This week saw the release of its third phone and the first proper mid-ranger – the Nothing Phone (2a). We say “proper mid-ranger” because the original Nothing Phone (1) wasn’t exactly a flagship either, but this one is decidedly a more budget option. Check out the prices below:
Nothing Phone (2a)
EU
UK
India
8/128GB
€330
£320
₹24,000
8/256GB
-
-
₹26,000
12/256GB
€380
£350
₹28,000
Unlike the Phone (2), the a-model won’t be available in the US, at least not through retail...
Gitzo tripods need no introduction as a premium option, and the Gitzo tripod Traveler series 1 (4 sections) being reviewed here is a travel tripod made for professional use thanks to its excellent build quality, tall height and light weight. This is one of those tripods that doesn’t look remarkable in any way, but as soon as you use it the smoothness of operation alongside the quality materials used identify it as a high-end travel tripod.
With this in mind and before we get into the specifics, the Traveler series 1 is expensive at $680 / £539 / AU$1,154.95. But this is a tripod that could easily last a lifetime thanks to the build quality and the availability of spare parts if something needs to be replaced. Spare part availability isn’t unusual in the tripod world, but when you’re paying this much money for a small tripod it’s reassuring to know that you can replace parts as and when required.
Despite the high price, this tripod doesn’t include a carry bag or case which some photographers may miss. It’s not a major downside because in reality, many photographers simply attach their tripods to a backpack while walking or carry them in their hand, and the Gitzo does include a well-made shoulder strap which is extremely useful.
(Image credit: Future)
Gitzo tripods and heads have some, well, utilitarian naming conventions and the official name of the Gitzo tripod kit Traveler, series 1, 4 sections is the GK1545T-82TQD which is a Traveler tripod/head kit that includes the GT1545T Tripod and the GH1382TQD Center Ball Head. I’ve only outlined these names to make it easier to find the kit we’re looking at here because retailers title the kit differently based on their own naming styles.
The Gitzo Traveler Kit is incredibly well made and oozes quality alongside providing stable support up to 64.4in / 163.5cm with the center column extended. This provides a maximum working height comparable to some full-size tripods, which is impressive for a travel tripod that’s just 16.7in / 42.5cm long when folded with a weight of 3.19lbs / 1.45kg.
The minimum height is 12.8in / 32.4cm, although you can get lower with the short plastic center column that’s included with the legs splayed out flat, or by inserting the standard center column into the legs upside down.
Going with four section rigid carbon fiber legs rather than five sections improves overall stability. This, of course, results in a slightly longer folded length, but the positive trade-off here is the additional stability fewer leg sections naturally provide because this means that the sections have a larger diameter.
The maximum payload is 22lbs / 10kg, so the tripod can support a wide range of camera and lens combinations although Gitzo does recommend that 200mm is the maximum focal length that should be used with the tripod and head.
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You could undoubtedly go beyond this given the maximum payload, but travel tripod heads are typically smaller than those designed for full-size tripods. So, even when they can accommodate longer focal length lenses, it’s often not going to provide the most reliable shooting experience.
The head itself, like the legs, is exceptionally well made. There’s no friction control for the ball mechanism, but the main locking control provides this depending on how loose it is and a pan lock controls the stiff yet smooth panning movement.
It's a simple ball head, but it does everything you need and does it smoothly. The plate used is also Arca Swiss compatible so you can use plates from other tripod heads and L brackets. The head can also be tilted over 90 degrees for portrait format shooting with one notch that allows this. This is ultimately a head where the adage ‘less is more’ is at play, but it does what it does well and can’t be faulted for this.
(Image credit: James Abbott)
Twist locks for the legs and control knobs on the ball head and the centre column feature a rubberized grip that is comfortable to use, effective and doesn’t require too much twisting to lock and unlock. This doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re adjusting a tripod, speed and comfort can make a huge difference over a long day of shooting.
It feels almost strange to enjoy using a tripod – camera supports are hardly glamorous, they simply need to hold a camera securely. However, the level of quality and the smooth and positive level of operation afforded by the Gitzo make it a premium option worth considering if your budget stretches that far.
It may be is expensive, but it’s far from being one of the most expensive options available. Believe it or not, there are tripods available that cost upwards of $1000 / £1000 so in this context, the Gitzo is arguably well-priced.
Should I buy the Gitzo tripod kit Traveler series 1?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
How I tested the Gitzo tripod kit Traveler series 1
The Gitzo tripod Traveler series 1 was tested over a period of time using several different camera and lens combinations to test how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera and a full-frame mirrorless camera. The tripod was also carried around with other photographic kit in my f-stop backpack to evaluate performance over longer shoots such as landscapes.
