You may be familiar with the Purple mattress because of the brand’s viral advertising and unique Smart Comfort Grid. The original Purple mattress won major kudos from consumers, thanks in part to outstanding pressure point relief. More recently, Purple has responded to customer feedback with the Purple Hybrid mattress (formerly known as the Purple .2).
In this comparison, we’ll highlight the differences between these two hybrid models in order to help you decide which one is right for your sleeping position, budget, and comfort needs.
Purple and Purple Hybrid Overview
Customer Rating
MA Score
Summary
Firmness
Type
Trial Period
Warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.4/10
Summary
Proven pressure relief for people with back pain; good for back and side sleepers
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Type
Hybrid: hyper-elastic polymer and foam
Trial Period
100 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.1/10
Summary
The firmest of the New Purple Mattresses - great for pressure relief
Firmness
Medium firm: 7/10
Type
Hybrid: hyper-elastic polymer and foam
Trial Period
100 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Purple
Purple Hybrid
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.4/10
8.1/10
Summary
Proven pressure relief for people with back pain; good for back and side sleepers
The firmest of the New Purple Mattresses - great for pressure relief
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Medium firm: 7/10
Type
Hybrid: hyper-elastic polymer and foam
Hybrid: hyper-elastic polymer and foam
Trial Period
100 days
100 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
10-year limited warranty
Key Similarities
- Smart Comfort Grid: Purple’s proprietary comfort layer is the waffle-shaped Smart Comfort Grid. This layer is made of hyper elastic polymer and is the focal point of every Purple mattress, including the Purple Hybrid Premier (aka the Purple 3 & 4).
- Trial Period & Warranty: Purple offers a 100 night sleep trial, friendly return policy, and 10-year warranty on both of these mattress models.
- Certipur-US Certified: While neither of these mattresses are all-foam, the polyurethane foam layers are Certipur-US certified for low V.O.C. (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions and non-toxic materials.
Key Differences
- Base Layer: The most obvious difference between the Purple and Purple Hybrid is the mattress foundation. The original Purple has a foam base, while the Purple Hybrid has a pocketed coil layer.
- Firmness Scale: The Purple Hybrid is Purple’s firmest mattress option, due to the coil support layer and 2” Smart Comfort Grid. The original Purple is a little softer, and in case you’re curious, the Purple Hybrid Premier mattress is the softest in the Purple collection.
- Sleeping Position: The different firmness levels of the Purple and Purple Hybrid mattresses are compatible with different sleeping positions and comfort preferences. The medium-firm original Purple isn’t quite plush, but it’s soft enough for most side sleepers. The firmer Purple Hybrid is best for back sleepers.
Purple Mattress Review Highlights
- Hyper Elastic Polymer: As with all Purple mattress models, the original Purple mattress features the hyper elastic polymer comfort grid. It’s instantly cushioning, contouring, and cozy, and supports body weight up to 750 lbs.
- Breathable: The Purple mattress cover is breathable on the top and sides, which lets warm air move away from the mattress core. Additionally, the shape of the comfort grid creates air channels that improve the breathability – and coolness – of the mattress.
- Edge Support: An often overlooked feature, edge support is a friend to all who hog the bed at night. The original Purple mattress scored 8.5/10 for edge support, so you can use up the whole mattress surface without worrying about rolling off the side mid REM cycle.
- Pressure Relief: This is the comfort factor that most people shop for when buying a mattress, and the original Purple delivers – it scored 8.5/10 in this category. In other words, we gave it an A grade for pressure relief on your hips, shoulders, chest, and back.
- Spinal Alignment: Last but not least, spinal alignment is the original Purple’s highest score at 9.5/10. You may not have great posture at your desk, but you’ll have amazing posture at night on the Purple mattress. That equates to less back pain and stiffness.
Purple Hybrid Mattress Review Highlights
- Responsive: The base layer of the Purple Hybrid mattress contains individually wrapped pocket coils that move precisely with your body. Unlike an innerspring mattress, pocket coils provide a more nuanced response to your movements than interconnected springs.
- Contouring: The Purple Hybrid is topped with the Purple grid, which contours to a raw egg so well that it doesn’t crack under 1,400lbs of pressure. With that in mind, imagine how well it can cushion your body.
- Durable: While memory foam eventually breaks down or cracks, hyper elastic polymer is extremely durable. The first hyper elastic polymer materials were developed in the 1990’s, and they still haven’t broken down like other mattress materials on the market.
- Hypoallergenic: All of Purple’s mattresses, including the Purple Hybrid, are hypoallergenic and made with Certipur-US certified foams that have little or no off-gassing. The mattresses are made in the USA and subject to American production standards.
- More Possibilities: Unlike the original Purple, you can upgrade your Purple Hybrid mattress to a Hybrid Premier. The Premier is available with a 3 inch “weightless support” or 4 inch “zero gravity float” comfort layer that is extra cushioning.
