Question: Are you getting enough? Are you satisfied? Which position do you prefer? I am of course, talking about sleep, a topic that often keeps us awake at night.
As the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior sleep and wellness tester and a self-confessed sleep geek, I love trying out the latest innovations. So, when I got the opportunity to review the Sleep.8 iSense Hybrid Premier Mattress – a dual-adjustable mattress with cooling capabilities and real-time sleep tracking – I couldn’t wait to put it to the test.
Whether you’re looking for customisable support or you’ve been contemplating a sleep divorce (like a whopping 51% of GH readers, according to our Sleep Survey), there’s lots to love about this high-tech (and high cost) smart mattress. Keep reading to find out how I got on...
The iSense Hybrid Premier Mattress at a glance
Key specifications
| Type | Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Single, double, king, super king, FlexHead super king |
| Warranty | 10 years |
This clever piece of kit features embedded air cylinders under the surface, which allow you to alter the firmness to suit your individual needs, whether you like sleeping on a soft base, you prefer something firmer or you’re somewhere in the middle. Best of all, it’s ‘dual-adjustable’, so you and your bedfellow can adjust your sides independently via the accompanying app.
It's a hybrid construction, with a memory foam layer, 580 pocket coil springs and an additional layer of foam to provide a balance of comfort, pressure relief and support. The mattress also has built-in sensors, tracking your sleep data and providing personalised insights to improve the quality of your Zs.
If you’ve got the funds, you can buy the mattress with the brand’s Ergo Adjustable Bed Frame, which allows you to adjust your head and foot positions (handy for snorers) and has a clever ‘zero gravity’ feature to mimic a feeling of weightlessness. There’s also snazzy massage functionality and under-bed lighting.
How I tested
I trialled the iSense Hybrid Premier Mattress over a six-week period, first assessing delivery, set-up and clarity of instructions. I also considered design, ease of use and, of course, how comfortable it was to sleep on night after night, taking into account all the brand claims.
Our iSense Hybrid Premier Mattress review
Score: 77/100
Pros
- Quick, easy installation process
- Easy to control and adjust settings
- Great for those who share a bed
- No lingering 'new mattress' smell
- High-quality, premium hybrid design
- Comfortable to sleep on
Cons
- Expensive
- Inconsistent sleep tracking
- Needed occasional pressure top-ups
Instructions and ease of use
When it comes to getting large items like mattresses delivered, you want the experience to be seamless, as once in situ, if it isn’t right, you’re in trouble. Mine took a little while to arrive due to stock issues with super kings, but delivery was streamlined and the mattress was installed, set up and connected for me – no need to faff around with screws, bolts and hard-to-read instruction manuals. All I had to do was provide an extension lead, so make sure you have one to hand on delivery day.
The iSense app connected quickly and easily and was simple enough to navigate. It includes controls to adjust the firmness on individual sides of the mattress, the sleep tracker, and the settings. There is an alarm clock feature that I was initially excited about – I envisioned being catapulted out of bed in the morning – but this just turned out to be just an alarm on my phone, which I already have.
Design
The iSense Premier Hybrid Mattress is a seriously classy affair – there's an embossed memory foam top, extra depth (so you will need deep sheets) and a sleek logo on the base – it looks so good, it’s almost shame to put a sheet on it.
Mattresses do have a certain aroma when they're unpacked which, if you’re interested, is caused by ‘off gassing’; the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) within the mattress while it expands and settles. This iSense design is no different, although the smell was faint and I found it had totally disappeared by the end of the first day. This might be down to fact that the brand uses CertiPUR-US verified foam, which is made with low VOC emissions.
Performance
The big question: did it open the portal to a better night’s sleep? For me, the biggest pro is the mattress's dual adjustability. When two people are sharing a bed, it’s more than likely that one of you will be less than 100% happy with the set-up, but there’s no such issue with the iSense mattress. I prefer my mattress as firm as can be while my husband is a fan of a plush base. Thanks to the innovative design, we’re both happy!
You can control the firmness level via the app or with a remote control, if you don’t want to fiddle around on your phone at bedtime. My husband thought it would be hilarious to try and change the settings on my side while I slept, but it makes a noise while the pressure changes, so he couldn’t see his plan through. You can also easily review your settings within the app to check and play around with them until you’re happy. The level of customisation really is excellent.
The sleep tracker includes insights into how long you spent in bed, movement time, heart rate and breath rate, but it was inconsistent during my testing – sometimes it was accurate and sometimes it wasn’t. It's not the defining characteristic of the mattress, though, so it wasn't a dealbreaker for me. In the meantime, I’ll stick to my WHOOP tracker to keep an eye on my sleep stats.
The final verdict: Is the iSense Hybrid Premier Mattress worth it?
There's no getting around how expensive this is and the sleep tracking wasn't that reliable.
However, if you and you partner are at loggerheads when it comes to which type of mattress to buy and your budget stretches, this iSense mattress might just be the answer to all your prayers.
The iSense Hybrid Premier Mattress is available to buy from Sleep.8.
On a quest for better sleep?
- From pillows and duvets to bedding sets and sleep gadgets, we tested almost 400 products for our 2025 Sleep Awards.
- If you're a hot, sweaty sleeper, check out our Simba Summer Hybrid Duvet review. It scored 98/100 in our tests!
- These are the best dressing gowns to keep you cosy when you're lounging on the sofa or lying in bed.
Kim Hawley is our health and fitness product tester. Her career in fitness has spanned over 30 years. Prior to joining the Good Housekeeping Institute, she worked as a personal trainer, writer and fitness instructor for some of London’s most prestigious health clubs, including The Harbour Club, David Lloyd and The Chelsea Club. Passionate about women’s health and fitness, especially in pre/post menopause, she is also a Level 4 PT and holds a professional nutritional qualification. Kim is responsible for rigorously testing everything from cross trainers to smart watches.
