Organizer
Gadget news
Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: a complete home security system
6:00 pm | September 28, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: two-minute review

The Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime set lets you see and speak to visitors no matter where you are in the world, providing you have a mobile phone connection. Although the concept isn’t new (Ring pioneered the video doorbell concept a few years back), this is a very good alternative solution – and one that works out cheaper too. 

There are two options: either use your existing doorbell wiring, or charge the doorbell via its built-in rechargeable battery using the provided USB-A to USB-C cable. We chose the latter which means it does need to be unclipped from its bracket and topped up with power every couple of months, depending on how much it is used. 

Installation is surprisingly straightforward, thanks in part to the video installation guides within the Yale Home app that talk you through the various options. Simply attach the white mounting plate to the door frame with the screws/wall plugs provided, using the additional ‘wedge’ if you need to angle the plate slightly.

Side view of mounting plate for Yale Smart Video Doorbell

An additional wedge-shaped mounting plate lets you mount the doorbell at an angle, if necessary (Image credit: Chris Price)

Then, once charged, clip the video doorbell into the bracket. This can be removed later for re-charging using the security pin provided (the same kind of pin you use to take a SIM card out of your phone). For added security, a tamper alert notification can be sent to your phone if someone tries to remove the doorbell from its housing. 

After pairing the Yale video doorbell with your home’s Wi-Fi (a quite straightforward process via the Yale app), it’s then a case of customizing to suit your needs. For example, using the ‘house settings’ option you can name the house, even add a photo of it, as well as edit house owners so your partner, house mates or children get alerts if someone comes to the door.

Applying adhesive backing to Yale Smart Video Doorbell mount

The doorbell is supplied with screws and wall plugs, plus double-sided tape (Image credit: Chris Price)

In addition to house settings, there also options for adjust speaker volume (handy if you live on a noisy street), image brightness, night vision and video quality. Two recording options are available, either medium (720p) or high (1080p). In addition to operating as a video doorbell showing you who is at the door when pressed, you can also detect and record movement like a standard security camera. However, while human detection is provided as standard, you will need to subscribe if you want alerts for pets, packages and vehicles on your driveway.

Two subscriptions are available, both free for the first month. For £3.50 (about $5 / AU$7) a month the camera plan offers AI motion detection and cloud recording for one camera while for £9 a month (about $12 / AU$20) you get cloud recording for all cameras plus a cellular back up (see subscription options below). 

Yale Smart Video Doorbell chime in box

Adding the Yale Doorbell Chime lets you hear when a visitor calls from elsewhere in your house, and offers different chime options (Image credit: Chris Price)

Finally, the Yale Video Doorbell is designed to be connected to other home devices including Yale’s range of smart locks, smart alarms and home security cameras. We paired ours to Yale’s plug in door chime which comes with a volume button and multiple tones, much like a standard doorbell.

For added connectivity, we also linked the doorbell with Yale’s Amazon Alexa so we could receive alerts via a number of Echo Dot devices (support is also provided or Apple HomeKit and Google Home products). 

Yale Smart Video Doorbell: subscription options

Yale Camera Plan: AI motion detection, cloud recording for one camera, Yale home app. £3.50 a month.

Yale Secure Plan: Automated call alert, AI motion detection, cloud recording for all cameras, cellular back up, Yale home app. £9 a month.

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: price and availability

  • RRP: Yale Smart Video Doorbell £129.99 (about $170 / AU$250), Doorbell Chime £29.99 (about $40 / AU$60)
  • Launched January 2024
  • Available in UK only

Although wired-only video doorbells are usually a cheaper option, a wireless (battery powered) doorbell is obviously much more convenient if you have less technical expertise, or don’t already have wiring in place. Considering it offers both wired and wireless connectivity, Yale’s Smart Video Doorbell and Chime therefore represents pretty good value for money at £129.99 (about $170 / AU$250) for the doorbell alone, and £29.99 (about $40 / AU$60) for the additional chime. 

The price of the hardware is broadly similar to its closest competitor, Ring’s Battery Video Doorbell Plus and Chime. You may also find bundled deals if you decide to buy the two components - doorbell and chime - together (though it is possible to just use the doorbell by itself if you so choose).

Of course, as with many home security products, it isn’t just the cost of the hardware you have to bear in mind, but also the subscription plans. Here, Yale fares quite well too. Its basic subscription is particularly good value for money costing £3.50 (about $5 / AU$7) a month for free cloud storage after a free month’s trial. This compares to $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$4.95 for the basic Ring subscription plan. 

Rather more expensive is the premium Yale subscription plan at £9 a month (about $12 / AU$20). However, this is probably only worth it if you have multiple cameras you want to monitor via the app - for example if you are the landlord of several AirBnB properties. It may also be necessary if you live in an area where WiFi is very patchy and need to rely on the cellular network to keep the security system going. 

Value score: 4/5

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: design

  • Easy to install mounting bracket
  • Solidly built video doorbell
  • Simple plug-in chime 

Unlike smart cameras, even the best video doorbells usually require some level of DIY skill. Thankfully this is minimal with the Yale video doorbell given its wireless design. Just mount the bracket on the door frame using the wall plugs and screws provided, then clip the solidly built video doorbell inside. A tall, narrow weatherproof (IP65) design, the doorbell incorporates three elements – the wide angle (154 degrees) lens and sensor at the top and the large doorbell button marked with a chime symbol underneath. 

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and accessories on a wooden floor

The Yale Smart Video Doorbell is easy to install, and comes with all the fittings you need (Image credit: Chris Price)

As soon as you get within range of the doorbell this illuminates green and triggers motion recording while pressing the button will send a notification to connected smart phones and devices (Alexa, Google Home etc).  Just one thing you need to be careful of and that’s to mount the video doorbell at the right height. Because the camera is on top, it’s easy to place the doorbell a little higher than it needs to be. Best play around with the doorbell first before installing the bracket. Finally, the doorbell chime needs to be plugged in where everyone can best hear it – in our case the hallway was best.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: performance

  • High quality 1080p image resolution
  • Stable connection
  • Slow video streaming

When it comes to performance, there are two aspects to a video doorbell. One is how it captures motion, the other – arguably more important – is how well it acts as replacement doorbell. If you live on a busy street then chances are you have a lot of passers-by and maybe quite a bit of passing traffic too. Unless you want to record everything going on (which will really use up the battery) we recommend adjusting motion detection settings. 

