Best For
- Good cooling with breathable layers
- A Purple mattress under $2K
- Fast material response time
Considerations
- Higher levels of motion transfer
- Edge support is not great—5.0″ of sinkage when seated
- May not be supportive enough for sleepers over 300 lbs.
Our Verdict
The Purple Plus is an 11″ specialty hybrid mattress that includes a 2.0″ thick top layer of Purple’s patented gel pad layer. It offers a good option for sleepers looking for the Purple experience, but want a lower price point than other luxury Purple mattresses.
The Purple Plus has noted strengths including cooling, response, and a bit of a floating feel (if you like that). But edge support is lacking and it has higher levels of motion transfer, which may be problematic if you sleep with a partner.
Overall, we found this to be a good mattress, but far from great. Given the price point and the Purple name, I was more than a little dissappointed by the performance.
Type: Specialty
Firmness: Medium-Firm (6)
Best For: All Sleeping Positions, All Body Weights
In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs
Performance Tests
At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.
We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. Testing categories include:
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Cooling | Excellent |
| Sinkage | Moderate |
| Motion Transfer | High |
| Response Time | Extremely Fast |
| Bounce | High |
| Edge Support | Very Good |
| Sex | Excellent |
| Pressure Relief | Excellent |
| Off-Gassing | Very Good |
| Company | Excellent |
How is Purple Plus Different?
The Purple Plus mattress has an overall score that is slightly lower than average, but also a price that is below average—33% less than the average specialty mattress.
Compared to the cost of the average hybrid mattress ($1,391), the Purple Plus mattress costs 15% more than average.
Overall score and price aside, let’s take a look at some of the specific advantages or disadvantages of the Purple Plus.
Advantages
Cooling performance is slightly above average as well as a faster response time. Sex performance is also above average, which could be advantageous for couples.
Neutral Factors
Considering more neutral factors, the Purple Plus has 7% lower levels of sinkage and 17% higher levels of bounce. These issues are more a matter of preference and neither good nor bad.
Disadvantages
The higher level of bounce is a contributing factor for the higher levels of motion transfer as well, measuring 40% more motion than average.
We also measured 5.0″ of sinkage when seated at the edge of the mattress, 20% more edge sinkage than average.
| Factor | Purple Plus | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 9.40 | 9.52 |
| Price | $1,595 | $2,377 (Specialty only) |
| Cooling | 9.5 | 9.4 |
| Max Sinkage | 2.03″ | 2.18″ |
| Total Motion Transfer | 11.62 m/s² | 8.25 m/s² |
| Response Time | 0.2 sec. | 0.4 sec. |
| Total Bounce | 11.28″ | 9.64″ |
| Edge Support – Sitting Sinkage | 5.00″ | 4.17″ |
| Mattress Thickness | 11.0″ | 11.9″ |
| Sex Overall | 9.8 | 9.6 |
| Comfort Material | 4.0″ | 4.1″ |
| Off-Gassing – Smell | Strong | Strong |
| Off-Gassing – Days | 11 days | 5 days |
| Trial | 100 nights | 163 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years | 28% have lifetime warranties, average of other 72% of mattresses is 14 years |
Cooling Test
The Purple Plus has excellent cooling performance. During our tests, I felt no significant level of heat retention around my body.
Baseline Temp.
81.3° F
Max Temp.
91.2° F
Ending Temp.
85.2° F
I was somewhat surprised by the strong cooling performance, as mattresses that use support foam generally struggle more with cooling (due to the lack of airflow). However, the 2.0” gel pad on top seems to be enough to create sufficient airflow, helping to keep the mattress cooler.
Max Temp.
Ending Temp
- 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
Notably, the cover on the Purple Plus feels thinner compared to the cover on the Purple Restore mattress lineup. The thinner cover is likely also helping to improve breathability.
In our objective temperature testing, we measured a max surface level temperature of 91.2°. After getting off the mattress the temperature declined by 3.9° from minutes 0 to 1, and then by 6.0° from minutes 0 to 5. Overall, I’m pleased with the level of cooling performance on the Purple Plus.
Heat Dissipation Over Time
Sinkage Test
The Purple Plus mattress has a moderate level of sinkage. In our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage of 2.03”. This is 0.15” less sinkage than the average of 2.18”.
Sinkage Depth
2.03″
Sinkage Feel
Moderate
The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.
The mattress has a balanced level of body contouring hug. However, there is a more dramatic sinkage level for the heavier parts of the body (especially the butt and midsection).
I found that the lighter parts of my body (especially arms, legs, and head) have more of a “floating” feel (as opposed to sinking down “in” the mattress). That said, it isn’t nearly as dramatic as the floating feeling that the Purple Restore Plus creates.
Motion Transfer Test
The Purple Plus has a high level of motion transfer. In our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 11.62 m/s². This is 41.4% (3.40 m/s²) more motion transfer than the average of 8.22 m/s².
