Written by Logan Block, Mattress Reviewer
Modern bedrooms are equipped with smart lighting devices, smart alarm clocks, TVs with all the world’s info at your fingertips…yet when it comes to beds and bed frames, we are often times living in the past. Being able to adjust your mattress and frame to not only fit your specific physical sleeping needs, but being able to adjust your laying position to cater to your pre-sleep needs is a huge plus when it comes to the best smart beds and mattresses.
Smart mattresses and beds can be equipped with adjustable angles, formations, wireless functionality and even USB charging. This is an important decision to make if you are trying to upgrade your sleeping experience, and it is not made easier by the number of brands on the market. We have tried out the leading brands, read below for our findings:
Best Smart Beds of 2024
- Best Overall Smart Bed – Saatva Solaire
- Best Value Smart Bed – Emma Shift
- Best Luxury Smart Bed – Sleep Number c2
Best Overall – Saatva Solaire
Saatva Solaire Mattress
Material
Other
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Saatva Solaire Mattress
If you’ve had trouble finding the exact level of firmness you need in a mattress, you might like the Saatva Solaire. This high-tech air bed allows you to choose your preferred firmness level.
Material
Other
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Saatva Solaire Mattress
If you’ve had trouble finding the exact level of firmness you need in a mattress, you might like the Saatva Solaire. This high-tech air bed allows you to choose your preferred firmness level.
Material
Other
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Price Range
$$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Expert Opinion
As a company, Saatva is known for creating mattresses with high-quality constructions and luxurious features. The Saatva Solaire, Saatva’s smart bed, is no exception.
One of the biggest draws of adjustable smart beds is the variety of firmness settings. On the Saatva Solaire, there are 50 settings controlled by air chambers via remote control. So, regardless of your preferred sleeping position, you should find a setting that suits your needs.
We put the Saatva Solaire through our pressure map test in our mattress lab. To do this, we spread a specialized mat across the mattress surface to track areas of high pressure, moderate pressure, and low pressure. While testing this bed, we adjusted the firmness to our needs in each sleeping position. From back sleeping to side sleeping to stomach sleeping, we got outstanding pressure relief results. We’re confident folks should be sufficiently cushioned on this mattress, and not feel any added pressure.
What Customers Say
Saatva Solaire customers rave about the company’s professional and knowledgeable service, from phone calls and online chats to showroom sales.
Pros of the Saatva Solaire Mattress
- Saatva’s breathable cotton cover and naturally cooling latex transition layer should keep folks cool throughout the night.
- Couples of different body types and/or sleeping positions should find a lot to love in the Saatva Solaire’s split queen and king models. The split construction allows them to have separate feels on each side of the mattress.
- The Saatva Solaire is antimicrobial and prevents the buildup of contaminants. This is beneficial for sleepers with allergies.
Cons of the Saatva Solaire Mattress
- Since the Solaire is an airbed, it’s worth noting that it can deflate a little bit in the middle of the night. Luckily, there is a special “memory button” on the remote control that helps inflate the Solaire back to your preferred firmness.
Click here to get our best deal. For more, see our roundup of the best mattresses or check out our full Saatva Solaire matttress review.
Best Value – Emma Shift
Emma Shift
Material
Other
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Emma Shift
The Emma Shift is a mattress with cushioning foams and airbed technology that allows you to pinpoint the firmness you're looking for.
Material
Other
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Emma Shift
The Emma Shift is a mattress with cushioning foams and airbed technology that allows you to pinpoint the firmness you're looking for.
Material
Other
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Expert Opinion
If you’re wanting the bells and whistles of a smart bed without the high cost, we can’t recommend the Emma Shift enough. Without sales or discounts, you can often find a queen size for less than $2,400. However, we’ve found that some seasonal sales can knock the price of this smart bed up to 50 percent off.
Using a dial on the side of the mattress, you can adjust the firmness level on the Emma Shift. The valve changes the air pressure on the inside of the mattress. Larger mattress sizes allow folks to choose their own firmness setting on both sides of the bed.
What Customers Say
There aren’t too many reviews on this newer mattress model yet. However, all of the ones that are posted show a lot of appreciation for the versatile comfort the Emma Shift offers.