Using app to set motion detection zones for Yale Smart Video Doorbell

We recommend adjusting the motion detection settings to avoid accidental triggers from passing pedestrians and traffic (Image credit: Chris Price)

Thankfully the Yale isn’t overly sensitive. Nevertheless, for optimum results we found it best to keep motion sensitivity to low or medium and to use to use Detection Zone settings so that the camera only tracks motion within a certain area (and doesn’t pick up people walking or driving past your house). Clip length can be adjusted between 10 seconds and one minute, or ended as soon as motion stops. In low-light situations, the camera automatically switches to night vision and there are both 720p and 1080p recording options. 

Once the camera has recorded movement, notifications are pushed through to the user’s mobile phone (either via text or text with image). Alternatively, you can go in via the app and click the Activity tab at the bottom to view them. Our only criticism is that they tend to take a few seconds to load even with a fast internet connection. Recordings can be downloaded onto your device or a snapshot taken from them. 

Footage archive in Yale Smart Video Doorbell mobile app

You can review footage from the doorbell in the mobile app (Image credit: Chris Price)

When it comes to using the Yale Video Doorbell to speak to people coming to the door, results are a little more mixed. Video is very good and sound is generally OK (though we found we needed to turn it up to higher levels because of traffic noise). However, there can be a slight delay ‘waking the camera up’ before talking to someone at the door. One time, a courier who rang the bell didn’t wait for the call to be connected and decided just to leave the parcel on the porch rather than take it next door (thankfully it wasn’t stolen).  

  • Performance score: 4/5

Footage of delivery person from Yale Smart Video Doorbell shown on phone

Video quality is good, but there's a noticeable lag if you want to speak to a caller (Image credit: Chris Price)

Should I buy the Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime?

Buy it if

You want to track movement around your property
Thanks to customizable detection zone settings, the Yale is great for capturing motion

You want easy installation
It’s a versatile security solution offering mains and battery powered options

Don't buy it if

You regularly need to speak to people on the doorstep
We experienced a delay answering calls from people ringing the doorbell.

You have a poor Wi-Fi connection
Like most video doorbells, you will need a good Wi-Fi connection unless you want to pay a premium subscription for cellular backup. 

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: also consider

Not sold on the Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Chime? Here are two alternatives you should consider.

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus

Amazon-owned company Ring has firmly established itself as the ‘go to’ company for video doorbells and now has several including this latest wire-free model. 

Read our full Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus review

Arlo Video Doorbell

An affordable wired video doorbell, the Arlo device offers a lot of useful features, but you will need to pay for a subscription to benefit from many of them.

Read our full Arlo Video Doorbell review 


How I tested the Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime

  • I used the doorbell every day for several weeks
  • I set it up myself without any assistance (expert installation is available for £90)
  • The doorbell  was set up on the front door facing towards the road

To put the Yale video doorbell to the test, I installed on my front door for over two weeks, covering up my existing entry-phone system. During this period it captured hundreds of clips, most of which were generated from delivery people and friends coming to the door. 

On most occasions when the doorbell was pressed we were in the property and the chime in the hallway was triggered. However, on a few we were out. Unfortunately on at least occasion the courier left a parcel on the doorstep on full view because it took too long to connect the call from the video doorbell to my smartphone!

First tested: September 2024

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer review
10:00 am | June 24, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer two-minute review

The Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer D6077 is great value for what you get in the set. The hair dryer comes with four tools to suit a range of hair types – be it short and curly or long and straight. It has a wide head and one slim but wide concentrator nozzle to fit. I found that the hair dryer’s wide opening helped ensure fast-drying results, and when used at the highest speed and temperature, it left my hair feeling smooth and not over-dried like some hair dryers can make hair feel.

There’s a unique flyaway attachment in the set too. This can be used on dry and straightened hair to tame flyaways and help create a sleeker finish on straight hair. For curly hair, there are two diffuser attachments to choose from, which neatly click on the head of the hair dryer. You can choose the gentle drying diffuser to dry waves and curls without disturbing the shape and texture of hair. Alternatively, the more traditional style curl defining diffuser is great for drying natural curls and waves.

Box for the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

I found this hair dryer comfortable to use, although it took me a while to get used to the shape of the angled handle. There are two speeds to choose from and three heat settings, although the difference in temperature is subtle between the three temperatures. There’s also a cool shot that provides a constant cool stream of air that’s great for setting styles. 

The hair dryer feels well-made and durable and comes with a hanging hook for convenience. There’s also a storage bag in the kit to house the hair dryer and all its attachments. Overall, I think that while this hair dryer is a little too bulky for use when travelling, it’s a good all-rounder for all hair types from poker straight to curly and coily hair types.

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer review: price & availability

  • RRP: £99.99
  • Available: UK/EU

Established in New York in 1937, Remington is a well-respected brand in the haircare industry. The company sells a range of hair dryers, flat irons, curling tongs, rollers and grooming tools for both men and women.

I tested the UK version of the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer D6077, which is reasonably priced at £99.99. At time of writing, this is on sale for £66.66 direct on the Remington website and at Amazon for £64.35. I think this is an excellent price for a very versatile design.

The hair dryer comes in a grey, black and rose gold finish. This hair dryer is part of the ‘One’ collection that also features the Remington One Straight & Curl Styler, the Remington One Head & Body Multi Groomer and the Remington One Total Body Multi Groomer.

A very similar hair dryer is also available in the USA, although the name and colorway are slightly different. In the states, you’ll find the almost identical Remington ONE Multi-Style Hair Dryer in a black and rose gold finish. At the time of writing, it costs $54.99 at Remington.

