Brooklyn Bedding Titan vs Purple 4: Which Reigns Supreme?

It used to be that larger people had to pretty much settle for any mattress they could find. Thankfully, those days are behind us. There are now a number of mattresses out there built just for heavier people. The Brooklyn Bedding Titan is one such mattress, and it is one of the most supportive mattresses I have come across. I was interested to see how it compared to one of my favorite mattresses, the Purple 4. It is not made just for larger people, but it is a very supportive and comfortable mattress for someone of my size. So, let’s put these two in the ring and see how the Brooklyn Bedding Titan vs Purple 4 mattresses compare. Which is the right mattress for your unique sleep needs? Read on to find out! [Editor’s Note: The Purple Hybrid Premier is no longer available. Check out our Purple Original mattress review to learn about other Purple options.]

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Titan Plus

Firmness

Firm: 9/10

Score

4.2 / 5

Check Price

Read Titan Plus Review

Product

Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress

Firmness

Soft: 6/10

Score

4.4 / 5

Check Price

Read Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress Review

Brooklyn Bedding Titan vs. Purple 4: Top Similarities

• The Titan and Purple 4 are both very supportive mattresses and should easily be able to support larger people.
• These are both hybrid mattresses with supportive coils and softer comfort layers, making them an excellent balance of comfort and support
• Both the Titan and Purple 4 are breathable mattresses that hot sleepers should really enjoy.
• They are both durable mattresses, making both really great long-term investments.

Brooklyn Bedding Titan vs. Purple 4: Key Differences

• The Purple 4 is taller than the Titan and it is also softer
• The mattresses incorporate different materials in their comfort layers; the Titan features memory foam and TitanFlex foam while the Purple features a gel grid.
• The mattresses have very different feels, and the Titan is more affordable than the Purple 4.

Brooklyn Bedding Titan Construction

• The Titan is 11” tall, and consists of four layers if the quilting layer is included.
• The cover is made of polyester and is quilted with 1” of gel memory foam to add some extra softness and pressure relief.
• The first layer is 2” of soft, responsive TitanFlex foam that is durable and resembles the qualities of latex.
• Below that, there are 6” of TitanCaliber coils, which are very supportive and a very durable material.
• Finally, there are 2” of a high-density foam that the support coils can rest on.

Purple 4 Construction

• This Purple 4 is 13″ tall and consists of four separate layers.
• The Purple 4’s cover is soft and breathable, and it won’t affect the overall feel of the mattress.
• The first layer is 4” of a gel grid that is made of a hyper-elastic gel polymer that relieves pressure very well.
• Next, there is a 0.5” transition foam layer that acts as a buffer between the comfort and support layers.
• Then you have a 7.5” layer of individually wrapped coils that are durable, supportive, and very breathable.
• On the bottom is 1” of a foundational foam that the support coils can rest on.

Construction Differences and Notes

• With the New Purple mattresses, consumers have three choices in regards to the gel grid, either the 2”, 3”, or 4” versions. Larger side sleepers will most likely prefer the Purple 4 as it has the thickest comfort layer and will prevent them from bottoming out and hitting the firm coils underneath.
• The Purple 4’s gel grid has a very unique design where unlike some comfort materials that will progressively compress under more and more weight, the Purple’s gel grid does not. It stays firm and supportive until enough pressure is applied, and when that happens, just that area of the gel grid will collapse.
• Both of these mattresses should be able to support people of a larger size. The Titan’s TitanCaliber coils are specifically designed to handle much larger weights, and the Purple 4’s gel grid is a soft yet supportive material, and the individually-wrapped coils can support larger weights as well. They are actually two of the best mattresses for heavy people.
• While both mattresses are quite durable, the Purple 4 should be even more durable, because the hyper-elastic gel polymer is one of the most durable materials we have come across. It should retain its shape for years to come.
• The Purple 4’s gel grid is also a very breathable material that allows for maximum airflow. While the Titan has some nice breathability, the gel grid should allow for even more airflow with the Purple 4.
• If someone is a hot sleeper, they can add a cooling panel to their Titan mattress, which will help keep the top of the mattress very cool.

Firmness and Feel Differences

The perceived firmness of a mattress can really depend on the size of someone’s body. I weigh 230 lb, and am the heaviest person on the Mattress Clarity team. It is worth noting that if someone is larger than me, in the 250 to 400 lb weight range, they could feel like the firmnesses of these two mattresses are different than what I experienced. With that in mind, I will say that the Titan felt like an 8.5/10 in terms of firmness. There are two somewhat soft top layers, but I am mostly feeling the supportive coils. The Purple 4 felt like a 5.5/10, because while supportive, that gel grid collapses easily under the heavier parts of the body, making it feel much softer than the Titan. Here is how it felt while sleeping in different positions on the Titan:

• When back sleeping, the mattress feels a bit too firm for me. I am not getting that balance of comfort and support that I prefer for back sleeping, and I wish my hips could sink in a bit more.
• Moving to the side, the Titan is again too firm. Even with the gel memory foam and TitanFlex foam near the top, I am feeling some pressure on my shoulders and hips.
• While stomach sleeping, the Titan works very well for me, because I feel the overall support of the coils, and my spine is kept in neutral alignment. Between the two, it is the best mattress for stomach sleepers.