With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering photographic accessories such as tripods for many years. As a professional photographer, I frequently use a range of accessories to enhance my photography and bring my working experience of using these to reviews where I can consider how effective photographic accessories are from both a professional and an enthusiast point of view.
The Reference Series Hemp headphones started out as a limited edition – but thanks to popular opinion, Grado has decided to make them a permanent part of its catalog. How likely are the Grado Hemp to feature in our best wired headphones buying guide? Very, with just a few caveats.
In many ways – certainly aesthetic – it’s Grado business as usual. Which isn't all good news, exactly, because it means these headphones are nothing special where perceived value is concerned, are far from luxurious as objects, and become less than comfortable more quickly than, say, the Sennheiser HD 660S2 they’re likely to face off against on most people’s shortlists.
Happily, it’s also business as usual where sound quality is concerned. The combination of the open-backed configuration, along with the acoustic talents of the maple-and-hemp construction of the driver housing, means these headphones sound spacious, detailed and thoroughly engaging. So much so, in fact, that you’ll almost certainly find they’re becoming just slightly uncomfortable before you’re really ready to stop listening to them.
Striking wooden ear cups in an otherwise so-very-Grado build (Image credit: Future)
Grado Hemp review: Price & release date
Release date: February 1, 2024
Price: $479 / £479 / AU$799
The Grado Reference Series Hemp wired open-backed over-ear headphones are available now – originally this model saw the light of day back in 2020, but then it was a limited edition and now it isn’t. In America, the price is a pun-tastic $420, while in the UK the headphones cost £479 and in Australia they’re AU$799.
There isn’t really space here to list all the very many pairs of alternative over-ear headphones this sort of money will buy. But direct, hard-wired open-backed rivals are thin on the ground (although the FiiO FT3 is one option), and those partially constructed from a semi-illegal botanical species are thinner still…
Grado Hemp review: Specs
Grado has now fitted a 3.5mm termination with a 6.33mm adapter supplied – good to see (Image credit: Future)
Grado Hemp review: Features
44mm dynamic drivers
13Hz - 28kHz frequency response
Chunky 177cm cable
There’s not much you need from a pair of passive headphones when it comes to ‘features’, is there? The Grado have the essentials: properly suspended, nicely isolated 44mm dynamic drivers delivering a claimed frequency response of 13Hz - 28kHz, and that just about covers it.
Each earcup is wired using the familiar eight-conductor cable Grado has favored for a while now – and here, just as in every other application, it’s almost wilfully eager to twist in on itself and heroically resistant to straightening. At least Grado has seen sense and fitted a 3.5mm termination with a 6.33mm adapter supplied – back in the day, the company would terminate with a 6.3mm jack and then provide a huge, unwieldy 6.3mm/3.5mm adapter. So progress has definitely been made where that particular feature is concerned…
Features score: 5/5
Grado is sticking with its 'friction pole' design principle, but it means you may experience wearer fatigue after a while (Image credit: Future)
Grado Hemp review: Sound quality
Open, organised and expansive presentation
Nicely balanced and detailed sound
Straightforwardly enjoyable to listen to
Buying open-backed, hard-wired headphones strongly suggests you take your listening pretty seriously – after all, you haven’t hit on a pair of Grado Reference Series Hemp headphones for their convenience. So it seems reasonable to assume you’ll plug them into a worthwhile source of music, rather than straight into the headphone socket of a laptop or smartphone.
And sure enough, attach the Hemp to a half-decent headphone amplifier, feed in some digital audio content of reasonable resolution (a 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of Nick Drake’s Which Will, for instance, a 16bit/44.1kHz FLAC copy of Petra Haden’s version of I Can See For Miles or a 24bit/192kHz FLAC file of Astrud Gilberto’s Chup Chup I Got Away) and the fact they neither look nor feel like $480-worth of headphones becomes a moot point. Because they sound like it, and then some.
The soundstage they’re capable of creating, for example, is spacious, well-organised and, most of all, big. So big, in fact, that even if you choose to listen to a full symphony orchestra gearing up for a full assault, there’s more than enough room available for each individual instrument to enjoy a little space in which to do its thing without fear of being trampled over by any other. The layout is explicit, and the distance in the front/back and left/right planes is significant. Switch to a small-scale, guitar-and-voice recording, though, and the Hemp makes it sound unified, intimate and direct. As far as creating a big picture goes, these Grado are vivid and confident.
The cable is chunky and 1.7mm long, but it's prone to tangles… (Image credit: Future)
Detail levels are high, across the board – the bottom of the frequency range is just as information-rich, varied and articulate as the midrange and the top end. At every stage, the Grado are able to identify and contextualise even the most minor events in a recording, as well as keeping a close eye on the bigger picture. It’s able to amalgamate every strand into a singular event with a strong sense of ‘performance’, and the integration of the entire frequency range is smooth (although just fractionally midrange-forward in the established Grado manner). This might seem to be a given, on the basis that the Hemp are producing the whole frequency from a single driver per earcup, but I’ve heard enough similarly specified headphones that simply can’t manage it to know it’s not good to make assumptions.