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer review: design

  • Wide 9cm concentrator nozzle for fast styling
  • Flyaway attachment plus two diffusers
  • Comes with storage bag and hanging hook

Designed with versatility in mind, the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer is solidly built and comes in a glossy grey and rose gold finish. Its attachments are finished in black, which is a bit of a contrast from the hair dryer's finish, but they do fit on effortlessly. The hair dryer measures H21.9 x W8.7 x D29cm and weighs 930g, which feels solid in hand, but a little heavy after extended use. The design is built to be fast and comes with a 2000-watt motor, which generates air speeds of up to 120km/h. This, says Remington, is 25% faster than its standard hair dryers.

There are three heat settings on board, two speed settings and one cool shot. It also comes fitted with a ‘Thermacare sensor’ for peace of mind that prevents the hair dryer from overheating.

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer with concentrator, diffuser and flyaway tamer attachments

(Image credit: Future)

The hair dryer comes with a range of useful attachments to suit both straight, wavy and curly hair. In the kit there’s a slim concentrator nozzle that measures 3.5" / 9cm long. This is above average compared to a standard hair dryer and makes things faster – the Dyson Supersonic’s largest nozzle measures 2.7" / 7cm wide, for example. There’s also a flyaway tamer attachment that can be used on dry hair to tame wispy flyaways that can sometimes appear after drying or hair straightening. A gentle drying diffuser is also included in the set, as is a curl defining diffuser, which makes the hair dryer a really versatile option.

There’s also a small Remington branded drawstring bag in the box. It is just about big enough to store the hair dryer and its four attachments. Alternatively, you can make use of the hanging loop to store your hair dryer on a hook.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer review: performance

  • Powerful 2000-watt motor
  • 3 speeds, 2 heat settings and one cool shot
  • Accommodates all hair types

While it does have a few flaws, I feel that this hair dryer does well to cater for use on all hair types as it promises. On first use, I was pleased with the fast results of this hair dryer, but it took some time to get used to the design. 

I was pleased with how much cord you get on this design, which at 2.55m, makes it easy to move around at the dressing table. I did find the head of the hair dryer quite heavy in comparison to the handle, however, and it weighed a little on my hand. This is fine for general use, but I can imagine it might start to feel cumbersome after extended use – in a salon perhaps, or if you have a few kids who’ve just had bath and hair wash time.

While the finish of the Remington One is smooth, there isn’t a defined area to grip. That said, the controls are positioned in such a way that makes them easy to reach and ensures they don’t get accidentally knocked while drying hair. The handle of the hair dryer is positioned at a slight angle from the head. It took me a while to get used to holding it as I had previously been using the Dyson Supersonic, which has a handle that is a lot straighter and at a right angle from the main head. 

As I began to use the attachments, I started to appreciate the angled handle, however, as it allowed me to hold the hair dryer in a comfortable position for blow drying the sides of my hair. I also found it very easy to switch between the four attachments. They can simply be clicked on and off the head of the hair dryer. I did need to wait for the hair dryer to cool down before changing them, though,  as the tip of the hair dryer can get very hot in use.

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer with concentrator, diffuser and flyaway tamer attachments

(Image credit: Future)

With its 2000-watt motor, this Remington hair dryer is powerful. This means that it’s not the quietest hair dryer I’ve tried, measuring around 86.1dB in use. By comparison, I measured the 1600-watt Panasonic Nanoe Moisture+ and Mineral hair dryer at 88.3dB.

There are three heat settings on the Remington One hair dryer that can easily be adjusted via controls on the handle. While the highest setting is hot, I didn’t notice that much difference in heat when flicking from one to three. The two speed settings come in useful if you need a blast of power or if you don’t want to use too much force and heat on your hair. The lowest settings also work well for kids. A cool shot that can be clicked on and off and cools down in under five seconds also works well. I found it particularly beneficial when things were getting a bit too hot and I wanted to cool things down on a lower heat. It’s also great for setting styles or giving hair a little  shine at the end of a drying session.

With its four attachments, two speed settings, three heat settings and a cool shot, I think it’s a great piece of kit to get creative with your styling or for simply achieving dry hair, fast. Having used the hair dryer over the course of a month, I was impressed at just how quickly it dried my hair each time I used it, in fact. I used the concentrator nozzle regularly, which at 9cm manages to dry a good chunk of hair quickly in one go. I managed to blow dry my hair in an average of six minutes, which I felt was fast compared to some less powerful hair dryers I’ve tried in the past that take a while to get up to speed.

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer next to Panasonic Panasonic Nanoe Moisture+ and Mineral hair dryer

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer next to a Panasonic NA0J (Image credit: Future)

The attachments provide a good range of options for all hair types too. While I mainly used the concentrator nozzle, the flyaway tamer came in useful after straightening my hair. It took a while to figure out how to direct the airflow, but I managed to flatten a few flyaways when needed. Meanwhile, the gentle drying diffuser is ideal for curly and coily hair (or any child who hates a hair dryer) as it gently dries from a distance without damaging your hair style. While I didn’t have much need for that attachment, I did use the curl defining diffuser when I wanted to dry my hair wavy. The diffuser isn’t that big but it was large enough to fit a good section of my hair in one go and left my hair feeling soft in the process.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if….

How I tested the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer

I have tested a wide collection of hair dryers in recent years from brands such as Laifen Swift to Dyson. This means that I know what makes for a good design and a top performing hair dryer. A design that is easy to hold with simple controls that give you a lot of flexibility is key. I was keen to see just how well the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer compared to other popular hair dryers. 

To find out, I used the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer for four weeks to see how best it could suit my family of four. I have medium length wavy hair that is prone to frizz, so I wanted to see how well it could blow dry my hair smooth. I also used the diffuser attachment to see how well it could enhance the waves in my hair.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed June 2024

Emma Premium Pillow hands-on review
12:00 pm | March 16, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Mattresses Sleep | Tags: | Comments: Off

Emma Premium Pillow review: two-minute review

The Emma Premium Pillow is a foam pillow that contains three inserts. One side is a firm, 'ThermoSync' foam designed for hot sleepers, the other is a softer foam, and there's a layer in the middle that can be removed to adjust the loft to suit your frame and sleep style. 