Compare Mattress Dimensions/Sizes
Check out how the original Purple and Purple Hybrid mattresses differ in terms of dimension. The Purple Hybrid is a little thicker, and the Twin size is only offered for the original Purple.
| Purple | Purple Hybrid | |
| Thickness | 9.25” | 11” |
| Twin | 38” x 75” | N/A |
| Twin XL | 38” x 80” | 38” x 80” |
| Full | 54” x 76” | 54” x 76” |
| Queen | 60” x 80” | 60” x 80” |
| King | 76” x 80” | 76” x 80” |
| California King | 72” x 84” | 72” x 84” |
Learn more about mattress sizes.
Compare Prices
Learn more about the pricing for these two Purple models. Keep in mind that Purple offers financing on their mattresses through Split or Affirm.
| Purple | Purple Hybrid | |
| Twin | $699 | N/A |
| Twin XL | $899 | $1,699 |
| Full | $1,099 | $1,899 |
| Queen | $1,299 | $2,099 |
| King | $1,699 | $2,599 |
| Cal King | $1,699 | $2,599 |
| Split King | $1,798 | $3,398 |
Compare What’s Inside
Next, we’ll look at mattress construction to see how these two mattresses differ on the inside.
Inside the Purple Mattress
- Mattress Cover: The Purple mattress cover is a blend of polyester, viscose, and lycra. It has a soft, spandex-like feel that stretches with the Purple Grid. The stretchiness is extra important for reaping the full benefit of the grid, and Purple also recommends their stretchy sheets.
- SmartGrid: The SmartGrid – aka Purple grid – top layer distributes your body weight across the hyper elastic polymer channels so you feel like you’re floating on a cloud.
- Transition Foam: This polyfoam layer has a medium-soft feel that cushions any pressure that makes it past the SmartGrid. It’s more responsive than memory foam, so it moves with you.
- Support Foam: Polyfoam also makes up the base layer of the original Purple. This higher-density foam layer prevents sinkage and sagging, and contributes to the Purple’s high durability rating.
Inside the Purple Hybrid Mattress
- Mattress Cover: The Purple Hybrid has the same polyester, viscose, lycra cover as the original. It’s extra stretchy and breathable, which keeps your mattress temperature neutral while you sleep.
- SmartGrid: The hyper-elastic polymer in this 2” comfort layer is a flexible gel material that cushions your pressure points and supports your lower back, regardless of your sleep position.
- Transition Foam: This is a thin 0.5” layer of foam that improves the overall comfort and functionality of the mattress.
- Responsive Support Coils: Each coil in this base layer is 7.5” tall and individually wrapped. Coils improve the airflow, durability, and motion isolation of the mattress.
- Transition Foam: Another 0.5” layer of transition foam.
Compare Sleep Performance
In this section, we’ll compare the Purple and Purple Hybrid across specific performance categories.
Pressure Relief
These mattresses share a 2” SmartGrid top layer, so they feel pretty similar initially; however, the Purple Hybrid coil layer creates a slightly firmer feel. It still provides excellent pressure relief, but not as much cushion as the foam support layers on the original.
What does that mean for you? If you’re a side sleeper, you’ll likely find the original Purple mattress to be more comfortable. Back sleepers actually benefit from a firmer feel, since they don’t need quite as much cushion, so they will fare better on the Purple Hybrid. Stomach sleepers will get better spinal alignment on the extra supportive Purple Hybrid.
Cooling
Generally, coil or innerspring mattresses sleep cooler than foam mattresses. Why? There is lots of space for warm air to flow between the coils, whereas foam has a tendency to trap heat. Fortunately, both mattresses perform well for cooling, but the coil layer in the Purple Hybrid makes it a fraction cooler than the original.
Responsiveness
A highly responsive mattress can keep up with your tossing and turning. It springs back to form, unlike the slow transition that is typical of traditional memory foam. The original Purple mattress performs well – if average – in this category. The Purple Hybrid does a slightly better job of keeping up with you because of the individual coils in the support layer.
Verdict: Which Is the Best Mattress?
Our verdict? Side sleepers, cost-conscious shoppers, and those with lightweight body types should pick the original Purple. Back sleepers, stomach sleepers, those with heavier body types, and those who run warm should go with the Purple Hybrid. If you need a Twin size, the original Purple is your only option.
Since both mattresses come from the same parent company, you get 100-night sleep trials, full refunds with returns, and 10-year warranties. The original Purple and Purple Hybrid are delivered bed-in-a-box style via FedEx, although you can opt for $149 white glove delivery with the Purple Hybrid.
Each of these mattresses receive rave reviews from customers, so choose the one that works best for your sleep position, budget, and comfort preferences.
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