Pros of the Emma Shift Mattress
- The Emma Shift has zoned support, which gives different levels of support and cushioning to different areas of the body. For instance, the center of the mattress usually needs more support than the head and foot, which can enhance spinal alignment.
- Emma markets this smart bed as one with impressive motion transfer and cooling abilities.
- For a $125 fee, Emma will remove your old mattress so you don’t have to stress disposing of it on your own.
Cons of the Emma Shift Mattress
- The Emma Shift is only offered in three sizes: twin XL, queen, and king. So, if you’re looking for a wide variety of sizes, you might be better off with one of our other favorite smart beds.
Click here to get our best deal. For more, see our roundup of the best value mattresses.
Best Luxury – Sleep Number c2
Sleep Number 360 c2 Smart Mattress
The c2 bed does not come with a foam mattress pad on top of the air chamber. (All other Sleep Number mattresses come with a Comfort Foam layer.) Instead, it has a soft fiberfill sewn into a thin layer right above the air chambers. This is a great option for people who love firm beds — especially side sleepers.
Material
Other
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Flat-rate white glove delivery
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Sleep Number 360 c2 Smart Mattress
The c2 bed does not come with a foam mattress pad on top of the air chamber. (All other Sleep Number mattresses come with a Comfort Foam layer.) Instead, it has a soft fiberfill sewn into a thin layer right above the air chambers. This is a great option for people who love firm beds — especially side sleepers.
Material
Other
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Flat-rate white glove delivery
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Sleep Number 360 c2 Smart Mattress
The c2 bed does not come with a foam mattress pad on top of the air chamber. (All other Sleep Number mattresses come with a Comfort Foam layer.) Instead, it has a soft fiberfill sewn into a thin layer right above the air chambers. This is a great option for people who love firm beds — especially side sleepers.
Material
Other
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
Shipping Method
Flat-rate white glove delivery
Price Range
$$$$$
Expert Opinion
Luxury options are often priced higher, but for good reason. For instance, smart beds — especially luxury smart beds — include bells and whistles that not many other models have. They might offer extra cooling properties, adjustability features, or traits designed for couples. The Sleep Number c2 mattress offers all of this, and more. That’s why it’s our top pick for the best luxury smart bed.
Similar to the other two mattresses on this roundup, the Sleep Number c2 uses airbed technology to help you adjust your firmness level. It’s marketed as a cooling mattress (thanks to special cooling gel in its construction), as well as a durable one.
Where Sleep Number takes things to the next level is the SleepIQ Tech application, which is an add-on that helps you track your sleep quality. If you’re wanting to not only fine-tune your mattress firmness but also your sleep habits, then we can’t recommend the c2 enough.
What Customers Say
A number of reviews praised the c2 for helping them alleviate their back pain.
Pros of the Sleep Number c2 Mattress
- The c2 is offered in an impressively large variety of sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king, split king, FlexTop king, split Cal king, and FlexTop Cal king.
- For additional fees, shoppers can choose between five different base options for their mattress (including one with both head and foot adjustability).
- Sleep Number shows confidence in this product, as they offer a 15-year limited warranty.
Cons of the Sleep Number c2 Mattress
- In the reviews, heavier sleepers around 300 pounds or more say that the bed doesn’t provide enough cushioning for their weight.
Click here to get our best deal. For more, see our roundup of the best luxury mattresses or see our full Sleep Number c2 mattress review.
What is Smart Bed Technology?
Smart beds are designed with specific and unique technological functions that can track elements of sleep, change the way the bed feels, and more. This technology is very appealing to sleepers who like tech-forward gadgets or people with very specific needs. Some of the features of smart beds may include:
- Analyze sleep patterns
- Adjust the bed frame to improve sleep patterns
- Provide helpful information to optimize sleep
- Change the temperature of the bed
- Actively perform useful functions to improve sleep
While the beds on this list may not have all of these features, they are still categorized as smart beds, and their ability to track sleep patterns and recommend changes can help you get a better night’s sleep.
Who is a Smart Bed Good For?
Smart beds are a good idea for people looking to update their sleeping routine or lovers of the newest tech. We recommend these beds for people who are interested in an advanced sleeping method and think people who enjoy gadgets and tech-heavy appliances will love smart beds. They might also be a good idea for couples, people with sleep disturbances, chronic pain, or issues staying cool.