I haven't been able to sleep on it yet, but I did get a chance to poke, prod, and lie on it during a visit to the Emma HQ. In this hands-on review I'll go through my first impressions, who it might suit, and how it compares to the rest of the best pillows on the market.

The overall feel is one of firm, uniform support. The two sides do feel different: the ThermoSync side is a little firmer and slower moving; the other side is a little softer and bouncier. However, neither side is particularly plush, so this isn't the right choice if you want a pillow you sink into.

I was impressed with my first impressions of the cooling properties. It's not possible to assess temperature regulation properly without sleeping on a pillow, but I've also tested this ThermoSync foam more thoroughly for my Emma Premium topper review and was impressed with the cooling there.

Emma Premium Pillow on a mattress

(Image credit: Future)

With all inserts inside, the loft is high – I suspect too high for most situations. However, the inside sections can be removed to lower the loft, which means it could theoretically suit anyone, from a broad-shouldered side sleeper to a petite back sleeper. 

Price-wise, we're in the premium bracket here. While the adjustability, along with extras like a 30-night sleep trial, help justify that price, there are plenty of lower-cost options that tick similar boxes if it's out of your budget. Read on for my full Emma Premium Pillow hands-on review.

Emma Premium Pillow review: price & value for money

  • Premium price bracket
  • RRP of £115 for standard size
  • Free delivery, 2 year guarantee and 30-night trial

At £115, the Emma Premium pillow sits firmly in our premium price bracket. The extras do help amp up your value for money – you'll get a 30 night sleep trial, for instance. Trials are common with mattresses but rare for pillows. There's also free delivery and a two-year guarantee. 

Still, there are plenty of cheaper, great quality alternatives, which makes the pricing here a little hard to justify. If foam pillows are your thing, our top-rated Rem-Fit 500 Cool Gel pillow is typically around half the price, and the Levitex Sleep Posture pillow is a fair bit cheaper too. 

someone pressing on the surface of the Emma Premium Pillow

(Image credit: Emma)

Emma Premium Pillow review: design & materials

  • 3 foam layers, including one cooling foam and one softer foam
  • Layers can be removed to adjust height
  • Removable 'UltraDry-Plus' cover

The Emma Premium Pillow is an all-foam design with three internal layers. On one side is grey 'Premium ThermoSync' foam, which is designed to be cooling. The other side isn't specifically temperature regulating, and it's softer than the ThermoSync foam, for those who prefer a more plush feel. Sandwiched between the two is a layer of 'HRX (High Resiliency Extra) Foam, which is really just there for extra height. 

The idea is that you can flip the pillow to give different feels and functions, or remove layers to adjust the height. 

Exploded diagram showing layers inside the Emma Premium Pillow

(Image credit: Emma)

On the Emma website, these foam layers are shown in individual casings, but on the pillow I tried out, these were absent – it was just the bare foam. We've noticed inconsistencies with these protective casings when testing other Emma Pillows; it seems to be a bit of a lucky dip whether you get them or not. When they're not there, I think the bare foam feels a little too delicate, and if you were taking the foam inserts in and out, I'd be concerned about them getting damaged, or snagged in the zip.

Emma Premium Pillow unzipped to show foam layers inside

(Image credit: Future)

The whole thing is wrapped in a cover made from 'UltraDry-Plus' fabric, which is 98 per cent polyester and 2 per cent elastane). It looks and feels like the fabric used on Emma's mattresses, and my opinion is that it's fine and functions well, but doesn't seem especially luxurious. The cover can be zipped off and washed at 60C, which is hot enough to kill dust mites. The interior foam layers can't be washed, but that's standard for foam pillows.

Close up of piping on Emma Premium Pillow

(Image credit: Future)

Emma Premium Pillow review: comfort & performance

  • Very high loft with all inserts inside
  • Both sides really quite firm (although soft side is a bit more plush)
  • ThermoSync foam is cool to touch

The idea is that you can flip this pillow to give two different feels, thanks to the different foam layers. So let's start with the grey ThermoSync side. I judged this to be a really firm foam. Concentrated pressure – for example from an elbow – went in easily, but if I pressed my whole hand (or head) against it, I struggled to make much of an indentation. 

The feel is fairly responsive; you won't sink into it, but it does take a moment to return to its original shape once pressure is removed. This side was a bit too solid for my preferences.

However, I was more impressed with the temperature regulation properties. There are lots of claims made about cooling foams, but Emma's ThermoSync really seems to work. The surface of the foam actually feels cool to the touch, and beneath my head on when I lay on it in the Emma showroom. The real test of this is to sleep on it, of course, but I'm optimistic based on what I saw during my hands-on time with this pillow, and also based on my time reviewing the Emma Premium topper, which uses the same foam. 

The other side doesn't have these thermoregulating properties and promises a softer feel. The difference in firmness is noticeable compared to the grey side, although I'd still consider it to be medium-firm – don't expect something ultra-squishy. It's also springier and more responsive than the other side. When you remove pressure, it returns to shape immediately. 

There's nothing on the cover to indicate which side is which, so you'll need to figure it out based on touch, or unzip the pillow to peek inside. 

Emma Premium Pillow

(Image credit: Future)

With all three foam inserts in place, this is a high-loft pillow. I found it far too high when lying on my back and stomach, and also too high for side sleeping. For context, I'm 5ft 8, not especially broad shouldered, and I tend to just sleep with one pillow. Broad-shouldered side sleepers might need a pillow of this depth for proper support, but I suspect most people will want to take the central insert out to get it to a comfortable height. The fact that this pillow is easily adjustable is a win, though. 

Because it's foam, it doesn't need re-plumping, and should provide consistent support all night. 

Emma Premium Pillow specs

Should you buy the Emma Premium Pillow?

Buy it if...

✅ You sleep hot: The ThermoSync side of the Emma Premium pillow shows a lot of promise when it comes to keeping the sleeper cool. That's not the case with all foam pillows. 