Max. Acceleration
5.60 m/s²
Min. Acceleration
-6.02 m/s²
Accel. Range
11.62 m/s²
The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.
In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest level of motion from 0 to 0.21 seconds.
In addition, there is a secondary moderate spike from 0.49 to 0.70 seconds. By 0.91 seconds we return to near-zero levels of motion. Mattresses with the lowest motion transfer are able to disperse all energy within 0.3 seconds.
Needless to say, the motion duration on Purple Plus is notably worse than average. This fact, coupled with the higher initial energy spike, means motion on Purple Plus is fair at best.
Response Test
The Purple Plus has an extremely fast material response. In our tests, we measured a mostly recovered response time of 0.2 seconds and a fully recovered response time of 0.3 seconds.
Mostly Recovered
0.2 sec.
Complete Recovery
0.3 sec.
The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.
At these speeds, the responsiveness is effectively instant. Purple Plus is tied for 1st (with a number of other mattresses) as the fastest-responding mattress we’ve tested to date. An extremely fast material recovery speed ensures you’ll never feel stuck on the mattress and the mattress will be easier to move around on.
Bounce Test
The Purple Plus has a high level of bounce. In our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 11.28”.
Max. Depth
6.35″
Max. Rebound
4.93″
Total Bounce
11.28″
This is 1.67” more than the average of 9.61”. The 2.0” gel pad (aka Purple Grid) is elastic, responsive, and creates tons of bounce.
Max. Sinkage Depth
Max Bounce Height
While the support foams below don’t create much, they do serve as a robust base that returns more energy than it absorbs (which is also why we see higher motion transfer).
The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.
A higher bounce is generally preferable as it creates a mattress that’s easier to move around on, has a more traditional feel, and is better for sex.
Edge Support Test
The Purple Plus has good, but far from great edge support for both sitting and lying.
Max Sinkage
5.00″
Lying Support
Good
In our sitting edge support tests, we measured 5.0” of sitting edge compression. This is 0.76” more edge sinkage than the average of 4.17”. Ideally, I am looking for 4.0” of edge sinkage or less. Needless to say, Purple Plus is far from that mark.
The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.
Sitting, 140 lbs.
Sitting, 200 lbs.
In our edge support visuals, you can see just how dramatically the edge collapses, even for a relatively lightweight body like mine. Lying edge support was about the same.
The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.
Lying on Edge, 140 lbs.
Lying on Edge, 200 lbs.
In our tests, support feels quite squishy and I did not feel well supported when lying directly on the edge. Most sleepers will want to move a few inches away from the absolute edge to feel well-supported.
While the mattress does have an edge support foam that wraps the perimeter, it’s fairly thin at just 2.0” thick (which is thinner than the 3.0” tall layer we see on the Purple Restore line).
While it is definitely improving edge support performance, it’s not thick enough to bring the edge support to the “great” or “exceptional” level.
Sex Test
The best mattresses for sex have high bounce, good edge support, quiet materials, and good pressure relief and cooling.
These 5 factors make up the NapLab sex performance score.
| Sex Factor | Factor Weight | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bounce | 60% | 10 | High |
| Edge Support | 20% | 9.0 | Very Good |
| Noise | 10% | 10 | Minimal |
| Pressure Relief | 5% | 9.5 | Excellent |
| Cooling | 5% | 9.5 | Excellent |
For the Purple Plus, these individual factors generated a sex score of 9.8.
The mattress has high levels of bounce and good edge support (although not great). Despite the edge support having its limitations, these two factors still make up 80% of the sex performance score. The high bounce is good enough to really carry the score.
The other 20% is a combination of noise, pressure relief, and cooling, in which all 3 factors had good performance.
If edge support is an important part of romance, the Purple Plus may leave you unimpressed.
Pressure Relief Test
Pressure relief on the Purple Plus is excellent. During all sleeping positions I felt no significant level of pressure point build up. The majority of Purple mattresses handle pressure relief extremely well.
Comfort Layer
4.0″
Support Layer
7.0″
The gel pad (aka the Purple grid) does a great job of creating comfort and body contouring with an even and balanced level of pressure relief.
The mattress uses a 4.0” comfort layer, which is just shy of the average comfort layer thickness of 4.1”, based on all of our tests to date.
The top 4.0” of comfort materials create an appropriate transition into the support base of 7.0” of foam. Overall, I’m pleased with the level of pressure relief.
Off-Gassing Test
The smell of the Purple Plus mattress right out of the box was quite strong. The odor took 11 days to stop smelling.
Initial Smell Strength
Strong
Off-Gassing Period
11 days
Company
The company score takes a look at factors that may influence your experience with the mattress.
