CNET provides reviews and recommendations for products and services based on editorial merit. They may receive a commission if you choose to purchase through their links. In a recent review, they opened up the Original Purple mattress to take a look at its layers and materials. They use a variety of factors to assess the quality of a mattress, including firmness, feel, durability, body type accommodation, sleeping position, motion isolation, edge support, temperature regulation, and smell.
When evaluating the firmness of a mattress, CNET uses a scale from one to ten, with ten being the firmest. This assessment is based on their experience testing over 100 different beds and comparing them to one another. While firmness refers to how hard or soft a bed feels, the feel of a mattress includes characteristics such as bounciness, responsiveness, pressure relief, and plushness. The durability of a mattress can be hypothesized by looking at its construction, with hybrid or innerspring beds typically lasting longer than foam mattresses.
In addition to firmness and feel, CNET also considers how well a mattress accommodates different body types. By using sleepers of various sizes, they assess the construction of the mattress to determine its compatibility with different weights. Various sleeping positions are also tested on each mattress, including side, back, and stomach sleeping, to evaluate comfort and support. Motion isolation is another important factor, as CNET uses two people to test how much movement is transferred across the bed, as well as a glass of water to gauge the level of disturbance.
Edge support is another key aspect of mattress evaluation, as CNET physically lays on the sides of the mattress to assess its level of supportiveness. Temperature regulation is also important, as they rely on their own experience sleeping on the bed and a temperature gun to determine if a mattress sleeps cool, breathable, or hot. Finally, the smell of a mattress is considered, with mattresses in a box typically emitting an odor that dissipates within 24 to 48 hours. Some mattresses may have a stronger smell than others, but it is not a long-term issue.
Overall, CNET’s mattress reviews are comprehensive and take into account a variety of factors to provide readers with a thorough assessment of each product. By testing and evaluating factors such as firmness, feel, durability, body type accommodation, sleeping position comfort, motion isolation, edge support, temperature regulation, and smell, they are able to provide informative recommendations to help readers make informed purchasing decisions.