✅ You prefer a firmly supportive pillow: Although one side is a little plusher than the other, the overall feel here is of firm, consistent support.

✅ You're a broad-shouldered side sleeper: With all the foam inserts in place the Emma Premium pillow is pretty tall. It can be adjusted to make it suitable for different body frames and sleep positions, but should appeal in particular to those seeking a chunky pillow. 

Don't buy it if...

❌ You prefer a squishy pillow: One side of the Emma Premium is softer than the other, but neither is particularly plush. Something like the REM-Fit 500 Cool Gel Pillow has more give, and you still get those cooling features.

❌ You prefer a traditional pillow: Moulded foam isn't for everyone. If you want a plump-able pillow, check out the Emma Premium Microfibre pillow, which is filled with down-alternative stuffing. You can still remove inserts to adjust the height.

❌ You're on a budget: If the (admittedly high) price tag is a bit much, there are plenty of cheaper options that offer similar features and cost less. Our best pillow guide is a good place to start.

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review 2023: a sprung mattress with foam benefits
1:00 pm | July 30, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

Emma NextGen Premium mattress: two-minute review

Announced in April 2023 and released not long after, the Emma NextGen Premium mattress is something of a departure for a sleep brand that's made its name selling memory foam and hybrid mattresses. With three thin layers of foam sitting on top of tall 18cm pocket springs, it appears to have more in common with traditional pocket sprung mattresses than with other hybrid beds that you'd find in our best mattress guide.

The advantage to having such a deep spring layer is that it facilitates airflow and helps the NextGen Premium regulate temperature, and unlike many hybrids it doesn't feature foam side supports around the springs, again helping with airflow but, I discovered, resulting in less edge support than I'd have liked.

Emma rates the NextGen Premium as a 6.5/10 medium firm; having slept on it for the past month, I'd suggest that this is understating its firmness a bit. My previous mattress was a firm pocket sprung mattress with a memory foam top layer, and the NextGen Premium feels only slightly softer than that; I'd rate it more as a 7 or even a 7.5.

The Emma NextGen Premium just after decompressing

(Image credit: Future)

Hybrid and sprung mattresses tend to be a bit more bouncy and responsive than all-foam models, which means that they often don't deliver as well when it comes to motion isolation, and while the top memory foam layer in the NextGen Premium brings with it some sink-in comfort, it's not enough to completely deaden motion transfer. While the motion isolation isn't bad in the NextGen Premium, it's not brilliant; neither I nor my partner were disturbed by each other's movements in the night, there was definitely some small awareness of them. My subsequent tests confirmed that there's a bit of motion transfer going on, but not really enough to be a deal-breaker.

The Emma NextGen Premium comes in at the lower end of the premium price bracket, with a double selling for £959 at RRP. Mattress sales are a constant thing at Emma, but the brand switches up which mattresses are included in its sales on a regular basis; when it's reduced (which it is at the time of writing), the NextGen Premium can be had in a double size for £575.40, which to me feels like a much more realistic price.

I've been sleeping on the Emma NextGen Premium mattress for the past month, along with my partner, and we've found it to be good in terms of comfort, support and motion isolation, excellent when it comes to temperature regulation, and decidedly lacking in edge support. Does this mattress really live up to its NextGen and Premium descriptors? Let's take a closer look.

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: price

  • Emma's second most expensive mattress
  • Double is £959 at RRP but often sells for £575.40
  • No extras included

Emma's mattress range has been through a bit of a shake-up over the last few months, so I'm never entirely sure what I'm going to find when I visit its site (which, as TechRadar's Sleep Editor, is something I do on a regular basis). Right now the Emma NextGen Premium mattress sits in the middle of the Emma range in terms of price; the Emma Original is the cheapest, with RRPs starting at £311, while at the premium end of the range you'll find the Emma Luxe Cooling mattress from £1,198.

The NextGen Premium is closer in price to the Luxe Cooling mattress than to the Original; here are the RRPs for each size, along with the discounted prices that you'll often pay:

  • Single: RRP £659 (often sells for £395.40)
  • Small double: RRP £799 (often sells for £479.40)
  • Double: RRP £959 (often sells for £575.40)
  • King: RRP £1,119 (often sells for £671.40)
  • Super king: RRP £1,249 (often sells for £749.40)

At the time of writing there's a 40% discount available on the Emma NextGen Premium in the Emma mattress sales, and while I feel that at RRP this mattress is overpriced, with the discount it's a much more attractive prospect. If you visit the Emma site and the NextGen Premium's selling at full price, I'd suggest you wait for a bit as it'll definitely be reduced again within a few weeks. And if you can hang on until the next big sales event (which will likely be Black Friday), you may find the NextGen Premium at a deeper discount.

Emma doesn't include any extras such as mattress protectors or bedding with your mattress, however you'll get free delivery and returns, plus a 200-night trial period and 10-year guarantee.

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: specs

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: materials and design

  • 25cm deep, five-layer hybrid design
  • Four layers of foam including Halo memory foam
  • 18cm pocket springs arranged in seven support zones

The Emma NextGen Premium mattress features a five-layer design that seems to have been conceived to keep the amount of foam inside to the bare minimum. Most of the inside of the NextGen Premium is taken up by an 18cm layer of pocket springs of varying gauges, arranged into seven zones in order to provide the right level of support for different parts of your body: head, shoulders, chest, lower back, hips, thighs, and feet.

The deep layer of springs gives this mattress a good amount of bounce and the zoning does the job pretty well; you definitely feel that the bits of you that need extra cushioning are well looked-after.

There are three foam layers on top of the sprung layer. The top layer is Emma's Halo memory foam, designed to mould to your body shape and provide sink-in comfort and pressure relief, and to help keep your spine aligned. Beneath that is a layer of Point Elastic Airgocell foam for breathability and temperature regulation, followed by a heavier support foam that further enhances spinal alignment and reduces pressure points.

The internal layers of the Emma NextGen Premium

(Image credit: Future)

There's a final layer of HRX base foam beneath the springs, and the whole mattress is wrapped up in a breathable, moisture-wicking cover; the top cover can be unzipped and machine-washed if you so wish. The cover also features handles on the side, which are a welcome addition and make the business of rotating the mattress a lot more straightforward.

