If you’re in the market for an adjustable mattress, you’ve probably heard of industry titan Sleep Number. Sleep Number is known for its adjustable beds that you can tailor to your individual sleep needs. Saatva, another popular luxury mattress brand, decided to get in on the action when they created the Solaire, the brand’s first adjustable mattress.
Wondering how these different mattresses compare and which might be best for you? In this detailed comparison, I’ll tell you how these beds stack up in factors like feel, pressure relief, motion isolation, price, company policies, and customer service, based on our in-house testing.
Want to know it all but short on time? Feel free to skip down to my review summary and come back for the details later.
Note: In this review, I’ll be comparing the Solaire to the Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed. Sleep Number also offers a range of other beds that I will detail later in this review.
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Product
Firmness
Score
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Product
Saatva Solaire Mattress
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Score
Product
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Mattress
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Score
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed: Which is Better for You?
The Saatva Solaire is an adjustable air bed made with gel memory foam and Talalay latex, whereas the Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed combines air chambers with thick layers of foam. Both of these beds are highly customizable, but how to decide between the two?
Depending on your body weight, preferred sleeping position, and whether or not you sleep with a partner, one of these mattresses might better suit your needs. Take a look at some of my recommendations below. If you want to learn more about each of these beds in-depth, check out our Saatva Solaire mattress review and our Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed review.
Who Should Buy Saatva
- Since this mattress has such a wide range of firmness options, we recommend it for most sleeping positions. We recommend side sleepers go with a softer firmness setting, back sleepers go with a medium-firm setting, and stomach sleepers go with a firm setting.
- If you prefer to manually control your bed and don’t like the idea of the mattress working automatically, then we’d recommend the Solaire.
- We think the Solaire is great for couples. It has individual air chambers on each side, so each person can adjust the mattress to their individual preference.
- Since this mattress uses air chambers that can deflate throughout the night, it might not be the best fit for heavier sleepers (those over 250 pounds). If that’s you, I’d recommend checking out one of our best mattresses for heavy people.
Who Should Buy Sleep Number
- Like the Solaire, we think this mattress is a good choice for most sleeping positions, since you can adjust the firmness level.
- If you’re looking for a bed that tells you what’s the best firmness level for you, we’d recommend the Sleep Number bed. Not only does it automatically respond to your movements and adjust firmness accordingly, but your SleepIQ® score should tell you how to improve your sleep.
- The Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed is also a great choice for couples, since each side of the mattress can be individually customized.
- And like the Saatva Solaire, this mattress is not the best for heavy people, as a heavier body weight could cause the air chambers to deflate throughout the night.
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number: Similarities and Differences
Though the Solaire and Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed are both adjustable air beds, they are made with different materials and have different overall feels. Before I get into the details about each of these mattresses, I’m going to summarize their similarities and differences, and share which sleepers we think they’re best for.
Main Similarities
- Both beds are adjustable and have a range of firmness settings. They both use air chambers that inflate to create a firmer feel, and deflate for a softer feel.
- Both mattresses are made from high-quality materials and have a luxurious overall feel.
- Both beds have memory foam layers that offer some nice pressure relief.
- Both beds have low motion transfer, which means you’re unlikely to feel a partner or pet rolling around on the other side of the bed.
Main Differences
- The Sleep Number is significantly more expensive than the Saatva Solaire.
- The Sleep Number has 20 firmness settings, while the Solaire has 50.
- The Sleep Number is a smart bed, and will give you a SleepIQ® score and recommendations for how to improve your sleep.
- The Sleep Number automatically responds to your movements throughout the night, while the Saatva is manually controlled.
Saatva Solaire and Sleep Number Mattress Feel Comparison
Now that you have an idea about the basics of each of these mattresses, let’s discuss their overall feels. To give you the best idea of feel, I’m going to discuss the mattresses’ firmness levels, motion transfer, edge support, and pressure relieving abilities.