Control of the bottom end is good, which means rhythms are handled with assurance – the Grado’s overall sonic signature is one of momentum and engagement, rather than dry analysis. Oh, they can peer deep into a recording and bring back all the minutiae – but that’s not where they’re at their most effective. It’s their sense of energy and drive, well-supervised attack and simple musicality – that’s where their fundamental talents lie.
Big dynamic shafts are handled without alarms, and with just as much positivity as the low-level dynamic variations that are apparent in a solo instrument or unaccompanied voice(s) as in the Petra Haden recording. There’s plenty of punch and attack when it’s called for, but the Hemp are just as capable of soothing as they are invigorating.
Sound quality score: 5/5
These drivers are incredibly talented, but the open-air (read: open-back) design means sound leakage… (Image credit: Future)
Grado Hemp review: Design
Hemp/maple driver housing
Leather headband
Foam ear pads
Despite the fact that every pair of on-ear headphones is fundamentally the same when it comes to ‘design’, the Reference Series Hemp could only be a Grado product. The established design cues are all here.
Thin metal headband, modestly padded and covered with stretched leather? Check. Prosaic ‘friction pole’ headband adjustment mechanism? Check. Metal mesh covering the rear of the driver enclosure, ordinary-feeling foam forming the ear pads, a rudimentary yoke allowing just a degree of ear cup movement? Check, check and check again. Grado hit upon these design features a while back, and quite obviously sees no reason to mess with them.
No pair of headphones stays comfortable indefinitely. At some point during a listening session you’ll become aware of heat, or fatigue, or both, somewhere or other – but the design and execution of the Reference Series Hemp means that time will come a little sooner than with some alternative designs.
Design score: 4/5
Grado's rudimentary yoke doesn't allow for much cup adjustment (Image credit: Future)
Grado Hemp review: Value
Unremarkable in look and feel
Perceived value is not all that high
Excellent sound quality at the money
You can look at this one of two ways. The first way says that the Reference Series Hemp are fundamentally unglamorous, and in no way look or feel like they cost as much money as they cost. The second way says that a combination of sonic talents such as those exhibited by these headphones justifies the asking price all day long. You will very much make your own mind up…
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Grado Hemp?
Buy them if...
Don't buy them if...
Striking, but the metal mesh won't keep your tunes private (Image credit: Future)
Grado Hemp review: Also consider
How I tested the Grado Hemp
Used with various sources
Tested for over a week
Many different types of music played
Headphone amps of various types, music from vinyl records and hi-res digital audio files (and plenty of them) plus a long, hard listen is basically how I tested the Grado Reference Series Hemp.
This is how I was able to establish they like good sources of music better than average ones (no surprise there), they couldn’t care less about the sort of music you like to listen to (which is good news), and they get a little uncomfortable once you’re hours deep into a listening session (which is slightly less good news).
It also didn't take me long to establish that the noise they leak is an irritation to anyone who might be in the vicinity…
Brane Audio’s Brane X has managed to achieve the unthinkable in the mostly mundane realm of the best wireless speakers, which – to be clear – is full of models that don’t leave much of an impression. Some are good, some are okay, and many are bad. But the Brane X makes an impression.
The main way the Brane X impresses is by delivering bass output extending into the sub-bass range. That’s unheard of for a portable speaker. Still, the Brane X isn’t an ordinary portable speaker, but one with proprietary Repel-Attract-Driver (R.A.D.) technology that uses a magnet array to cancel out air pressure within the speaker’s enclosure. This allows big bass to be generated from a small woofer in a highly compact box, and it needs to be heard to be believed.
Aside from its sub-bass output capability, the Brane X comes off as a normal-looking portable wireless speaker. It has a lunchbox-like form, complete with a carrying handle, and an unassuming design. Its built-in battery carries a charge for up to 12 hours of playback time and requires three hours to fully recharge. The IP57-rated speaker is dust and waterproof, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.
Wireless streaming support includes Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth 5.1. An app lets you configure bass and custom EQ settings, and it can also be used to group multiple Brane X speakers for multi-room playback. Controls to adjust volume and bass level are located on the speaker’s top surface, and there are built-in mics for Alexa voice control.
Sound quality is where the Brane X makes its mark by delivering a notably dynamic and detailed sound for a portable speaker. Hip-hop, techno, rock, and even classical music are equally well served, with the speaker’s deep bass providing a strong foundation for other layers in music mixes. Voices, in particular, sound natural – something that benefits both music and podcasts – and the Brane X also manages to convey a sense of stereo separation and depth.