Emma's making a big deal about the reduced carbon emissions of this mattress, which is largely down to a serious reduction in the amount of foam you'll find, compared to other models. In fact, it kind of feels like an exercise in figuring out how little foam Emma can get away with. The foam layers are a little thin (the top memory foam layer is maybe just over 1cm thick), and there's no foam edging to constrain the sprung layers; those springs run right to the edge of the mattress, which I don't think helps when it comes to edge support (I'll return to that later).

The edge of the Emma NextGen Premium, showing a zip with an Emma logo

(Image credit: Future)

Coming to the Emma NextGen Premium from a traditional tufted mattress that featured a spring layer topped with memory foam for comfort, I was surprised and just a little disappointed by how loose and slightly insubstantial the Emma feels by comparison; particularly the top cover. It's undeniably soft but the material doesn't seem all that tough to me. I'm sure many people value the ability to unzip the top cover and wash it, and I've no doubt that a heavier material would be harder to wash and a lot harder to put back in place afterwards, but personally I'd much prefer a more heavyweight and resilient non-removable cover that does a better job of holding everything together.

Design score: 4 out of 5

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: comfort

  • Medium-firm feel that's suitable for all sleep styles
  • Zoned support keeps everything cushioned and aligned
  • Memory foam layer provides a little sink-in comfort

The Emma NextGen Premium is rated a 6.5 medium-firm feel by Emma, and both my partner I expected it to feel just a little bit softer than it turned out to be. I'm 6'3" and weigh around 10.5 stone, and while for much of my life I've preferred a firmer mattress, as I get older I find myself appreciative of a little more cushioning for my tired joints. My partner is shorter and more compact, and tends to sink a little deeper into any mattress than I do, but again she's been looking for just a little more sink-in comfort from a mattress.

Both of us have been finding our old mattress just a little too firm of late, and the Emma NextGen Premium seemed like the perfect antidote. It's definitely less firm than our previous mattress, but just a little more softness wouldn't go amiss for either of us. 

For me, when I'm lying on my back on the NextGen Premium I feel like I'm lying on top of it more than sinking in. I am, however, a total combination sleeper who switches between back, stomach and side sleeping throughout the night, and I generally end up sleeping on my side, and fortunately there's just enough sink in the NextGen Premium to cushion my undeniably skinny frame in that position. I've also found that the zoning in the spring layer means that moving slightly up or down the bed can make a big difference in how well cushioned and supported I feel.

A kettlebell and tape measure on the Emma NextGen Premium

(Image credit: Future)

To get a proper scientific measure of the comfort, I placed an 8kg kettlebell on the Emma NextGen Premium to see how far it sank in. In the middle of the mattress the kettlebell sank in by around 5cm, while nearer the edges it sank by about 4cm. This tallies with my estimation of the NextGen Premium's firmness, and I'd suggest that it should suit most sleeping styles.

Comfort score: 4 out of 5

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: temperature regulation

  • Temperature-neutral
  • Deep sprung layer provides plenty of airflow
  • Didn't get hot even during a heatwave

Because of its spring-heavy construction I wasn't expecting any temperature regulation issues with this mattress. And in this respect the Emma NextGen Premium lived up to my expectations.

It's not specifically a cooling mattress, however it does feel temperature-neutral. In a month of sleeping on it in the UK summer, including a couple of hot weeks when the temperature rarely dipped below 20ºC, the only times I felt myself getting hot in the night was when the ambient temperature simply got too warm; the mattress itself maintained an admirably comfortable temperature.

A hand pressing down on the Emma NextGen Premium

(Image credit: Future)

This isn't especially surprising; 18cm of the Emma NextGen Premium's 25cm depth is made up of pocket springs, which means much more airflow through the mattress, and it barely gives the other 7cm of foam any chance to absorb heat. While the breathable cover and Airgocell foam certainly play their part in the NextGen Premium's temperature regulation, it's clearly the pocket springs that are doing most of the heavy lifting, and the fact that they're not encumbered by airflow-restricting side supports doubtless helps (although that's a mixed blessing).

Temperature regulation score: 4.5 out of 5

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: motion isolation

  • A little motion transfer, due to the deep spring layer
  • Foam deadens things slightly, so still a good choice for couples

The springs in the Emma NextGen Premium are about three times as tall as the three top foam layers combined, and consequently I wasn't expecting the greatest motion isolation from this mattress. However, even though it's quite a responsive mattress, the foam does a pretty good job of absorbing the bounce from the pocket springs.

As a result, while there's still a bit of motion transfer going on, it's not really enough to cause a disturbance; you're aware of a partner moving about while you're lying awake in bed, but it's not something that would actually wake you up.

A wine glass, kettlebell and tape measure on the Emma NextGen Premium

(Image credit: Future)

To put numbers on it, I fetched a wine glass and stood it in the centre of the mattress, then dropped my 8kg kettlebell onto the mattress at distances of 25, 10 and 4 inches from the wine glass. At 25 inches the wine glass barely moved; at 10 inches it wobbled noticeably, and at 4 inches it pitched straight over. That's not the best motion isolation we've seen in our mattress tests, but it's far from the worst.

Motion isolation score: 4 out of 5

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: edge support

  • Not the best edge support, especially on the long edges
  • No real danger of rolling off in the night, though

By far the weakest element in the makeup of the Emma NextGen Premium is its edge support; indeed it was one of the first things I noticed when I got onto it for the first time. This isn't a mattress that you can perch right on the edge of; rather you need to sit a bit back from the edge in order to feel comfortably supported. The edge support isn't so bad that either my partner or I have felt in danger of rolling off the edge in the night, but it's less than we'd prefer in an ideal world.

A kettlebell on the edge of the Emma NextGen Premium with a finger holding it in place

(Image credit: Future)

Testing the edge support with the 8kg kettlebell resulted in the kettlebell sinking about 8cm on the long edge of the mattress and at the corners, and about 6.5 cm on the short edge. You'll also notice in the accompanying photo that I'm holding the kettlebell steady with my fingertip; that's to stop it from rolling off.