Saatva Solaire
The Solaire is an adjustable bed, and has 50 firmness levels, so it’s not quite possible to give it an exact firmness rating. However, in those 50 levels, it can range from a super soft 4 on the firmness scale to an ultra firm 8 (with 1 being the softest and 10 the firmest on the firmness scale). This means that the Solaire works for pretty much any sleeping position! We’d recommend side sleepers go with a setting in the 20s, back sleepers opt for something between 30 and 35, and stomach sleepers go with a setting in between 40 and 50. Additionally, the Solaire has air chambers on both sides of the mattress, so two people can adjust their own firmness levels. This is great news for couples, since you might be a side sleeper, but your partner might prefer lying on their stomach — the two of you need very different firmness levels!
The Solaire also performed really well on our motion transfer test. This test measures how much movement travels from one side of the bed to the other. Our testers could hardly feel any movement from one side of the bed on the other, and this is another great perk for couples, who shouldn’t feel distubed by a restless partner.
Lastly, I’d like to mention that the Solaire has impressive edge support for an all-foam air mattress. The Solaire was designed with a high density poly foam layer surrounding its air chambers and this makes for some fantastic edge support that will add durability to the mattress. Saatva mattresses that use this poly foam edge support layer have some of the best edge support in the game.
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Like the Solaire, the Sleep Number has adjustable firmness levels — 20 to be exact, with the higher settings feeling firmer and the lower settings feeling softer. In those 20 settings it ranges in firmness from about a 5 on the firmness scale to an 8. So whether you prefer to sleep on your side, stomach, or back, you should find a setting to suit your needs. Additionally, multiple settings means you can target different issues. If you’re worried about lumbar support you can put your mattress on a firmer setting; if pressure relief at sensitive pressure points is your main concern you can opt for a softer setting.
The Sleep Number 360 i8 has also received acclaim from testers for having excellent motion isolation. Sleepers said that even if their partner had a very different sleep number from them, they didn’t notice their movements throughout the night.
Finally, the Sleep Number has fairly good edge support. You could comfortably sleep on the side of the mattress without feeling like you were going to roll right off. However, the Saatva definitely wins in terms of edge support.
Comparing What it’s Like to Sleep on the Saatva Solaire and the Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Since our body type and primary sleeping position can alter our individual experiences of a mattress, I’ll go over how each of these beds will work for different types of sleepers.
Saatva Solaire
Back — The Saatva Solaire will work really well for back sleepers. We’d recommend choosing a medium-firm setting to ensure proper spinal alignment and pressure relief. A setting between 30 and 35 should work really well for most back sleepers.
Side — This mattress is also a great choice for side sleepers. We’d recommend a softer setting to get the best pressure relief for side sleeping. A setting in the 20’s should work really well.
Stomach — The Saatva Solaire is also a great pick for stomach sleepers. A firmer setting will be best for stomach sleepers, to ensure their hips stay elevated and in alignment with their shoulders, which helps prevent back pain. We’d recommend a setting around 40 to 50.
Body Weight — Because the Saatva Solaire is adjustable, you can easily toggle the settings to get a perfect firmness setting for your weight. My only caution regarding weight would be that heavier people may experience some deflating on the air chambers. But if you do buy this mattress as a heavy sleeper, choose a firmer setting to ensure proper support.
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Back — The Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed is a great choice for back sleepers. We’d recommend a medium-firm setting to ensure proper spinal alignment and support, but back sleepers have some flexibility to go softer or firmer with their bed. If you need some more pressure relief, go a little softer. If you like to lie “on top” of your bed, go a little firmer.
Side — This is also a great bed for side sleepers. A softer setting will work best for side sleepers to ensure they get proper pressure relief on shoulders and hips.
Stomach — Stomach sleepers will also likely enjoy this mattress! We recommend stomach sleepers choose a firm setting. That will keep their hips from sinking into the mattress, which keeps the spine properly aligned and prevents back pain.
Body Weight — Like the Saatva Solaire, we think the Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed is best suited for light to average weight sleepers. A heavier body weight might cause the air chambers to deflate, which would cause a lack of proper support.
Comparing Saatva Solaire and Sleep Number Prices
Of course, before buying a new mattress you’ll want to consider the price point. Both the Solaire and the Sleep Number are luxury mattresses, so they don’t come cheap. However, the Solaire is more affordable than the Sleep Number. Take a look at the pricing chart below that shows the cost for each size. Be sure to visit our Saatva coupon page or Sleep Number coupon page for all the latest discounts.