We do not recommend these beds for sleepers shopping on a budget, those looking for a regular mattress, or people not interested in technology mixing with sleep.
Are Smart Beds Worth the Price?
This depends on what you want out of your mattress. If you are just looking for a regular mattress that is comfortable and can give you a good night’s sleep, then a regular mattress that is not technologically savvy might be the right choice for you. However, if you have specific preferences on what you want and what you are looking for, then we recommend looking into a smart bed.
Smart Beds Vs. Adjustable Beds
A smart bed is characterized by advanced technology that can track sleep patterns and communicate with other technological sources to improve sleep. They can also adjust using a remote or even an app on your cellphone. Smart beds can also operate with the use of other technology. Adjustable bed frames are simply moveable bed frames that can change shape or position to help your unique sleeping position.
If you are interested in an adjustable bed, or not yet ready to commit to a smart bed, you can check out our picks for the best mattress for adjustable beds.
How to Pick the Best Smart Bed
The future of mattresses is not twenty years in the future, it is now. The market is filled with promising smart mattresses and smart bed frames that can massage, offer adjustability at both ends of the frame, and can be controlled by a wireless remote. These aren’t small purchases, so potential customers should really consider what their needs are and how each product might – or might not – suit them. To help out, we’ve come up with a list of key factors to consider:
Comfort
If you are reading this, you are probably in the market for a mattress or frame that increases your nightly comfort level, alleviates some back or body pains, or simply offers features that a typical sleep surface doesn’t. But if a mattress isn’t comfortable for you, no matter how snazzy and technologically advanced, you won’t want to sleep on it night in and night out.
Pay attention to cushioning, ability of the unit to adjust to your needs, and the specific materials the bed is made of. These will all differ per person, but coming in knowing your needs will greatly help the process.
Are Smart Beds more Comfortable than Regular Mattresses?
They certainly can be if they offer settings that you find comfortable. For example, if you and your partners disagree on the level of firmness that you want, then a smart bed with two different firmness levels may be more comfortable for you. They can also keep cooler than other beds due to cooling technology.
Options
The race is on between the leading brands to offer more variety and customizable features. From massage intensity to range of radial motion, these different products are designed to create a bespoke sleeping experience catered just for you. If you like sleeping the same way consistently, or if you have different needs night-by-night depending on your body aches, you may consider either opting for a more customizable bed or one that has fewer options to sift through.
Furthermore, we looked into the various elements of these beds and what they can track and capture. We considered beds with a wide range of abilities, and recommend you do the same and pick a bed based on what you need most. Some of the factors these beds may be able to track include:
- When you wake up
- When you get out of bed
- The time you get into bed
- When you fall asleep
- How long it took to fall asleep
- The amount of time spent in deep versus light sleep
- How often you wake up during the night
- Sleeping positions and how often you switch positions
- Body temperature
- Room and bed surface temperature
Firmness
Some advanced smart beds allow for changes in the firmness level of the beds, which can be especially useful for couples who prefer or need two different firmness levels, or people who have different needs at different times. Looking into the firmness of the mattress, or its ability to adjust the firmness level is important to consider when looking into a smart bed. We recommend using our firmness scale to decide what firmness level is best for you, which you can see to the right.
Do Smart Beds Have Adjustable Firmness?
Some do! Some smart beds offer adjustable firmness levels, which could be a good idea for couples or people who sleep in different positions at different times.
Style
Although the most important thing to most customers will be how well they sleep at night, a bed is a huge piece of furniture in the room that you’ll spend a lot of time using. Check the photos of each product to look for details. What style are the legs in? What color is the structure? Will it match my existing furniture? Does it look too futuristic or can I blend it in with my bedding?
Set Up and Price
Though you will most likely only need to build a smart bed frame and mattress once or twice, that one or two times might be so difficult as to make you second guess ever making this purchase. Some brands are so ready to go that they don’t require any additional tools. Others promise set-up in less than five minutes. The weight of the bed can be a crucial factor in determining how easily the bed will be set up, and if you can do it or not yourself.
When shopping for smart mattresses and smart frames, customers will soon find out that these are not small purchases. Some of the products on the market will approach nearly two grand. Making these type of additions to the bedroom takes careful consideration, and price is one of the major factors to weigh. Keep in mind that while some brands offer both a mattress and frame, some only have a bed base and need the customer to purchase an additional mattress or utilize one already in hand.