The catch with the Brane X, and you probably saw this coming, is that its performance comes at a price. At $599 (around £475 / AU$915), it’s more expensive than other premium portable speakers such as the Sonos Move 2 ($449 / £449 / AU$799). That factor makes the Brane X a tough sell if you simply want a portable speaker for casual outdoor and indoor listening, but if you’re looking for one with best-in-class sound quality, the Brane X is it.
Brane X review: Price and release date
The Brane X has a lunchbox-like design with a carrying strap for toting it around (Image credit: Future)
Released December 2023
Currently available only in US
Priced at $599 (around £475 / AU$915)
The Brane X is currently sold exclusively through Brane Audio and is only available for shipment in the US. International shipments will start in late 2024 according to the company’s website.
At $599 (around £475 / AU$915) the Brane X is very much on the pricey side for a portable wireless speaker, though it has sonic tricks up its sleeve that the competition lacks. To put it in context, you can buy a Sonos Move 2 for $449 / £449 / AU$799, which gets you a portable wireless speaker with a similar feature set plus twice the battery life. You can also spend quite a bit more on the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 ($1,099 / £899 / AU$1,950), a portable wireless speaker that generally looks similar to the Brane X, but has a more attractive design that’s typical for that brand.
Brane X review: Specs
Capacitive touch controls are located on the speaker's top surface (Image credit: Future)
Brane X review: Features
The Sonos Move 2 (at left) was used for a comparison in our Brane X (at right) listening tests (Image credit: Future)
Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth support
Voice control using Amazon Alexa
Built-in battery provides 12 hours playback time
Brane Audio’s Brane X streams music wirelessly via Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and also supports Bluetooth 5.1. A Brane app is available and can be used to select low, medium, and high Bass presets for best sound (most likely dependent on where the speaker is located), create a custom 5-band EQ setting, and store speaker groups for multi-room playback on multiple Brane X speakers. There are four built-in microphones for voice control, which is carried out using the Alexa voice assistant.
The driver array of the Brane X consists of two 0.75-inch tweeters, two 2-inch mid-range drivers, and a 6.5 by 9-inch (165 x 229mm) woofer. Four class-D amplifiers are packed into the compact speaker, for a total of 200 watts of power. A built-in battery allows 12 hours of playback at a reasonable volume level, and it can be fully recharged in 3 hours.
I would be amiss to describe the bass driver in the Brane X simply as a “woofer,” since the company applies unique technology to it to achieve extended bass. Woofers in conventional speakers generate bass by moving forward and back in an enclosure. That movement is driven by the passage of magnets on the woofer’s voice coil through a magnetic field, and it affects the air pressure within the speaker.
Brane Audio’s Repel-Attract-Driver operates similarly to a regular woofer, but in this instance, additional magnets are used to cancel out air pressure within the speaker. The cancellation effect allows for the use of a smaller woofer, along with a smaller enclosure, enabling Brane Audio to generate powerful sub-bass from a lunchbox-size speaker.
Features score: 4.5/5
Brane X review: Sound quality
The speaker's rear panel features a power on/off button and 3.5mm audio input (Image credit: Future)
Excellent bass extension and substantial output
Well-balanced sound with natural voice reproduction
Can play cleanly at party-like volume levels
The Brane X may be compact, but there’s nothing small about its sound. After reading about this portable speaker that’s capable of not just substantial bass extension, but also substantial sub-bass output, I was ready for something different and upon first listen I got that.
Getting straight down to business, I streamed Boom by Tiësto, Sevenn, and Gucci Mane to the speaker from Tidal HiFi via AirPlay. This is a track with bass to spare, and if the Brane X could handle that, it would pass the test. I’m not exaggerating when I say that my mouth flapped open when I heard the deep, pounding bass put out by the Brane X, which wasn’t far off from what I expect to hear from a hi-fi system with a capable subwoofer. The speaker’s extended dynamic range also allowed other elements in the mix to come through clearly, especially vocals, which had a natural, unstrained quality. Pushing up the volume to, naturally, satisfy my curiosity about how loud the Brane X could play, it went up to party-like levels without distorting or sounding congested.
Radiohead’s Desert Island Disks features a spare acoustic guitar that’s played over a low, pulsing beat. On my regular portable speaker, the Sonos Move 2, that beat comes across as more of a tap. When I played the song on the Brane X, however, it had a surprising low and full quality that dynamically anchored the sound and allowed for details in vocals along with the song’s more subtle ambient elements to come across clearly.
Even classical symphonic music fared well on the Brane X. When I streamed Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition – The Great Gate of Kiev, as played by the Cleveland Orchestra, on Tidal HiFi, the tympani rolls were conveyed in an appropriately thunderous manner and the volume sweeps of strings sounded smooth and convincing. Comparing the Brane X’s performance here again to my reference Sonos speaker, the Sonos came across as comparatively flat-sounding, with no sense of low-end muscle in the percussion and double basses.
