iSense Select Mattress Review

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

Testing Notes

The iSense Select offers internal split firmness for some sizes including Queen, King, and Cal. King. Depending on your preference, the mattress uses a different firmness coil unit—plush, medium or firm.

Our tests are based on the medium version. However, we also tested the plush and firm version for sinkage and firmness.

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. We then take the results of that test and compare to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:

Factor	iSense Select	Average
Overall Score	9.19	8.64
Price (Queen)	$1,699	$1,374 (Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	9.0	8.8
Sinkage – Depth	2.02″	2.16″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	8.6	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	8.19 m/s²	8.63 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.9	8.9
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.4 sec.	0.9 sec.
Bounce – Height	12.64″	9.70″
Bounce – Feel	Very High	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	8.6	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	4.50″	4.06″
Edge Support – Lying	Excellent	Good
Sex – Score	9.6	8.5
Pressure Relief – Score	10	8.8
Comfort Layer Thickness	4.0″	4.1″
Mattress Thickness	11.5″	12.0″
Off-Gassing – Score	8.1	8.4
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	7 days	6 days
Company – Score	8.8	8.7
Trial	180 nights	168 nights
Warranty	10 years	25% have lifetime warranties, average of other 75% of mattresses is 14 years

How is iSense Select Different?

The iSense Select has higher performance than average and a price that is also higher than average.

Advantages

Advantages of the iSense Select include better-than-average cooling performance, fast material response time, good sex score, and a slightly longer trial period than average.

In addition, the iSense Select includes different swappable support coil units. This allows you to adjust the firmness from soft, medium, and firm on each side of the mattress (for Queen, King, and Cal King sizes).

This can be beneficial if you’re unsure of your preferred firmness, find that your preferences change, and/or you and your partner have different firmness needs.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has slightly less sinkage than average with a more dramatic body contouring hug. Having multiple firmness options does help to get sleepers of all sleeping positions and body weights the right type of support.

Bounce is another neutral factor that can swing either way. With the iSense Select, bounce is 30% higher than the average hybrid. If you like bounce, this is a pro, but if not, this could be a con.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages include below-average edge support, a longer off-gassing period, and a shorter-than-average warranty period.

Cooling performance on the iSense Select was excellent. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of heat retention around my body.

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

The mattress seems to breathe well and doesn’t retain much heat. The mattress is equipped with a 4.0” poly foam comfort layer (that feels like modern memory foam) that sits atop a 6.0” coil unit.

Having a coil unit support layer as opposed to more foam helps with cooling, as it is one less layer that heat could be more easily retained within. The top 2.0” layer of foam in particular is impressive. It has an airy, open-cell design that breathes well.

In our objective temperature testing, we measured a max surface level temperature of 91.1° F. After getting off the mattress from minutes 0 to 1 the temperature declined by 5.1°, which is 0.49° F cooler than average.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

From minutes 0 to 5 that decline was 7.6°, which is 0.39° cooler than average. Overall, I was pleased with the level of cooling performance.

The iSense Select has an moderate level of sinkage. In our pressure point sinkage tests on the medium firmness version, the mattress had 2.02” of sinkage, which is 0.14” less sinkage than the average of 2.16”.

We also tested the firm and plush versions. The firm version had 2.06” of sinkage, while the plush version had 2.37”.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The medium version creates a dramatic body contouring, but also one that’s not overly enveloping. The foams are highly responsive, so it’s still easy to move around and change positions. However, the foams do notably wrap around the body.

The firm version is not dramatically different from the medium in terms of how the foams wrap around the body. The only difference is there is an underlying firmness that creates a little more pushback. Notably, the level of sinkage is essentially the same as what we tested on the medium version.

The plush version is more significant. My butt and midsection in particular sink further down. This type of dramatic sinkage depth is really only suited to the needs of side sleepers. Even so, the sinkage depth is fairly restrained at 2.37″.

The iSense Select has a low level of motion transfer. In our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 8.19 m/s². This is 0.5% less motion than the average of 8.62 m/s².