How Much is a Smart Bed?
Smart beds can range in price, and some are far more expensive than others. The level of technology that is involved in the bed, as well as the materials used and the brand you purchase from, can all affect the price. However, most smart beds are around $1,500 to $2,500. We do not recommend these beds to shoppers looking to stay on a budget.
Temperature Regulation
Some smart beds offer temperature regulation properties that can adjust the cooling or heating of your mattress. This can be important for couples wanting different temperatures when they sleep, people with pain, people who live in climates that change frequently, or people who simply want to adjust the temperature of their beds. We recommend these features to any sleepers who want to make sure their bed is the right temperature for them.
Bases and Bed Frames
Because these beds have advanced movement capabilities and can move with the use of a remote, a regular bed frame may not support a smart bed mattress. For this reason, many companies that make smart beds offer unique and special bed frames and bases. Some adjustable bases are also compatible with smart beds, but we recommend doing research into these frames before buying your smart bed.
Buying Guide
If you’re still unsure what mattress is right for you, we recommend considering some of the following things before purchasing a mattress.
- Figure out your personal sleep needs. The whole point of this popular sleep trend is how a customer can customize their sleep experience. If you have specific sore areas or places that are liable to be achy, or if you are dissatisfied with your current sleeping situation, think long and hard about whether your new purchase is going to help, or if another product on the market might be more beneficial.
- Set your budget. Mattresses are not cheap purchases. Not only should your sleep health be taken seriously for health and wellness reasons, but no one wants to spend $300, $500, or even close to $2000 on an intimate piece of furniture, and not be satisfied. Consider carefully how important each of the features is for you. Sometimes the best fit might be half the price…
- Warranty. We all make mistakes. Some smart bed companies are aware of this, and make the warranty process nearly seamless. We’re talking 10 or even 20-year warranties. Though most customers will be satisfied with the top brands, it is always reassuring to know they can be returned if anything goes awry.
- How is this being assembled? These can be heavy units and must be installed in the room they will be used in. Check and verify the set-up process and the weight of the device. If you are building it alone, perhaps see if someone can help you or at least help you bring it into the room the bed will live in.
- Do you want to look at it every day? Some beds on the market may have all the bells and whistles, but if you don’t get a warm feeling from looking at it and want to jump right in whenever it is bedtime, you are missing out on one of life’s simple joys. Take a look at all sides of the bed. Make sure it matches your furniture decor or is neutral enough to be complemented by strong bedding choices.
FAQs
Are smart beds expensive?
Yes, smart beds are expensive. However, luxury mattresses that are not “smart” can also be very expensive, so you will need to consider what you really want out of your bed and your budget to decide if a smart bed is worth the price.
Are smart beds better than other beds?
Not necessarily. Smart beds are a great option for couples, people with pain, or people with specific needs, but they are not ideal for everyone. Some people may still really enjoy a traditional mattress, or even prefer it. Consider the things I have mentioned in this review to decide if a smart bed is ready for you.
Do smart beds help you sleep better?
They certainly can! Smart beds can stay cooler than other beds, adjust to your needs, and help you find a position that is just right. In this way, smart beds can help you get really good sleep. However, so can traditional mattresses, so you will just need to think about what you need most out of your mattress.
What are the cons of smart beds?
Smart beds can be really expensive and sometimes they require unique bases, bed frames, and other technology to make them work properly, so they may not be a good option for people shopping on a budget or not looking for tech savvy bed.
How We Chose Our Mattresses
Here at Sleepopolis, we’ve reviewed more than 300 products in our mattress lab, running each one through tests such as pressure-mapping and measuring motion transfer with a seismometer. From there, we give every mattress an overall score based on materials, comfort, support, cooling, and edge support. We also factor in brand performance with categories such as value and warranty.
As we stated above, one of the best ways that a mattress can address arthritis is through pressure relief. When we test our products, pressure relief falls under comfort, so we only picked beds that scored at least a 4 out of 5 in this category. For additional criteria, we also focused on mattresses that offer a lot of support. In fact, all of the beds scored at least a 4 out of 5 in support.