Given the Brane X’s hi-fi prowess, it seemed almost weird to set it up in my kitchen in the spot normally occupied by my Sonos Move, where it is used mainly for listening to news and podcasts. When I did, I found I needed to dial down the bass in the app for best sound in the new spot. That done, the Brane X made voices sound completely natural, with none of the strained quality that can typically be heard when listening with low-cost Bluetooth speakers. Brane Audio’s portable may have been overkill in this setting, but I certainly wasn’t eager to swap it out.
The only sonic quirk I encountered when using the Brane X was a faint level of noise when the speaker was turned on but not being used for playback. This didn’t exactly bother me, and in most cases when I had the speaker turned on it was streaming audio, which fully masked the noise, but it was there nonetheless.
Sound quality score: 5/5
Brane X review: Design
The Brane X's bottom-mounted woofer (Image credit: Future)
Basic, unassuming design
Carrying strap for portable use
1P57-rated dust and waterproof
There’s nothing particularly fancy about the Brane X’s design. As noted in the Features section of this review, it’s about the size and shape of a lunchbox. A rubber carrying strap is attached for toting the speaker around, and the black plastic top surface contains capacitive touch controls to adjust volume and bass level, as well as toggle the microphones on and off and set up Bluetooth and Wi-Fi pairing mode. A black mesh grille covers the speaker’s full front surface and sturdy rubber feet are provided to secure the speaker and allow clearance for the bottom-mounted Repel-Attract-Driver.
The Brane X’s back panel features a power on/off button and a 3.5mm aux input for connecting sources like a disc player or turntable. You’ll also find an input here for the speaker’s large, bulky external power supply and a QR code to access the Brane Audio website. With an IP57 rating, the Brane X is both dust and waterproof, making it a solid option for a workshop and a pool party.
Design score: 4/5
Brane X review: Value
(Image credit: Future)
Expensive compared to the competition
Unique among portable wireless speakers
Has sound quality to back up the high price
With a $599 (around £475 / AU$915) price tag, the Brane X is undoubtedly expensive, making other premium portable wireless speakers such as the Sonos Move 2 look like a bargain in comparison. But the Brane X sounds better and certainly delivers better bass than the Sonos Move 2, which is its top competition. There is nothing quite like it on the market, a factor that enhances its value.
Suppose you’re looking for a compact portable wireless speaker that doesn’t sound like a compact portable wireless speaker, but a regular stereo system with a subwoofer instead. In that case, the Brane X is your only option. Yes, it’s expensive, but it has the sound quality to back up the high price.
Value score: 3.5/5
Should you buy the Brane X?
Buy it if…
Don't buy it if…
Brane X review: Also consider
Brane X smart speaker review: How I tested
(Image credit: Future)
Tested with music streamed from Tidal HiFi and Apple Music via AirPlay
Used Sonos Move 2 for comparison during listening tests
Tested over several weeks of both casual and critical listening
I tested the Brane X using a range of different music genres from hip-hop to classical and also used it for everyday listening to news internet radio stations and podcasts. During my testing, which lasted for several weeks, I moved it around to different rooms in my home and also gave it a listen outdoors.
I used a Bluetooth wireless connection from my iPhone for casual listening but switched to AirPlay 2 for critical listening during my review. Most music tracks played during my test were sourced from Tidal HiFi, with some played from Apple Music. For a direct comparison with a competitive speaker, I used a Sonos Move 2, switching between both speakers using the same music tracks to make a subjective listening comparison.
My audio reviewing experience extends back over two decades, and during that time I have tested everything from full surround sound speaker systems to subwoofers and soundbars.
Some of the devices that were introduced during the week of MWC 2024 will go on to be the most influential this year, though others didn’t warrant more than a quick look. Here are the best devices of MWC 2024 according to you.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra dominated the flagship category – it received over half the votes and more than double the votes of the second place phone. It sure is expensive, but so were most of the other entries in this category, and this one promises camera excellence that people are willing to pay for.
The Honor Magic6 Pro is a distant second, but it had its supporters...
The Zoma Hybrid mattress is a 12-inch (30cm) tall hybrid mattress with memory foam and pocket springs, and is available in both the US and the UK. The brand is geared specifically towards using sleep for recovery, and promises 'cutting-edge sleep technology'. For this review, I slept on a UK king-size for four weeks, alongside my husband. I also ran several objective tests for performance aspects like pressure relief and edge support. The aim was to cut through the tech-talk and see how this model really matches up against the rest of today's best mattresses.
