When it comes to making buying decisions, we like to know all of our options and how they stack up. That’s the same whether it’s a new dishwasher, a new set of power tools, or a late-night Amazon purchase. Why should mattresses be any different? Today, we’re here to delve into a comparison between two of the most sought-after, innovative brands in the mattress industry — Tempur-Pedic and Purple Mattress.
Here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, we take pride in being a retailer for both Tempur-Pedic and Purple. That means our mattress experts are uniquely situated to compare and contrast them. Our belief in the quality of these brands is what led us to offer them to our customers in the first place! However, each brand does have its own pros (and cons), along with unique features that consumers won’t find anywhere else.
Tempur-Pedic is one of only a few brands often held up as a gold standard in our industry. But how does relative newcomer Purple Mattress measure up? Let’s explore the differences and similarities between these two innovative mattress brands to help you make an informed decision as you embark on your quest to find the perfect mattress.
Tempur-Pedic vs Purple | Brand Head-to-Head
The primary reason that shoppers like to compare Tempur-Pedic vs Purple Mattress online and in our stores is because these premium brands are responsible for some of the biggest technological innovations in the history of mattress manufacturing. First in the early 1990s with Tempur-Pedic, and then in the mid-2010s with Purple.
First, for thousands of years there were straw mattresses. Then there were feather or down mattresses. And finally in the 1800s, the first innerspring mattresses were born. But for more than a century, mattress technology mostly stood still.
That was until Tempur-Pedic kicked off a viscoelastic foam mattress revolution. As Tempur-Pedic continued to fine tune the formula for their own proprietary Tempur-Adapt foam, other manufacturers developed memory foams to emulate Tempur-Pedic. Eventually, various memory foam and gel memory foam mattresses piggybacked on Tempur-Pedic’s success, with foam mattresses eventually unseating innerspring as the most popular mattress type on the market.
A few short years later another new brand, Purple Mattress, would bring a new kind of mattress direct-to-consumers unlike anything else they’d ever seen. In addition to being among the first wave of brands to pioneer a shippable, “mattress-in-a-box” business model, Purple’s new, cutting edge mattress designs and construction materials are unique, and remain that way even today.
Tempur-Pedic vs Purple | Design & Construction
The most obvious difference between Tempur-Pedic and Purple mattresses is their design and construction. The key ingredient in every Tempur-Pedic mattress is a proprietary viscoelastic foam known as TEMPUR material. By contrast, Purple’s key component, the patented GelFlex Grid or Purple Grid, is made entirely of hyper-elastic polymer (aka a super-stretchy, gel-like material).
At this point, most sleepers have at least tried a foam mattress of some sort. While there are a number of differences that distinguish Tempur-Pedic’s superior TEMPUR material from regular memory foams, most shoppers are generally familiar with the feel of supportive, dense, slow-moving, body-contouring foams. What you get with Tempur-Pedic is the oft-imitated, original viscoelastic foam mattress, best-in-class pressure relief and support, and a mattress line-up that consistently wins industry awards for customer satisfaction year after year.
In some ways, Purple’s GelFlex Grid aims to offer sleepers a similar experience. For instance, some benefits are similar to what you’d expect from a high-end viscoelastic foam mattress like Tempur-Pedic – things like body contouring, pressure relief and motion isolation. But Purple also has some tricks of their own. Since the Purple Grid is 80% air, it is extremely breathable and temperature-neutral. Additionally, the elasticity of the Purple Grid gives it a responsive bounce that is lacking in most foam mattresses.
Tempur-Pedic vs Purple | Products & Features
Now that we’ve discussed the brands, their histories, and the difference in their design, let’s do a brief side-by-side comparison of the products they offer. Both manufacturers put their mattresses on center stage. However, waiting in the wings just off-stage are some of the best adjustable base options on the market.
Tempur-Pedic Mattresses & Adjustable Bases
As of the time of this writing, most of Tempur-Pedic’s mattress offerings can be broadly divided into 2 mattress collections – the TEMPUR-Adapt Collection and the TEMPUR-Breeze Collection. These collections include Tempur-Pedic’s signature TEMPUR material and a choice of up to 4 comfort options from soft, medium and firm, to a medium hybrid option with pocketed spring coils for those who want something a little more responsive.
If you love the cradling, pressure-relieving, conforming sensation of foam, a Tempur-Pedic mattress truly is the Rolls Royce of mattresses. Additionally, if you sleep hot and are serious about finding the best cooling features available, nothing in the mattress industry compares to Tempur-Pedic’s TEMPUR-Breeze collection which offers sleepers the sensation of sleeping up to 10 degrees cooler!
It goes without saying that Tempur-Pedic is clearly a luxury brand. And that’s without getting into their cutting-edge adjustable bases! With tons of preset positions, anti-snoring features, massage functions, sleep monitoring and coaching, smartphone and smart home integration, and more, Tempur-Pedic is also the mattress industry gold-standard when it comes to adjustable bases.
