materials. That doesn’t change the fact that the Tempur-Adapt delivers. It sleeps warm at some point, though, according to users.

Winner: Tie

Edge Support & Sinkage

Not everyone will be concerned about edge support. But it will be a big deal for those who like to roll over in their sleep. So, you may skip or keep reading this part based on what applies to your case. 

All-foam mattresses usually fall short in this area. Hybrids and innerspring score better. The Original Purple has weak edge support. While it is pegged to last between 5 and 10 years, you may experience snoozing on an uneven surface as the edges deteriorate over time. The All-New Purple Mattress improves on this weakness. But it is more expensive. Yet, it goes to show that Purple has made some progress in this regard.

What about Tempurpedic? Tempur-Adapt delivers some edge support, but it is not as good as the edge support provided by hybrid and innerspring beds. You may still experience premature sagging at the perimeter. And you won’t usually feel like you’re maximizing the surface area of the bed because you won’t feel confident taking up space near the edge.

Winner: Tempurpedic

Motion Transfer

You may be wondering what in the world motion transfer is referring to. Well, it is the transfer of movements across the bed. When your partner or co-sleeper moves, the entire bed will shake. This will also happen if you move. And if either of you moves a lot while one sleeps lightly, motion transfer can interrupt the latter’s sleep. 

This is important because, over time, the disruption can negatively affect you or the other person’s sleep quality. 

Purple’s open grid system is excellent at reducing motion transfer. The little grids are great at containing motion, so you may feel little to no movements on your end. You may have the stretchy material to thank again for this.

Tempur-Adapt is not to be beaten in this area. Where the Original Purple reduces motion transfer, Tempur-Adapt eliminates it. The combination of memory foam and high-density polyfoam turns out to be good at insulating motion. Our verdict is that you have a better chance of sleeping without interruptions on this bed.

Winner: Tempurpedic

Pricing

There are two ways to look at this. 

First, Tempur-Adapt belongs to the traditional mattress brand category. Models from this group are usually expensive and considered to be high-end. So this one is fit for those who have a budget involving several thousand dollars. Second, Purple comes from the online mattress category. This group offers more affordable options as its models do not carry mark-ups from the cost of operating and maintaining physical stores.

A queen-size Original Purple is sold regularly for $999. It’s a bit higher than other popular beds in boxes like that of Nectar or Leesa. The proprietary Smart Comfort Grid may have something to do with this. This cushioning technology is not cheap. Think of it as being the same tech used in manufacturing Nike shoes, which are a bit pricey.

A queen-size Tempur-Adapt retails at $2,199. This is already one of the less expensive models sold by the company. It is quite pricey for a memory foam mattress, whose average market price ranges from. 

For some people, money is not a problem. And they can easily buy a Tempur-Adapt mattress to replace their old one. But for those who dream of owning this bed but are a little short, do not fret. Tempurpedic has made it easier for you to avail of financing.

Winner: Purple

Other Factors

In terms of factors like shipping and warranty, Tempurpedic has established its policies over time, which can prove to be an advantage. So, you can get free standard shipping. But if you want a next-day air delivery, you can request it and get it charged for $40 per order. Second-Day air delivery is also available for $25 per order. All deliveries are via UPS.

Tempurpedic also offers free white glove delivery and mattress removal for those who live in the contiguous United States. However, you will have to pay $25 per order for this service if you are from Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other US territories. Your mattress comes with a 90-night trial, with a required 30-day break-in period. A return request can be made after the first 30 days of your purchase. 

Tempur-Adapt is backed by a 10-year non-prorated warranty. 

Purple also provides free shipping and returns, a full refund, a 100-night trial, and a 10-year warranty. The adjustment period spans 21 days, after which you can request a return should you need to do so.

Winner: Tempurpedic

Pros & Cons

Purple Mattress

Pros
  • Sports the Smart Comfort Grid.
  • Supportive and pressure-relieving.
  • Isolates motion well.
  • The more affordable option.
Cons
  • May sleep warm.
  • May emit off-gassing odors.

Tempurpedic Mattress

Pros
  • Uses cushioning tech based on NASA’s research.
  • Provides superior contouring.
  • Isolates motion well.
  • More shipping options.
Cons
  • Doesn’t disclose material specs.
  • The more expensive option.

Also checkout Purple and Tempurpedic comparison with other mattress.

PurpleTempurpedic
Purple vs. Leesa Mattress ReviewTempurpedic vs.Leesa Mattress Review
Purple vs. Nectar Mattress Review
Casper vs. Purple Mattress Review
Purple vs. GhostBed Mattress Review
Purple Mattress vs. Tuft and Needle Review

Conclusion

Being the more established mattress brand, Tempurpedic has an edge over Purple. Its cushioning tech, Tempur, is not easy to dethrone in many areas. For those who are willing to pay more for all this luxury bed has to offer, Tempur-Adapt does not disappoint. It is also one of the less expensive versions from the company.

But Purple has its own appeal, especially to those who are looking for a more affordable mattress. And the company places a premium on transparency with regard to materials. It is not at all far from reaching out to more customers in the years to come.

Either mattress model has something to offer. But only one caters to your needs and preferences. Which one is it? Let us know in the comments.