Here is how it felt sleeping in different positions on the Purple 4:

• Back sleeping on the Purple 4, I am feeling that mix of comfort and support. The gel grid collapses under my hips, while the mattress continues to support my lumbar area as well as the rest of my body. Between the two, it is the best mattress for back sleepers.
• When I lie on my side, the gel grid collapses under my hips and shoulders, and I get a somewhat weightless feeling and there is almost no pressure in those areas.
• When I move to my stomach, the mattress is supportive enough for me, and I also feel like I am well aligned. However, I would say I feel better support stomach sleeping on the Titan.

These mattresses have a very different feel, and the Titan has that traditional innerspring feel. Again, there are some soft layers on top, but I am mostly feeling those coils. The Purple 4 has a very unique feel that is firm until someone applies enough pressure, and then the mattress will collapse in that isolated area. The mattress also has a squishy, gel-like feel that is unique a little difficult to describe. See more about the Titan’s firmness and feel with the video below: Now, watch more about the firmness and feel of the Purple 4 with the video below:

Motion Transfer Differences

If you are in search of a mattress and sleep with a partner, motion transfer should be a major consideration. Will your mattress isolate the motion of you and your partner? Will you disturb one another? To test out the motion transfer of both these mattresses, I utilized a glass of water. I placed the glass of water on both mattresses and then pushed into the surrounding areas. I saw a little bit of disturbance with the Purple 4. I saw less disturbance on the Titan. I think this is because the Titan has memory foam near the top of the mattress. Memory foam is usually great at isolating motion. Between these two mattresses, the Titan seems to handle motion transfer better. See how well the Titan handles motion transfer in the video below: Now, compare this to the Purple 4 with the video below.

Edge Support Differences

If someone wants the best mattress for couples, it is also worth thinking about edge support, which basically is a way to make sure that someone and their partner can really use the full surface area of the mattress. Can someone lie down near the edge of the mattress without falling off, and can they sit down near the edge without feeling like they are going to fall forward? While sitting near the edge of the Purple 4, the mattress does collapse under my weight, and I don’t feel held up in this position. Lying down, I feel a bit like I might roll off the edge of the mattress. With the Titan, the mattress barely collapses when I sit near the edge, and I also feel more secure lying near the edge. The Titan appears to have better edge support after significant personal testing.

Who Should Pick Titan…

• Heavier stomach sleepers- When it comes to stomach sleeping, people want to make sure they get enough support on their hips, so a firmer mattress is usually a better bet. The Titan is firmer than the Purple 4 and should provide better overall support for larger stomach sleepers.
• Those who like an innerspring feel- The Titan has some soft comfort layers on top. However, consumers should be mostly feeling the coils beneath. If people have had success with innerspring mattresses, the Titan should be the better choice. Those who like this feel should see our best innerspring mattresses.
• People who like a firmer mattress. If someone needs a firmer, more supportive mattress, the Titan should work for them. Also, if they prefer sleeping on top of their mattress instead of sinking in, the Titan is a better choice.
• Those who are looking for a more affordable mattress. Between the two mattresses, the Titan is more affordable. If consumers just can’t decide between the Titan and Purple 4, choosing the Titan could save them a good amount of money.

Who Should Pick Purple 4…

• Heavier side sleepers- Larger side sleepers usually want to find a mattress with a thicker comfort layer. They want to ensure they get the pressure relief they need without bottoming out. The Purple 4 has a very thick comfort layer and relieves pressure very well, even for someone of a heavier size, so it’s a great mattress for heavy side sleepers.
• Back sleepers- Back sleepers usually want to find a mattress with a balance of comfort and support. The Purple 4 has this in spades. It allows the hips to sink in while still supporting the rest of the body. Back sleepers, especially larger ones, should find the Purple 4 to be a good fit.
• Those who want a longer-lasting investment- The Purple 4 does cost more than the Titan, but it should be worth the investment. It is a durable mattress that should stay supportive and comfortable for many years.
• People who prefer a softer mattress- While lighter people may feel differently, most larger people should agree that the Purple 4 is softer than the Titan. If you like the feeling of a softer mattress or want to sink in farther, the Purple should be the clear choice.

Overall

Both of these mattresses should be a good match for heavier sleepers. The Titan should be better for heavier stomach sleepers and those who want a firmer mattress, while the Purple 4 should be better for back and stomach sleepers. Consumers should read through this comparison a couple of times, assess their own needs and preferences, and then they can make a more informed decision.