Saatva HD vs New Purple Mattress Comparison: Which Is Best for You?

[Editor’s Note: The Purple Hybrid Premier is no longer available. Check out our Purple Original mattress review to learn about other Purple options.] No matter your weight, finding a mattress that is both properly supportive and comfortable is key. We sleep for almost a third of our lives, so the right mattress can really work wonders. If you are on the heavier side, you need to keep a few things in mind while hunting for a new mattress. First, you want a mattress that can support your weight. A softer, all-foam mattress might not be able to handle weights over 300 lb. Second, you want a mattress that is durable and won’t break down after only a few years. Well, us larger people are in luck. The Saatva HD and New Purple (the Purple 4 in particular) are both very supportive, durable mattresses that should be a good match for heavier people. That said, these two mattresses are a better match for different types of sleepers. Which one of these mattresses is right for you? Read on for my full comparison on the Saatva HD vs New Purple mattress!

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Saatva HD Mattress

Firmness

Firm: 8/10

Score

4.6 / 5

Check Price

Read Saatva HD Mattress Review

Product

Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress

Firmness

Soft: 6/10

Score

4.4 / 5

Check Price

Read Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress Review

Saatva HD vs New Purple Mattress: Top Similarities

• They are both supportive mattresses that are very breathable and can support heavier people.
• These are both hybrid mattresses that contain coils, so they are both an excellent balance of comfort and support
• They are both durable mattresses made of high-quality components, so both mattresses represent excellent long-term investments.

Saatva HD vs New Purple Mattress: Key Differences

• The Saatva HD is taller than the Purple 4, more affordable, and also firmer.
• These mattresses contain some very different materials that give the mattresses different feels and different overall characteristics.
• The feel is very different; Saatva HD features a pillow-top, while the Purple 4 has a firm yet supportive gel feel.

Saatva HD Construction

• The mattress is 15.5″ tall and consists of five distinct layers if the quilting layer is included.
• The organic cotton cover is tufted and quilted with comfort foam to add softness and pressure relief.
• The top layer also contains Guardin, an antimicrobial fabric treatment.
• The next layer is zoned Talalay latex foam, which adds springiness and responsiveness to the mattress, as well as breathability. See our list of the best latex mattresses to see exactly what this material does.
• Below this is a layer of memory foam and then support foam to add pressure relief and contouring.
• Finally, the support layer contains 12.5 gauge tempered steel coils, which are highly supportive, durable, and breathable.

Purple 4 Construction

• This mattress is 13″ tall and is comprised of four distinct layers.
• The top layer is 4” of a hyper-elastic gel polymer that creates a gel grid that features amazing pressure relief and breathability.
• Then, you have a 0.5” transition foam layer to act as a buffer between the comfort and support layers.
• Below that, there is a 7.5” layer of individually wrapped coils, which are highly supportive and durable.
• On the bottom, there is 1” of a foundational foam for the coils to rest on.

Read the full Purple 4 mattress review, available here.

Construction Differences and Notes

• The Purple’s gel grid is one of the most unique comfort layers you will find in a bed-in-a-box mattress. It works in a very interesting way: It stays completely flat until you apply enough pressure. Once this happens, that specific area will collapse while the rest of the mattress is unaffected.
• The Saatva HD features zoning in two areas. First off, the Talalay latex layer has five zones. This varies the firmness across the surface of that layer, making it firmer and softer under certain areas. There is also zoning in the coil layer, which makes the center of the mattress firmer than the rest.
• Both the Saatva HD and the Purple 4 should be a good match for larger people. The Saatva HD is designed specifically with larger people in mind, and the multiple layers of high-density foam and high-grade coils are made to offer support for much heavier weights. The Purple 4 has a very thick layer of proprietary, hyper-elastic gel polymer that will also provide comfort and support for heavier people.
• The Saatva HD and Purple Hybrid Premier should be two of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
• The Saatva HD and Purple 4 are both breathable mattresses, but most likely the Purple is going to be even more breathable. Just looking at the gel grid, people can see there is a huge amount of room for air to flow through. Overall, the Purple 4 shouldn’t trap heat and should be a temperature-neutral sleeping surface.
• Again, these should both be durable, longer lasting mattresses that are great investments. They both feature some very durable materials that shouldn’t sag under those heavier weights. However, the Purple’s gel grid is just a bit more durable than the materials consumers will find in the Saatva HD. Both mattresses should last for a very long time, but the Purple 4 could last even longer. Check out our best mattresses that won’t sag for more like Saatva HD and Purple 4.

Firmness and Feel Differences

When we talk about mattress firmness, it is often subjective. For instance, a much lighter person might lie on the Purple 4 and think it is very firm. On the other hand, a heavier person could lie on a soft memory foam mattress and find it to be too firm. As a larger person, I can give my personal experience with these two mattresses. While lying on the Saatva HD, the mattress feels close to an 8/10, or firmer than average. I am 230 lb, and people who are in the 300 to 500 lb weight range could press further into these top layers and find the mattress to be softer than I did. While lying on the Purple 4, the mattress feels like a 5.5/10, or softer than average. The mattress feels firm at first, but then collapses under my butt when I am on my back and under my shoulders and hips when I am on my side.

