Anyone who wants to purchase an air mattress will always think about the Sleep Number adjustable air mattresses. However, you may need to check out alternative brands before purchasing.
Like many other high-quality air mattresses, the Air-Pedic mattress, manufactured by Selectabed, is an excellent option if you’re looking for an adjustable air mattress. This post compares the most popular air mattresses — the Air-Pedic and the Sleep Number.
Sleep Number vs. Air-Pedic Comparison Chart
Most users love to compare Air-Pedic 800 and the Sleep Number i8, so let’s discuss their differences, similarities, and what you should expect from them.
Air-Pedic 800
- Adjustable air mattress
- Variable firmness mattress
- 30-year warranty
- 120-day sleep trial
- Shipping costs between $99 and $199
- The queen-size costs $3,599
Sleep Number i8
- Adjustable air mattress
- Variable firmness mattress
- 15-year warranty
- 100-day sleep trial
- $199 shipping fee
- The queen-size costs $3,599
Adjustable Air Mattress: What Is It?
Unlike other mattresses that use latex, coils, or memory foam, the adjustable air mattress uses air chambers to offer support. The air chambers connect to a pump to allow you to adjust the mattress’s firmness depending on your needs.
Inflating the mattress with air means better support while deflating means less support. While the Sleep Number mattress comes with just one air chamber, other adjustable air mattresses have many air chambers, which is an advantage over Sleep Number.
It is important to note that airbeds use electricity and will need a mobile application, remote control, or both. Using either, you can control the air fill and customize your mattress for a good night’s rest. Some air beds have other fascinating features, one of which is sleep tracking.
Is an Adjustable Air Mattress Right for You?
Yes, adjustable air mattresses are suitable for you, especially if you suffer from chronic pains, because they allow multiple customizations. And if your body ever changes, this mattress will change with you, so you don’t have to worry about any physical changes that may occur in the future.
For example, if you get pregnant, gain or lose weight, or suffer an injury, your sleeping experience will change. This is where an adjustable air mattress comes into play — you can customize it to suit your changing needs.
So, now that you know that adjustable air mattresses are suitable for you, what are some reasons people choose these mattresses over others?
It Is Recommended for People with Chronic Pain
Everyone needs a proper spine alignment when sleeping, achieved when you get the best sleep surface.
However, most people with back pain, fibromyalgia, or bursitis usually find this problematic. The good news is that
adjustable air beds allow you to target painful pressure points and change the air fill.
Suitable for Partners Sharing a Bed
The adjustable air beds have unique benefits, such as dual adjustability, which most couples enjoy. If you and your partner prefer different levels of comfort, there’s always an option to adjust your side to match your preferences independently.
Sleep Recovery
Besides alleviating chronic pain and being suitable for couples, air mattresses provide another benefit: sleep recovery. If you’re a workout enthusiast, you’ll always need help improving your muscle recovery.
Due to the adjustability and durability of these mattresses, they are highly priced. Therefore, they might not be an excellent choice if you’re on a tight budget.
Sleep Number vs. Air-Pedic: Our Findings
The air chambers are the big difference between the Sleep Number and Air-Pedic mattresses. Sleep Number 360 Smart Bed features one air chamber on the side of the mattress, pushing the air to the head and foot when you sleep on the mattress.
The Sleep Number mattress is perfect when you set a firmer setting but will be horrible when you reduce the air level. However, Sleep Number also has unique features such as sleep tracking and responsive air technology (RAT).
On the other hand, Air-Pedic mattresses (Sleep Number’s primary competitor) come with three air chambers on each side. This feature allows you to adjust the firmness of the mattress around your head, shoulder, hips and legs, and even your midsection. Air-Pedic mattresses offer premium support, so you’ll never experience any mid-section sagging when you sleep.
Note: You can use the patented Airflow Transfer System (ATS) if you want a better sleeping experience with Air-Pedic mattresses.
1. Air-Pedic 800
Most Air-Pedic customers have reported that the mattress has improved their sleeping experience. The extra adjustable lumbar air chamber enhances the support level, offering better pressure relief and ensuring proper spine alignment. Learn more about the Air-Pedic mattress from our Air-Pedic mattress review.
The remote and the pump of this air mattress are more straightforward than other brands’. This is an advantage to those who find newer technologies a bit overwhelming. You can save your setting once you have found your perfect comfort level. This way, you don’t have to keep setting your mattress whenever you want to sleep.