Prices listed will be before discount or offer for each size.
| Size | Sleep Number 360 i8 | Saatva Solaire |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | N/A | $2,147 |
| Twin XL | $3,149 | $2,895 |
| Full | $3,424 | $3,045 |
| Queen | $3,599 | $3,595 |
| King | $4,299 | $3,595 |
| Cal King | $4,299 | $4,294 |
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Product
Firmness
Score
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Product
Saatva Solaire Mattress
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Score
Product
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Mattress
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Score
Comparing Saatva Solaire and Sleep Number Mattress Materials
Both the Solaire and Sleep Number are adjustable air beds, so their materials are going to look quite a bit different than any hybrid mattress or memory foam mattress you’ve seen before. However, both brands do have some big differences in what they use in their constructions, so take a look at the breakdown below.
Saatva Solaire
- Cover – The Solare has an organic cotton cover that is quilted with a bit of memory foam which should offer a little pressure relief.
- Comfort Layer – Below the cover is a top layer of gel-infused memory foam, which should offer some nice contouring and sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam. This foam is also CertiPUR-US® Certified, which means it’s free from harmful chemicals and heavy metals.
- Transition Layer – Next up is a layer of all-natural Talalay latex, which adds some bounce and support and transitions the sleeper onto the air chambers. There’s also a moisture barrier right below this layer, which should help prevent condensation.
- Support Layer – The main event: the Solaire’s vulcanized air chambers! These chambers inflate and deflate using a remote control and in size queen and up there are two air chambers, so each side of the bed can be individually adjusted.
- Base Layer – Last is a layer of high-density poly foam. This layer also surrounds the air chambers, which adds some fantastic edge support to this mattress.
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
- Cover – The Sleep number’s cover is made from a temperature-balancing material called Smart 3D fabric that absorbs body heat and releases it as you cool.
- Comfort layer – Next up is a 6-inch layer of comfort foam made from two different types of foam that offers some nice cushioning and pressure relief.
- Support – This layer is made from the Sleep Number’s air chambers. If you get a bed size full or larger, you’ll get two air chambers and experience Sleep Number’s DualAir technology. The air chambers hook up to a hose and pump so you can manually adjust them, but they also automatically adjust to your movements and weight.
- Base – The Sleep Number base is sold separately. Sleep Number recommends using their FlexFit™ Adjustable Base, which allows you to raise the head or foot of the mattress so you can easily read or watch television in bed. However, this base is quite pricey. They also recommend the far cheaper Sleep Number Modular Base or a basic platform base. Sleep Number recommends you don’t use a slatted bed frame or traditional box spring with this mattress.
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Product
Firmness
Score
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Product
Saatva Solaire Mattress
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Score
Product
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Mattress
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Score
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number: Best Qualities
Phew! So that was probably a lot to take in. Both of these mattresses are pretty complicated and I would encourage you to do your own research on these sites before purchasing. However, I would like to recap some of our testers’ favorite things about each of these beds, which should help you decide which is better for you.
Saatva Solaire Best Features
- The Solaire has 50 firmness settings. Anyone who tries this bed should be able to find a setting that was very comfortable to them.
- The Solaire is more affordable than the Sleep Number, and you’re getting some great bang for your buck in this ultra luxury bed.
- The Solaire is a fantastic mattress for couples. You can adjust each side of the bed individually, it has great motion absorption, and it’s pretty breathable.
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.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this 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.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this 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.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Saatva Solaire Mattress
Material
Other
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Saatva Solaire Mattress
Material
Other
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Saatva Solaire Mattress
Material
Other
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Price Range
$$$$$
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.
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
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed Best Features
- The Sleep Number’s ability to automatically track your sleep and give you a SleepIQ® score is pretty impressive. If you want to brag about your high-tech bed to your friends, this is the mattress for you.
- The Sleep Number has great temperature regulation. It absorbs excess heat and releases it as you cool, so you’ll stay comfortable all night long.
- The Sleep Number is a great mattress for couples, especially if you and your partner have different sleep preferences.