Factors include length of the trial period, warranty, shipping / return costs, and country of origin.
| Company Factor | Factor Weight | Score | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial Period | 25% | 9.0 | 100 nights |
| Warranty | 25% | 10 | 10 years |
| Shipping | 25% | 10 | $0 |
| Returns | 25% | 10 | $0 |
| Country of Origin | 0% | USA |
For Purple, these individual terms and conditions generated a company score of 9.8.
Purple mattresses come with a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Shipping is free and returns are also free if the mattress ends up not working out.
Compared to the average (across all mattresses tested to date), Purple has a 38% shorter trial and 40% shorter warranty as well.
How firm is the Purple Plus?
The Purple Plus mattress has a medium-firm feel with an overall firmness of 6 out of 10 (where 10 is the most firm).
Support & Sleeping Positions
The Purple Plus mattress has excellent support. During our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions. At 11.0” thick the mattress is a little short of the average 11.9” mattress thickness (based on all of our tests to date).
Even so, the 2.0” elastic polymer layer does much of the heavy lifting in terms of comfort. The Purple Plus uses 2 separate support foam layers to create a total 7.0” support layer (which is just short of the 7.7” average support layer thickness).
For sleepers up to 300 pounds, I expect support will be perfectly sufficient. For sleepers over 300 pounds, you should opt for one of Purple’s thicker mattresses, including the Purple Restore, Restore Plus, or Restore Premier.
| Sleeper Weight | Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 150-250 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 250-300 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Design
The Purple Plus mattress is an 11″ mattress with a medium-firm feel (6 out of 10 on the firmness scale).
Type
Specialty
Thickness
11″
Firmness
6
Materials
Within the 11″ mattress thickness, there are four different material layers. The top two layers are dedicated to comfort materials and the bottom two layers are designed for support.
From top to bottom, these layers include:
- 2.0” gel pad / elastic polymer (Purple Grid)
- 2.0” poly foam
- 3.0” support foam
- 4.0” support foam
The Cover
The cover on the Purple Plus mattress is a soft, thin cover with a good amount of stretch to it. It is breathable and designed to allow the benefits of the gel pad below to translate easily through the cover.
The Comfort Layer
The comfort layer is made up of two main materials. On top, we have a 2.0″ thick gel pad, which is their patented Purple Grid. This pad is wrapped with a 4.0” wide and 2.0” tall edge support foam that runs along the entire perimeter.
This foam is designed for improved edge support and also helps the mattress maintain its structure.
Below the gel pad is a 2.0″ poly foam layer that serves for comfort as well as a transitional layer into the support system below.
The Support Layer
The support system includes a 3.0″ layer of support foam followed by a higher density 4.0″ layer of support foam.
Product Evolution
The Purple Plus mattress was initially released in late 2021. Since its release, there have been no notable changes to the mattress.
Upon inception, it started as an 11″ foam mattress with a 2″ Purple gel pad, and that is what it continues to be today. If / when this mattress changes, we will update this section.
Purple Plus vs. Purple Restore Plus
Looking at the Purple Plus vs. Purple Restore Plus? These two mattresses have a similar name but are actually very different in terms of design, materials, performance, and price. See the details below.
Purple Plus
| Type: Foam |
| Thickness: 11″ |
| Firmness: Medium-Firm (6) |
| You’re Here |
| Overall Score: 9.40 |
Purple Restore Plus
| Type: Hybrid |
| Thickness: 13″ |
| Firmness: Medium (5) or Slightly Firm (7) |
| Read Review |
| Overall Score: 9.57 |
Other Mattresses to Consider
Not sure if the Purple Plus is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated hybrid mattresses that you may want to consider.
For Performance
Winkbed Original
9.95 Overall Score
The Winkbed Original hybrid outperforms the Purple Plus in 6 out of the 8 categories we test for (and ties for the other 2 categories). Compared to the Purple Plus, Winkbed has less bounce. Also, it is available in three different firmnesses whereas the Purple Plus is only available in one firmness (medium-firm).
For Pressure Relief
Nolah Evolution 15
9.77 Overall Score
The Nolah Evolution is a 15″ hybrid with a 6″ comfort, delivering exceptional pressure relief, edge support, and cooling. Like the Purple Plus, this mattress also struggles with motion transfer but has a higher overall score and a similar price tag.
For Motion Transfer
Helix Midnight Luxe
9.76 Overall Score
The Helix Midnight Luxe hybrid has a 5″ comfort layer and a 9″ support layer. It has a medium-firm feel like the Purple Plus, but does a much better job at limiting motion transfer. In our tests, the Midnight Luxe had 65% less motion transfer than the Purple Plus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Purple Plus mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.
Here are the current prices, with any sales or promotions reflected below:
Twin: $1,095
Twin XL: $1,145
Full: $1,345
Queen: $1,495
King: $1,895
Cal. King: $1,895
Split King: $2,690
*Note: Sales prices are subject to change without notice or warning.