The memory foam-like 2.0” top layer of foam, 4.0” total comfort layer, and pocketed coil support unit are all working together to keep motion transfer in check. The topmost foam layer in particular absorbs a great deal of energy, reducing the level of energy that moves across the mattress.

The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.

In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we see the motion peaks from 0 to 0.14 seconds. Motion drops into a moderate level until 0.64 seconds and by 0.99 seconds we return to near-zero levels of energy.

Given how restrained the motion peak was I was a bit surprised at the near 1-second motion duration. Even so, this is still a low level of motion and won’t be an issue for most sleepers.

The iSense Select has a very fast material response. In our tests, we measured a mostly recovered response time of 0.2 seconds and a fully recovered response time of 0.4 seconds. This is effectively instant responsiveness.

In addition, it’s only 0.1 seconds slower than the fastest responding mattresses we’ve tested to date. The rapid material recovery ensures sleepers will never feel stuck on the mattress and it helps ensure the mattress is easier to move around.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

Overall, this is an impressive level of material response, especially for a mattress that has more of a memory foam feel.

The iSense Select has a extremely high level of bounce. In our tests, we measured a total bounce range of 12.64”. This is 2.95” more bounce than the average of 9.69”.

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

Generally, mattresses with a bounce level this high also have more significant motion transfer. However, that’s not the case with the iSense, which maintained a low level of motion transfer.

A higher level of bounce is greatly beneficial for improving sex performance and ease of movement.

To be able to hit a 12.64” bounce, while also keeping motion low is both incredibly surprising and incredibly rare. The mattress has all of the benefits of high bounce, but none of the negatives.

Edge support on the iSense Select is a bit of a mixed bag. Sitting edge support is good, but not quite amazing, while lying edge support was more impressive.

In our sitting edge support tests, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 4.5”. This is 0.41” more sinkage than the average of 4.09”. Ideally, I want to see 4.0” or less sitting sinkage. Suffice to say, we’re far from that mark.

The foam layers compress down quite easily, which creates great pressure relief, but it does not do any favors for edge support. I wouldn’t call this a material “collapse”, but it definitely leans more in that direction and many heavier-weighted bodies may call it a collapse.

The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.

While sitting edge support isn’t incredible, lying edge support is notably better. In our lying edge support tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions while lying on the absolute edge of the mattress.

The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.

The foams do far better when body weight is more evenly distributed as opposed to compressed to a single point, as it is when sitting on the edge. 

The iSense Select has excellent sex performance. While edge support leaves something to be desired, the high level of bounce greatly carries the sex score.

Bounce is by far the most impactful factor when it comes to the dance without pants. The iSense couples the high bounce with good enough edge support and incredibly comfortable foams, delivering a great experience overall.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	10	Extremely High
Edge Support	20%	8.1	Good
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	10	Outstanding
Cooling	5%	9.0	Excellent

Pressure relief on the iSense Select is outstanding. During our tests, I felt no significant level of pressure point build-up. The mattress is incredibly comfortable.

It uses 4.0” of high-performance comfort foam on top of a robust support coil unit and support foam layer. The 4.0” comfort foam layer is a little less than the average 4.2” comfort layer, based on all of our tests to date.

Nevertheless, being a little less than average seemed to have no impact on the feel or performance.

Both foam comfort layers look and feel high quality, especially the topmost foam, which appears to be a custom foam formula with an open cell structure, high resiliency, and near-instant material response.

The mattress creates a dramatic body contouring hug without excessively holding the body in place.

It’s a rare moment that I feel so relaxed during mattress testing that I could actually fall asleep, but that’s what I experienced with the iSense.

Overall, I am exceedingly impressed with the pressure relief performance.

Off-gassing on the iSense Select is strong right out of the box and the odor lasted for 7 days.

The average off-gassing period of mattresses tested to date is 5 days so the iSense Select, at 7 days, is just slightly beyond that average.

iSense earns a good company score with highly consumer-friendly terms and conditions.

Each mattress comes with a 180-night trial period, as well as a 10 year warranty.