Mattress Cooling
As previously mentioned, Air Pedic allows customers to get the Airflow Transfer System, which would be an excellent add-on, especially if you’re a hot sleeper. Additionally, the Air Pedic 800 mattress has an adhesive bamboo cover to enhance breathability. It also comes with a gel-infused foam to help cool your body while you sleep.
The ATS combines these features to improve the cooling and breathability performance of the mattress. The foam’s top layer contains many holes across the mattress’s surface, while the foam layer located beneath comes with grooved channels. The ultimate goal of these foam layers is to eliminate heat while regulating your temperature.
Customer Service
Selectabed (Air Pedic’s manufacturer) is very accommodating and will always do their best to answer your questions. For instance, if you don’t like the feel of the comfort layers, you can ask them to replace them, and they’ll work with you to find a firmer option suited to your needs.
Air Chambers
The air chambers are made from medical-grade urethane. But why should you even care about this? Traditional rubber will often dry out after some time, causing fissures and cracks. On the other hand, the air chambers made from medical-grade urethane are mildew- and mould resistant, enhancing their durability.
Certifications
Maybe we’d call this a tie because Sleep Number and Air-Pedic use the CertiPUR-US certified foams. In other words, the foams do not contain hazardous chemical flame retardants like the PBDEs. Furthermore, the foams are free of mercury, ozone depleters, lead, formaldehyde, and even phthalates.
Pros
- The Air Pedic mattress is best for couples sharing a bed
- Certified by three companies — GreenGuard, The Green Bear Mark of Excellence, and CertiPUR-US
- It comes with some exceptional breathing advantages
- Little to no motion transfer
- Best for pressure relief without compromising support
- Features urethane air chambers that are mildew- and mould-resistant
- The foam is manufactured in the United States of America
Cons
- It is expensive
- It can be time-consuming to find the perfect firm setting
- It does not come with a sleep-tracking functionality
Experience the difference for yourself – use Sleepify700 for $900 off the Air-Pedic 800 Bed.
2. Sleep Number I8
Sleep Number is probably one of the mattresses that pop up in your mind when you think of an adjustable air bed. Sleep Number has been in business since the 1980s, making them one of the most experienced players in the industry. However, in the 80s, Sleep Number was called Select Comfort.
The i8 is part of the Sleep Number 360 innovation series. This innovation series has proven the best; it offers better comfort and pressure relief. This series also has a temperature l-balancing feature on the mattress covers and foam beneath.
Smart Bed Technology
With one air chamber on each side, the i8 is one of the adjustable air mattresses featured in the Sleep Number 360 innovation series. The bed has sensors to recognize your breathing, heart rate, and how often you turn and toss when sleeping. You’ll get all this information on an app, whether using an iPhone, Android, or tablet.
In other words, you can sleep comfortably knowing you’ll get all the information you need when you wake up. However, some customers have raised concerns about the accuracy of the sleep tracker. For example, some users said they turned and tossed all night, but the tracker revealed an incorrect score. Additionally, some uses had challenges with the pump maintaining the wi-fi connection. That means you might have problems if you don’t have a strong WIFi connection.
Besides sleep tracking, the i8 has a responsive air technology that maintains firmness and comfort, no matter what type of sleeper you are. However, instead of the responsive air adjustments happening in real-time, some customers reported it happening every 30 minutes. Your fan will be a little disturbing due to the noise it produces, so you might want to turn on the mattress’s Responsive Air Technology at night. There are also a number of other Sleep Number Alternatives available on the market if you have some unique needs.
Budget-Friendly
People love Sleep Number because they offer air mattresses suited to everyone’s budget. For example, they offer the queen c2 mattress at $1,099. So, if you feel the Sleep Number i8 is overpriced, you can opt for the c2 and enjoy the best sleeping experience. The Sleep Number i8 has some excellent features you shouldn’t miss out on though. You can see how the Sleep Number i8 compares to the Sleep Number i10 in our new review on Sleepify.
Common Sleep Number Complaints
When reviewing products, it’s best to pay attention to what real customers have to say, which we did before writing this comprehensive review. We found that Sleep Number users had some complaints about the sleep trial and warranty.
The mattress includes a 100-night sleep trial, but the base won’t be eligible for a refund if you buy an adjustable base with the Sleep Number mattress.
Some customers also complained about pains resulting from the sagging of the midsection. I recommend purchasing an air bed with numerous air chambers for better adjustability and support.
Pros
- Dual adjustability
- Temperature-balancing feature
- Sleep-tracking functionality
- It is CertiPUR-US certified
- It features an intelligent technology
Cons
- Some customers have complained about the hammock effect
- Bluetooth connectivity can be unreliable at times
- It is expensive