The “I” in “i8” stands for “innovation” pointing to the temperature-balancing technology included inside the mattress. This bed will be super soft, thanks to a 6” foam comfort layer.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The “I” in “i8” stands for “innovation” pointing to the temperature-balancing technology included inside the mattress. This bed will be super soft, thanks to a 6” foam comfort layer.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The “I” in “i8” stands for “innovation” pointing to the temperature-balancing technology included inside the mattress. This bed will be super soft, thanks to a 6” foam comfort layer.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Mattress
Material
Other
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Flat-rate white glove delivery
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
15-year limited warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Mattress
Material
Other
Warranty
15-year limited warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Flat-rate white glove delivery
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Mattress
Material
Other
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
15-year limited warranty
Shipping Method
Flat-rate white glove delivery
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Comparing Company Policies
Saatva Policies
- Trial Period – 180-night sleep trial
- Shipping – Free white glove delivery
- Mattress Warranty – 25-year warranty
Sleep Number Policies
- Trial Period – 100-night sleep trial
- Shipping – Ships for an additional cost
- Mattress Warranty – 15-year warranty
Comparing Saatva and Sleep Number Customer Service
When purchasing a high-tech mattress like the Solaire or Sleep Number, you’ll likely want to make sure that the brands have excellent customer service in case you need some assistance. Here at Sleepopolis, we personally test each brand’s customer service and rate them on factors like response time, thoroughness, politeness, and more. Each brand can receive one of four ratings: Stellar, Great, Satisfactory, or Poor.
Saatva Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating
Satisfactory
I used the chat function on Saatva’s site. Though my question was answered, it took about 25 minutes for someone to reach me, which is longer than I would have liked.
Sleep Number Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating
Stellar
I gave Sleep Number’s customer service a Stellar rating because I used their chat function multiple times and each time I was answered within moments with a detailed response to my question. I also enjoyed how the customer service agents each told me their preferred Sleep Number setting.
Comparing Other Models from Saatva and Sleep Number
Saatva Classic
- The Saatva Classic is a traditional innerspring mattress while the Solaire is an adjustable bed.
- The Saatva Classic comes in three firmness levels: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm.
- The Classic is significantly less expensive than the Solaire.
- Learn more in our full Saatva mattress review.
The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It's a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It's a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It's a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Saatva Mattress
Material
Innerspring
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Saatva Mattress
Material
Innerspring
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Saatva Mattress
Material
Innerspring
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Sleep Number 360 i10 Smart Bed
- The Sleep Number i8 and Sleep Number i10 both have adjustability settings and can automatically adjust to suit your personal comfort level.
- The Sleep Number i10 is softer than the i8. It has a thicker comfort layer and is one inch taller in height.
- The Sleep Number i10 is significantly more expensive than the Sleep Number i8.
- Learn more in our full Sleep Number 360 i10 Smart Bed review.
Out of all the Sleep Number beds, the 360® i10 is the heftiest if you look at its size, comfort foam layer, and price tag.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Out of all the Sleep Number beds, the 360® i10 is the heftiest if you look at its size, comfort foam layer, and price tag.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Out of all the Sleep Number beds, the 360® i10 is the heftiest if you look at its size, comfort foam layer, and price tag.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Sleep Number 360 i10 Smart Mattress
Material
Other
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Flat-rate white glove delivery
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
15-year limited warranty
Price Range
$$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Financing Options
Sleep Number 360 i10 Smart Mattress
Material
Other
Warranty
15-year limited warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Flat-rate white glove delivery
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Financing Options
Sleep Number 360 i10 Smart Mattress
Material
Other
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
15-year limited warranty
Shipping Method
Flat-rate white glove delivery
Price Range
$$$$$$
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
Other Common Saatva and Sleep Number Comparisons
Saatva Vs
- Loom & Leaf vs Tempurpedic
- Saatva vs Purple
- Saatva vs WinkBed
- Saatva vs Avocado
- Saatva vs Beautyrest
- Saatva vs Allswell
- Loom & Leaf vs Leesa
Sleep Number Vs
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Product
Firmness
Score
Saatva Solaire vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Product
Saatva Solaire Mattress
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Score
Product
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Mattress
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Score