Here is how it felt while sleeping on the Saatva HD:

• I feel no lack of support when I am back sleeping on the Saatva HD. This is a very supportive mattress overall, and the zoning in the latex and coil layers provides extra support near my lumbar area. At the same time, my hips sink into the plush top layer. Like the original Saatva, it is one of the best mattresses for back sleepers.
• When I move to my side, I am feeling some firmness on my shoulders and hips. It is not uncomfortable per se, and I think much larger people will feel better pressure relief than I did.
• Lying on my stomach, I feel completely supported. I feel even support across my entire body so that I stay in a healthy, neutral spinal alignment.

Here is how it felt while sleeping on the Purple 4:

• Starting on my back, I only feel my hips sink into the gel grid. The mattress continues to support my lumbar area as well as the other parts of my body.
• Moving to my side, the Purple 4 is a great match for me. The gel grid only collapses under my shoulders and hips, so I feel almost no pressure at all. In fact, the Purple 4 gives me an almost weightless feeling.
• Sleeping on my stomach, I feel like the mattress supports me across my entire body. I will say that I think much heavier people, like those between 300 and 500 lb, might not feel quite the same support.

In terms of feel, these mattresses are very different. The Saatva HD has a pillow-top hybrid feel similar to what you find on the original Saatva or WinkBeds mattresses. That being said, it is much firmer. The Purple 4 mattress has a unique feeling that is honestly difficult to describe. It has a squishy, gel-like quality that creates a firm sleeping surface. At the same time, it is very pressure-relieving and collapses under the heavier parts of your body. See more of what I thought of Saatva HD’s firmness and feel in the video below: Now, see what I thought of the Purple 4’s firmness and feel in the video below:

Motion Transfer Differences

Motion transfer is always important to consider if someone sleeps with a partner. People basically want to know whether their partner’s movements will disturb them during the night, and they also want to make sure they aren’t disturbing them! To test out the motion transfer on both of these mattresses, I used a glass of water. I placed the glass of water on top of both mattresses and then pressed into the other areas of the mattress. During these tests, I definitely saw less disturbance in the water on the Purple 4. I saw a fair amount of disturbance with the Saatva HD. This leads me to believe the Purple 4 isolates motion better than the Saatva HD and could be a better mattress for couples. See how the Saatva HD handles motion transfer in the video below: Now, compare this to the Purple 4′ motion transfer in the video below:

Edge Support Differences

Edge support is also worth considering if you sleep with a partner or want to sleep close to the edge of your mattress. Basically, when you sit near the edge or lie down near the edge of a mattress, will you feel secure in this position or will you feel like you are going to fall off? Between these two mattresses, the Saatva HD has much better edge support. The mattress barely collapses when I sit near the edge. Also, when I lie down near the Saatva HD, I don’t feel like I am going to roll off the mattress. Consumers can see the edge support differences in the photos below:

Pick Saatva HD If …

• You are a much heavier stomach sleeper- While both of these mattresses are very supportive, the Saatva HD should offer better support for people between 300 and 500 lb who sleep primarily on their stomach. The zoned construction and firmer layers should ensure your hips don’t bow in whatsoever.
• You are looking for the more affordable mattress- Both the Saatva HD and the Purple 4 are premium mattresses that cost over $2,000. That said, at full price, the Saatva HD costs $500 less than the Purple 4. If you can’t decide between these two mattresses, picking the Saatva HD could save you some money on your purchase, although the Purple 4 is still a great mattress for the money.
• You like a hybrid mattress with a pillow-top- The Saatva HD is a hybrid mattress that contains very supportive coils, high-density foams, and a tufted top layer that is quilted with comfort foam. If you’ve had success with hybrid mattresses and like a bit of that plush, pillow-top feel, the Saatva HD should be a good choice.
• You prefer a firmer mattress- Between these two mattresses, the Saatva HD is definitely firmer without question. Whether you just like the feel of a firmer mattress or have even greater support needs, the Saatva HD should work for you.

Pick Purple 4 If …

• You are a heavier side sleeper- Larger side sleepers can sometimes have a difficult time finding a mattress that is comfortable enough for them. However, the Purple 4 should be a good match. It has 4” of hyper-elastic gel polymer that should relieve most pressure on your shoulders and hips while ensuring you don’t bottom out and hit the support layers beneath.
• You are looking for an extra durable mattress- While these are both very durable mattresses, the Purple 4 should be more durable. The hyper-elastic gel polymer is one of the more durable materials we have seen on a mattress. It shouldn’t sag, even after years of use.
• You are a hot sleeper- If you often find yourself waking sweating in the middle of the night, your mattress could be to blame. Between the two mattresses, you have less chance of overheating on the Purple 4. There is so much room for air to flow through the gel grid, so the mattress shouldn’t trap too much heat. It should be a temperature-neutral mattress that doesn’t make you sleep hot.
• You prefer a softer mattress- While lighter people might find the Purple 4 to be too firm, larger people should agree that the Purple 4 is a very soft mattress. Whether you sleep on your side or just prefer some more give with your mattress, the Purple 4 should be the way to go.

Overall

If you keep your weight and sleeping position in mind, you shouldn’t have too much trouble deciding between the Saatva HD and Purple 4. The Saatva HD is a better match for much heavier stomach sleepers and those who like a firmer, pillow-top mattress. The Purple 4 should work for heavier side sleepers and those who like a softer mattress with excellent pressure relief. Still not sure which mattress is best for you? Head over to our mattress comparison page to find other popular Saatva and Purple comparisons like Saatva HD vs Titan and Purple vs Nectar. Please leave any questions you have about the Saatva HD and Purple 4 in the comment section below!