Edge support score: 3.5 out of 5

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: setup

  • Mattress arrived vacuum-packed, folded and rolled in a box
  • Free delivery to your door
  • Slight off-gassing smell

Emma provides free delivery to your front door, and for an extra £45 it'll also collect your old mattress on the same day and take it away for recycling. If you're worried about the prospect of having to haul a heavy mattress to your bedroom, don't be. I was honestly surprised by the size of the box that was deposited on my doorstep as it seemed far too small to contain a double mattress, but that made it a lot easier to manoeuvre into my bedroom.

The Emma NextGen Premium in its delivery box

(Image credit: Future)

Having checked the measurements and confirmed that I'd been sent the right mattress, I found the business of setting the Emma NextGen Premium up to be plain sailing pretty much all of the way. The box was easy to open and featured a QR code that promised to take me to an easy setup guide; sadly it actually took me to a dead link on Emma's US site, but ultimately I really didn't need it.

The Emma NextGen Premium folded and vacuum packed

(Image credit: Future)

It was easy to get the rolled (and, I then discovered, folded, which accounted for the box's size) mattress onto my bed and remove the outer plastic wrap. Emma doesn't provide a cutting tool to open up the vacuum packing, but it wasn't hard to find something suitably sharp, and after making one small cut in the plastic an ominous hissing told me that we were in business.

The Emma NextGen Premium decompressed to full size a lot faster than I'd anticipated; it seemed like it inflated within a few seconds (again, this is an area in which the large springs-to-foam ratio really helped). Certainly, within a few minutes it looked ready to sleep on, and while Emma states that it's good to go as soon as it's decompressed, I gave it a good few hours to settle down before putting a mattress protector and bedclothes on it. 

It might have been structurally ready to sleep on, but despite the low volume of foam there was a distinct off-gassing smell that I wanted to give time to dissipate; not overpowering but quite definitely there, and it took a good few days for it to fade completely.

Setup score: 4.5 out of 5

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: customer reviews

  • New product so barely any reviews online
  • Average 3.8/5 Trustpilot score based on over 36,000 reviews

It's near-impossible to find customer reviews of the Emma NextGen Premium mattress online. It's only been on sale for a couple of months, which means that any reviews at all are hard to find. There are none on Emma's own site; in fact the closest you'll find to reviews on the Emma site are some customer quotes without much in the way of context, so they're no help at all.

The NextGen Premium mattress is only sold through Emma, so there's no way of getting customer reviews from the likes of Amazon. That means we have to fall back on TrustPilot, and it's not a pretty sight. Emma's Trustpilot rating has been creeping downwards over the past few months due to an influx of 1-star reviews over slow delivery and lack of communication from customer services; I contacted Emma about this a couple of months ago and was informed that this was due to a technical error with its warehouse systems, and that it had been resolved.

However I'm still seeing a number of fresh 1- and 2-star reviews, mostly regarding slow delivery and lack of communication, and Emma's overall Trustpilot score is now 3.8 (for comparison it was 4.0 when we reviewed the Emma Premium back in January). And while none of this really says anything about customer experiences with the Emma NextGen Premium, it's something you may want to keep in mind if you're thinking about ordering.

Should you buy the Emma NextGen Premium mattress?

Close-up of the corner of the Emma NextGen Premium

(Image credit: Future)

The Emma NextGen Premium, all told, is quite a comfortable mattress, and it's one that I've slept well on over the past month. Both my partner and I agree that we'd prefer it if it were just that little bit softer, but in general it's good for back, front and side sleeping (although lighter side sleepers than me might find it a little too firm for comfort).

I like the NextGen Premium's simplicity; this is not a complex mattress and I wouldn't really describe it as next-gen, more old-school. It's essentially a deep layer of pocket springs held in check by a foam section, and it works. Because the top cover's removable and washable it feels just a little flimsy; I think the whole mattress would feel a lot more solid if it was stitched closed.

Although the NextGen Premium has a premium RRP, it feels more mid-range to me and I'd be disappointed if I bought it at full price. Reduced by 40% in the Emma sale though, which it often is, it feels like much better value. At that price, however, there's some strong competition about, so unless you've absolutely decided that this is the mattress for you, it'd pay to shop around.

Emma NextGen Premium mattress review: Also consider

How I tested the Emma NextGen Premium

I've been sleeping on the Emma NextGen Premium, along with my partner, for over a month in mid-summer. Night-time temperatures have varied between well below and well above the seasonal average during this time, so I've been able to get a good all-round impression of the mattress's performance. I've been using the mattress with a mattress protector and Egyptian cotton sheets, and with a year-round 10.5 tog duvet.

As well as sleeping on the Emma NextGen Premium in all the popular positions, I've also subjected it to TechRadar's standard mattress tests to get a measure of its comfort, motion isolation and edge support.

Origin Hybrid Mattress review 2023: is this firmer mattress the right fit for you?
12:00 pm | May 28, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Origin Hybrid Mattress: Two-minute review

The Origin Hybrid mattress is Origin’s only mattress, selling in eight countries around the world. It’s a hybrid mattress, made of a combination of foams, coils and the brand’s proprietary HexaGrid. This orthopaedic layer was developed alongside orthopaedic specialists, with zoned support that gives more support in the centre third of the mattress, where body weight is concentrated.

Like many of our best mattress choices, the Origin Hybrid is an excellent choice for back sleepers. My husband and I both sleep primarily on our backs and found the mattress supportive. Customers agree, with many saying how much the mattress helped with easing back pain. Although Origin say the mattress is a medium firm at 6.5 out of 10, I found it much firmer and nearer to an 8 out of 10. 

This extra firmness means that the Origin Hybrid is ideally suited to stomach sleepers, who need a firmer mattress to keep their hips in line with their shoulders and spines aligned. Heavier weight sleepers should also like this mattress, as there’s no danger of sinking down onto the coils. I didn’t feel that the Origin Hybrid was suited to side sleepers, as it’s a little too firm to provide adequate sinkage at the shoulders and hips, which could aggravate these pressure points.