The overall feel is firmly springy. There is memory foam here, but it's paired with a bouncier foam layer and the overall feel is responsive, with minimal contouring. There's no indication of firmness on the Zoma website but I'd say it's around an 8.5 out of 10 (with 10 being the firmest). Myself and my husband (5ft 8 and 6ft 4 respectively, with a combined weight of 190kg) both found it far too firm for side sleeping, and it caused pressure to build up uncomfortably in our shoulders. It's far more comfortable for back sleeping, where the foams and coils help distribute weight evenly and keep the spine aligned.
(Image credit: Zoma)
Elsewhere, the mattress performed well. The edges are nice and sturdy, so if you, like me, end up pushed to the side of the bed by a toddler in the middle of the night, you shouldn't have to worry about rolling off. I was also impressed by the temperature regulation; I had no issues with overheating during my review period.
In terms of price, this mattress is almost always discounted (in the UK and the US) and generally sits in the mid-range price bracket. That's a good price for a hybrid model, but if it's a competitive bracket and there are cheaper models in our best hybrid mattressguide that offer similar quality.
At time of writing, Zoma isn't a particularly well-known brand in the UK, but it has a following in the States with some high praises from athletes. I was impressed by some of the brand's sustainability practices in the UK – it offers free old mattress recycling and it has a 'zero waste to landfill' policy in its factories. For more details on these points, read on for my full Zoma Hybrid mattress review.
Zoma Hybrid mattress review: price & value for money
Never sold at full price; consistent discounts in both US and UK
Sits in the mid range, and well priced for a hybrid
... although there is strong competition in this bracket
At ticket price, the Zoma Hybrid is getting into the premium mattress space. It is, however, very rarely sold at full price. In the US, expect $150 off all sizes, and in the UK there's usually £250 off. Based on the typical prices you'll actually pay, it sits in the mid-range price bracket in both the US and the UK.
Here's the pricing for the Zoma, alongside the discounted price you can expect to actually pay.
In the US:
Twin: MSRP $749 (usually sold at $599)
Full: MSRP $949 (usually sold at $799)
Queen: MSRP $1,149 (usually sold at $999)
King: MSRP $1,349 (usually sold at $1,199)
California King: MSRP $1,349 (usually sold at $1,199)
In the UK:
Single: £749 (usually sold at £499)
Double: £849 (usually sold at £599)
King: £949 (usually sold at £699)
Super king: £1,149 (usually sold at £899)
Overall, the mattress feels well made, and that's a decent price for a hybrid (most of today's best cheap mattresses tend to be all-foam models.). I have tested mattresses that suit my sleep style better and that I think are better value for money (read more in the alternatives section) but it's competitively priced in the wider market.
Hybrid mattress with several types of foam and pocket coils
Breathable mesh fabric cover, not removable and no handles
12" (30cm) tall, on all sizes, although review model was a bit shorter
The Zoma Hybrid is a hybrid of different foams and pocketed springs, and it's made in the US or UK (depending where you reside). The top layer is a memory foam that has been designed to provide targeted support and relieve pressure on joints. It's infused with gel to promote cooling. A layer down is something Zoma calls 'Reactiv'. It's designed to be responsive and bounce back quickly.
(Image credit: Zoma)
Underneath these two types of foam is where you'll find the hundreds (no specifics given) of 19cm pocketed coils. These are there to add stability and support, and will also allow air to move through the mattress, aiding with breathability. It looks like there may be a layer of base foam beneath the coils (there's reference to a 'high-density base layer' but again, no specifics are given). If you're not bothered by having coils, there's an all-foam version of this mattress available too.
There's a zip, but Zoma says the cover shouldn't be removed (Image credit: Future)
The Zoma Hybrid is wrapped in a soft, breathable cover that it calls 'AirCloth'. This knitted material is designed to wick away heat and moisture. It's not removable or washable – there is a zip, but that's for manufacturing purposes only – and there's no non-slip gripping anywhere that I can see to help keep the mattress firmly on the bed base. It also doesn't have handles, which could be a problem if you need to move it at any time because it's pretty heavy.
(Image credit: Future)
Officially it's 12 inches (30cm) tall, but I measured by review model in a few spots and it was only 11.2 inches (28.5cm). Regardless, it's still on the thicker side, so you'll probably need some deep-fitted sheets.
Design score: 4 out of 5
Zoma Hybrid mattress review: comfort & support
No firmness indicated on Zoma website, but I rate it 8.5 out of 10 (firm)
Most comfortable in a back sleeper position
Springy, responsive feel, with minimal contouring
I'd describe the Zoma Hybrid as having a 'firm bounce'. There is memory foam here, but it's paired with a bouncier foam layer and the overall feel is responsive. The foams contour slightly around the sleeper, but don't expect a body-hugging feel. The upper foam layers are thick, so you can't feel the coils through them. When the pressure is removed from the surface of the mattress, it returns to shape almost immediately.