[Editor’s Note: For more information on Tempur-Pedic’s new TEMPUR-Breeze line and their unmatched, feature-rich lineup of Tempur-Ergo Adjustable Bases, be sure to read the helpful resources below!]
Purple Mattresses & Adjustable Bases
For the longest time, Purple only offered a couple different mattresses. The Original Purple mattress is still going strong. However, over the last couple years they’ve rounded out their mattress lineup by adding the improved Purple Plus mattress, as well as a new entry-level mattress (the Purple NewDay mattress) and a series of brand new hybrid mattresses for 2023 under the banner of Purple Premium Collection and Purple Luxe Collection.
All of Purple’s mattresses prominently feature between 2 inches and 4 inches thickness of their patented GelFlex Grid, along with varying layers of base foam, comfort foam, and pocketed coils. This gives each mattress in the product line its own unique feel, while still being unmistakably and delightfully Purple.
The result is a greatly expanded lineup of mattresses with accessible entry-level mattresses alongside top-tier options that can go toe-to-toe with the most luxurious mattresses on the market. On average, this makes Purple a bit more affordable than Tempur-Pedic. Thanks to the Purple Grid, they are also more breathable, although not quite cool-to-the-touch like Tempur-Pedic’s TEMPUR-Breeze.
On the adjustable base front, Purple has also revamped their offerings for 2023 with two new models – the Purple Premium Smart Base and Purple Premium Plus Smart Base. While they don’t have the full range of features found in Tempur-Pedic’s models, they are also more affordable.
[Editor’s Note: Be sure to read more about the new Purple Premium Collection and their new lineup of adjustable bases here!]
Pillows & Sleep Accessories
Remember the GelFlex Grid (aka the Purple Grid)? Purple makes several different pillows using their trademark stretchy, squishy, hyper-elastic polymer technology – the height-adjustable Purple Pillow and the light and airy Harmony Pillow. Additionally, they offer a more traditional pillow option with the fluffy and breathable Purple Cloud Pillow.
Similarly, Tempur-Pedic uses their own patented TEMPUR-Adapt and TEMPUR-Breeze materials to create an entire line of pillows with a range of neck heights and cooling properties. As a result, both brands have pillow options fit for any sleeper, regardless of size, shape or sleep position.
To get the most out of your new mattress, both brands offer high-quality sheets and mattress protectors. These superior products are crafted specifically to complement the feel of their respective mattresses while protecting them from spills, accidents, and regular wear-and-tear.
Tempur-Pedic vs Purple | Other Considerations
Finally, there are a couple other distinctions between Purple Mattress and Tempur-Pedic that are worth pondering. The first is the difference in shipping and delivery. The second is regarding sleep trials, guarantees and manufacturer’s warranties.
Thanks to Purple’s origins as a direct-to-consumer “mattress in a box” manufacturer, Purple mattresses are compressed into a sort-of duffel bag and can be shipped right to your door. This also makes them easier to transport, move and install in your home. By contrast, Tempur-Pedic offers consumers a more traditional mattress buying experience. Keep in mind that Tempur-Pedic mattresses can still be delivered anywhere in the country when purchased online, albeit without the extra thrill of unboxing.
When it comes to various guarantees and warranties, Tempur-Pedic and Purple offer similar things to customers. Mattresses from both brands include a better-than-average 10-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. Additionally, both brands have generous sleep trial programs where buyers can return or exchange within a certain window. For Purple, this window is 100 calendar days from purchase, while Tempur-Pedic’s time-frame is 90 days.
Which of These Innovative Mattress Brands Sounds Right for You?
After learning a bit more about Tempur-Pedic vs Purple, which of these mattress industry innovators sounds like a better fit for your needs? Is it Tempur-Pedic with their stellar pressure relief, industry-best cooling options, and best-in-class adjustable bases? Or is it Purple with their uniquely breathable GelFlex Grid, wonderful balance between support and responsiveness, and their more accessible entry-level and mid-level mattresses and adjustable bases? The beautiful thing is that there are great arguments to be made in favor of either brand. It all depends on what your priorities are.
Still not sure? Swing by any of our 6 North Georgia and Metro Atlanta stores to try both product lines for yourself. Also, be sure to take advantage of our convenient, online web chat to ask our sleep experts any questions that you might have. Lastly, don’t forget to dive a little deeper into both Tempur-Pedic and Purple with the helpful articles below:
- An Honest Purple Mattress Review (Updated & Current for 2022)
- Purple Mattress Review 2023: The New Purple Premium Collection Is Here!
- Which Purple Adjustable Base Is Right for You?
- Tempur-Pedic vs Memory Foam: Is There Really a Difference?
- Tempur-Pedic’s New Adjustable Base Line for 2023
- TEMPUR-Breeze 2023: Reviewing Tempur-Pedic’s New ProBreeze & LuxeBreeze Mattresses