The mattress is made in the US and shipping is free. If the mattress ends up not working out, returns are also free.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	10	180 nights
Warranty	10%	8.0	10 years
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	10	$0
Trust	50%	8.0	Good
Country of Origin	0%		USA

The iSense Select is available in three firmness options—plush (4), medium (5.5), and firm (7.5).

The plush version has a soft feel, 4 out of 10, and would be a good option for side sleepers looking for more contour and hug.

The medium version has a medium feel and a firmness of 5.5 out of 10. This is more of a balanced feel and would be suitable for a wide range of sleepers of all sleeping positions (depending on body weight).

However, heavier-weighted bodies may find it isn’t supportive enough for back and stomach sleepers.

The firmest version has a slightly firm feel and is a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale. This version creates a ton of support, but still has that extremely comfortable 4.0” comfort layer. This mattress would be better for back and stomach sleepers, in addition to heavier-weighted bodies.

The iSense Select has excellent support. During our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions.

The mattress uses a 6.0” pocketed coil unit on top of a 1.5” support foam that acts as the mattress foundation. Most notably, the mattress is available in 3 different firmness levels, plush, medium, and firm.

For Queen, King, and Cal King sizes, these firmnesses can be customized to each side of the mattress.

Internal split firmnesses are still fairly rare, but an extremely valuable option, as it provides a way for couples with different needs to get the precise type of firmness that works best for their body.

In addition, the 2nd layer of foam is a special type of zoned foam that has been cut or otherwise formed with a specific zonal pattern that creates more lumbar support to create better spinal alignment.

Zoned foams like this definitely aren’t miracle workers when it comes to support, but it is a helpful part of the support equation.

When we look at the complete picture of exceptional pressure relief, customized pocketed coil firmness, and zonal foam, it’s a powerful combination that delivers excellent support.

Check out the table below to see the sleeper weights and sleeping positions that would be best suited for this mattress.

Plush Version

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Maybe	Yes	Maybe
250-300 lbs.	No	Maybe	No

Medium Version

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Maybe	Yes	Maybe

Firm Version

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	No	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Maybe	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes

Design

The iSense Select is an 11.5″ hybrid that is available in three different firmness levels—plush (4), medium (5.5), or slightly firm (7).

Materials

This mattress has a total height of 11.5″ and is made up of a mix of foam and coils. The top two layers make up the comfort layer and the bottom two layers are support layers.

• 11.5” total height
  • 2.5” poly foam
  • 1.5” poly foam (undercut, convoluted foam)
  • 6.0” pocketed coil
  • 1.5” support foam

The Cover

The cover of the iSense Select is relatively thin and breathable, with an intricate stitching pattern that provides visual interest and a tighter feel to the cover.

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer itself includes two different types of foam. The top foam is a 2.5″ poly foam and the secondary foam is a 1.5″ poly foam.

The second foam is technically a convoluted foam, but it’s a more unusual convolution pattern, less similar to others I’ve seen in the past, and ultimately provides less contour within the cutouts.

That said, it looks like it’s probably providing some measure of zonal support due to the pattern that has been cut. I’ve heard of these types of laser / pattern-cut machines before, but this might be the first one I’ve seen used in a product.

The Support Layer

The support layer of the iSense Select primarily uses 6.0″ tall pocketed coils for support and pressure relief. There is also a 3.5″ wide edge support foam that helps to provide better edge support across the perimeter of the mattress.

Notably, every iSense Select includes multiple swappable coil units. These coil units, in soft, medium, and firm, can be swapped in / out to create different customized firmnesses on the mattress (and on each side in the Queen, King, and Cal King versions).

This is great for couples with different firmness needs.

Product Evolution

The iSelse Select is the newest addition to the iSense lineup, released in May 2024. This mattress is a standard hybrid mattress, a deviation from the adjustable iSense Premier Hybrid launched in 2019.

iSense Select vs. iSense Premier

Although the iSense Select and iSense Premier look similar on the outside, the inside has many differences to note. Check out the table below for a quick rundown of the differences between these two models.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the iSense Select is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated hybrid mattresses for high-performing alternatives you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the iSense Select mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.