To test the firmness I placed my 10kg weight in the middle of the mattress; it sunk by 1.5 inches. Unusually, there's no indication on the Zoma website of how firm this mattress is. I emailed a rep and the rating they gave me was in our 'soft' bracket, but I'd completely disagree with that. Although it did soften up a bit over the course of our testing period, it's definitely a firm mattress – I'd rate it around an 8.5 out of 10 on firmness (with 10 being rock-hard). It's a contender for TechRadar's best firm mattressguide.
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Throughout the testing I found that I was most comfortable laying on my back, even though I am naturally a side sleeper and it took me a while to adapt to this new position. This was the same for my husband. When laying on my back it felt like my weight was more evenly distributed, and helped to realign my spine after hunching over a computer all day.
However, laying on my side quickly became uncomfortable – I woke a couple of times in the night during testing with pins-and-needles on the side I was lying on. My husband experienced a similar thing. For reference, we have a combined weight of 198kg, and are taller than average; I'm 5ft 8 and my husband is 6ft 4.
That's not really a surprise – the best mattresses for side sleeperstend to be a bit softer (between 5 and 7.5 out of 10 on firmness), to allow the shoulder to sink in a bit, and prevent pressure from building up in this area. Even though we typically like quite a solid mattress, my husband and I found it was far too firm for us.
Zoma says there's no real weight limit on the mattress, but the general industry recommendation is 115kg per sleeper. However, I found myself rolling inwards towards my partner, who's the heavier of the two of us, in the night.
Zoma Hybrid mattress review: performance
Great temperature regulation – no issues with overheating
Some motion transfer but only an issue for light sleepers
Excellent edge support
As well as taking into account the comfort and pressure relief of the Zoma Hybrid, for this review I have also focused on: temperature regulation (how hot or cool one feels on the mattress), motion isolation (how well it absorbs movements on the surface) and edge support (how sturdy the edge of the mattress is). Read on for my findings…
Temperature regulation
Memory foam can have a habit of clinging on to body heat, and many brands use fancy terminology to make it sound like you're getting a cooler option. The only way you'll know if it actually works or not is to either try it out, or read a review.
The memory foam in the Zoma Hybrid mattress is infused with gel, with the aim of aiding temperature regulation. Whether it's down to the gel or not, I found the Zoma did a great job of keeping me at a comfortable temperature.
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I was in the middle of a new home renovation during my testing period, so I slept on the Zoma in cold UK winter temperatures either with no heating or with raging heating while waiting for a thermostat. I didn't wake once feeling hot during the night, which is a sign that this aspect of the mattress spec was performing as it should.
Temperature regulation score: 4.5 out of 5
Motion isolation
This is about how movement transfers across the mattress. If a mattress has poor motion isolation, you'll feel it when your bed-sharer turns over or gets into or out of bed. If you're a restless sleeper and/or share a bed, it's worth paying attention to this aspect of performance.
To try out the Zoma Hybrid for motion isolation I bravely put my 10kg weight next to a pint-sized glass with some water in it. The glass (almost) fell over at 3.5-inches, wobbled at 8-inches but was safe at 12-inches away from the weight.
(Image credit: Future)
I also tested out the motion isolation in the real world, by moving around in bed, and asking my husband to move around too. The bouncy feel means there is a bit of motion transfer. I could feel my partner changing position and getting in and out of bed, and vice versa, although there wasn't enough movement for it to bother either of us. If you're a particularly light sleeper, you might want to look for something with more complete motion isolation, however. It's also worth noting that the mattress tended to cause me to roll inwards towards my partner (who is heavier than I am).
Motion isolation score: 3 out of 5
Edge support
Edge support is an important factor to look out for because a sturdy edge means that you'll be able to comfortably sit on / push up off a mattress when getting up, as well as being able to sleep right up to the edge. To test the Zoma Hybrid for edge support I placed my 10kg as close to the edge as possible – it sank 2 inches, which is slightly less than the centre. That's a good result.
(Image credit: Future)
I also tested out the edge support in a real-world scenario. I felt well supported when sitting on the edge of the bed, and also when lying right near the edge of the mattress when our toddler decided to squeeze into bed with us. Overall, I was impressed with the edge support here.
Edge support score: 4.5 out of 5
Zoma Hybrid mattress review: customer experience
Mattress delivered vacuum-packed and boxed; free delivery to door
Standard 10 year warranty and 100 night trial
Free old mattress removal in the UK
As a bed in a box mattress, the Zoma Hybrid is delivered vacuum-packed and rolled (if you're new to this kind of bed, read about the difference in our mattress in a box vs traditional mattress explainer). Zoma offers free delivery, but only to your front door. I can only speak for the UK delivery setup, but I was impressed with the company's communication – I received text messages a week prior to delivery (confirming delivery date) and then the day before delivery (with a more specific time slot).
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It's a shame there's no option to upgrade to a delivery that includes setup – some bed brands offer this as a paid-for extra, and a handful even include it for free. Although the box was much more compact than a non-vacuum-packed mattress would be, it was still mega heavy and definitely needed two people to lift it.
There were no instructions or little pamphlets or even a little cutting tool to break the mattress free from the plastic wrapping. I found some scissors, and scored down the side of the plastic. The pressure of the vacuum-sealed mattress helped to force it out. Within a few minutes, the Zoma Hybrid was unwrapped and on the Livingstone Bed Base (also on review). It was pretty much ready to use straight out of the box, although the official advice from Zoma is to wait 4-6 hours before sleeping on it. There was no off-gassing.
If you're not entirely satisfied with your new Zoma Hybrid then you can return it, for free, after a 30-day period until the 100-night sleep trial ends. This 30-night mark stands because Zoma wants you to try it out for a minimum of a month to allow your body enough time to get used to it. Should you wish to return it within a month, you'll be charged $99/£79 shipping fee.
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The 100-night trial is about the minimum offered by any of the big bed brands, although still long enough to try your mattress out thoroughly. Trials of 200 nights are fairly common now, and a few brands like Nectar give you a full year.
All Zoma mattresses also carry a 10-year warranty, which again is acceptable but not especially generous. During this time you're covered for a full repair or replacement, but the warranty only covers workmanship and structural defects – so no accidents.
An unusual perk is that Zoma offers free old mattress recycling. Old mattress removal is generally a paid-for extra, if it's offered at all, so this is good to see. In the UK, it's part of Zoma's commitment to sustainability – there, it repurposes all excess foam so there's zero waste to landfill. Any returned mattresses are recycled or refurbished. (This does not appear to be the case in the US.)
Customer experience score: 4 out of 5
Zoma Hybrid mattress specs
Zoma Hybrid mattress review: other reviews
4.8* average over 1,217 reviews (Mar 2024), US / UK reviews combined
High praise for comfort, breathability and motion isolation
Some complaints of it being too firm
At the time of writing, Zoma mattresses hadn't been available to UK customers for very long, so all the reviews that we're available to sift through are from the US. As of March 2024 there were a total of just over 1,200 reviews, the majority of which were 5 stars, and all sang the same tune about comfort and coolness. It's ordered highest scores to lowest, so you'll need to head to the latter pages for any complaints.
Here, I found a few reviews echo what I found. There are a few reviewers who found it too firm and uncomfortable for side sleeping, and found in led to aches and pains. One likened it to sleeping on a too-full air mattress.
Should you buy the Zoma Hybrid mattress?
Buy it if...
✅ You're a back sleeper: The Zoma Hybrid relieved pressure on achy muscles and joints when laying on our backs, with no sinking.
✅ You like a super-firm mattress: This is one of the firmest mattresses I've tested, rating 8.5 out of 10 on firmness. If you want a super-sturdy bed, this is it.
✅ Environmental impact is important to you: All Zoma mattresses are either made in the US or UK, depending on where you reside, and (in the UK at least) the brand has some admirable sustainability practices.
Alternatives to consider
❌ You're a side sleeper: The firm feel means most side sleepers will end up with pressure building up in their shoulder. I found it uncomfortable for side sleeping, and ended up having to shift onto my back. Other reviews reflect a similar experience.
❌ You weigh more than average: I found myself rolling towards the (heavier) weight of my husband in the night. If you share a bed and one or more of you is heavier in body weight then this isn't a great choice – our guide to the best mattresses for bigger bodies has some great specialist models.
❌ You want a joint-hugging feel: There's not much contouring here. If you want that body-hugging sensation, our guide to the best memory foam mattresses has plenty of recommendations.
Alternatives to consider
Rem-Fit 400 Hybrid mattress
The closest rival that I have tested to the Zoma Hybrid is the Rem-Fit 400 Hybrid. You'll usually pay around £450 for a UK double, so it's a fair bit cheaper than the Zoma. It stands for a similar purpose to the Zoma which is to help users 'recover'. I found that this mattress was far more comfortable for a side-sleeper, with reduced motion transfer compared to the Zoma.
Simba Hybrid Original mattress
I also vouch for the Simba Hybrid (UK-only). It's typically a bit pricier than the Zoma but worth every penny: fabulous edge-support, good motion isolation and superb support. Head to TechRadar's Simba Hybrid mattress review to find out more.
How I tested the Zoma Hybrid mattress
Myself and my husband slept exclusively on the UK king size Zoma Hybrid for four weeks. The review period coincided with a new house renovation, and the testing process was during February when there were some cold nights in the UK (when we had no heating) and warm nights (when the heating needed some fine-tuning). I also ran a series of tests to measure the edge-to-edge support and motion transfer.
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