The Origin Hybrid Mattress on a bed

(Image credit: Jo Plumridge)

Motion isolation on the Origin Hybrid is outstanding - I can be a light sleeper and wasn’t disturbed by either my husband moving about, or the foster cat jumping on the bed. Temperature regulation is also very good, with my hot-sleeping husband feeling cool and refreshed throughout the night. I actually found it a little too effective, feeling a bit chilly in the night, so I wouldn’t recommend this mattress to anyone of a similarly reptilian nature to myself.

I tested the Origin Hybrid mattress for three weeks, testing it on all major areas of performance, rating it on pressure relief, motion isolation, edge support, cooling and ease of setup. I’ll expand on all these throughout this article.

Origin Hybrid Mattress Review: Price

  • An upper mid-range mattress
  • Extremely generous discounts, with over 50% off at times
  • Double is £769 at RRP

The Origin Hybrid is an upper mid-range mattress at full price, but the brand’s regular and generous offers mean you’ll pay the price of a lower mid-range mattress. In practical terms, this means you can pay a lot less for a high-quality mattress if you buy the Origin when it’s on offer.

Here’s the RRP for the Origin Hybrid Mattress, alongside the lowest prices we’ve seen the mattress on sale for:

  • Single: £699 RRP, £299 on offer
  • Small Double: £719 RRP, £319 on offer
  • Double: £769 RRP, £369 on offer
  • King: £899 RRP, £429 on offer
  • Super King: £1100 RRP, £489 on offer

Origin has a variety of offers, discounts and sales running throughout the year. We’ve seen regular discounts of 40% and sometimes over 50%. You’ll also get a small 5% discount on Origin’s Coolmax Latex Pillow if you buy it alongside the mattress. If you go to the Origin site and the mattress is full price, I’d recommend waiting for a sale or offer to come along, simply because you can save so much money by doing so. Make sure you bookmark our mattress sales page to keep up to date on all the latest offers.

Origin Hybrid Mattress Review: Specs

Origin Hybrid Mattress Review: Materials and design

  • Hybrid mattress with foam, springs and the brand’s HexaGrid
  • Various cooling elements infused into different layers of the mattress
  • Cover is not removable

The Origin Hybrid mattress has some innovative features and the brand is committed to using eco-friendly materials in its design. Origin has won a Sustainable Design award and the company is certified eco-friendly. Any returned mattresses are also donated to the British Heart Foundation.

The mattress’ first layer is the brand’s proprietary HexaGrid, which is infused with cooling particles to keep you cool. It’s also zoned, with more support in the centre third of the mattress where most of our bodyweight lies. Next up you’ll find premium Australian wool (another naturally cooling fabric) and graphite infused foam (graphite helps to draw heat away from the body).

A corner of the Origin Hybrid Mattress

(Image credit: Jo Plumridge)

Natural bamboo foam sits above the individually pocketed antigravity springs, which are well-spaced to promote airflow and provide support across your entire body as needed. As you might expect, all the foams in the mattress are CertiPUR certified, meaning the mattress is lower in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The Origin Hybrid is wrapped up in an 100% bamboo Tencel cover, which also helps to keep sleepers cool. There are also handles on the side of the cover to make it easier to move the mattress around. The only downside is that the cover isn’t removable, which makes it harder to keep the mattress fresh and clean. Make sure you always leave a mattress protector on the mattress to keep it protected.

Score: 4 out of 5

Hybrid Mattress Review: Support and comfort

  • HexaGrid offers zoned support to the spine
  • Ideal for back and stomach sleepers
  • Too firm for side sleepers

Origin suggests that the Origin Hybrid is a medium firm mattress, with a firmness rating of 6.5 out of 10. But I found the mattress far firmer, rating it at an 8 out of 10. This was supported by our weight test – a 20kg weight only sank in by 2.8in when placed in the centre of the bed.

Although I’m of a lightweight build, I prefer a firmer mattress that doesn’t dip or mould too much around the lower back. The Origin Hybrid felt extremely comfortable to me as a back sleeper – the top layers of the HexaGrid and foams providing a soft pillow top feel, with the centre third of the HexaGrid and the coils keeping my spine aligned. My average weight husband also felt the mattress was very comfortable as a back sleeper. Some lighter weight back sleepers may, of course, find it a little firm.

A weight and a tape measure on the Origin Hybrid Mattress

(Image credit: Jo Plumridge)

My stomach sleeper tester also rated the mattress highly as it does an excellent job of lifting the hips to align with the shoulders, whilst my heavier weight tester enjoyed the mattress in all sleeping positions, including side sleeping. They felt supported by the mattress without any danger of sinking onto the coils. Bear in mind that the single and small double will only support body weight of around 15 stone, the double a combined weight of 31 stone and the king and super kind a combined weight of 37 stone. Combination sleepers should also find it easy to change positions in this mattress.

My husband and I however found it too firm for side sleeping. There was some definite pressure build up at the shoulders and hips, as the mattress just isn’t soft enough to allow for adequate sinkage here. 

Score: 4 out of 5

Origin Hybrid Mattress Review: Temperature regulation

  • HexaGrid contains cooling particles for temperature regulation
  • Graphite infused foam, Tencel cover and well-spaced springs provide more airflow and body temperature regulation
  • Could even be a little too cool for colder sleepers

I slept on the Origin Hybrid for three weeks with a winter duvet (tog 10.5) in a bedroom at around 14C during early spring. My husband generally sleeps very hot and he found the mattress did an excellent job of keeping him cool. However, as someone who’s naturally quite reptilian, I actually found the mattress a little too cooling.

A hand pressing on the Origin Hybrid Mattress

(Image credit: Jo Plumridge)

The Origin Hybrid is well designed to keep sleepers cool, from the cover down to its springs. Starting at the top, the Tencel cover helps to wick moisture away from the body and increase air circulation. The HexaGrid is infused with cooling particles to keep your body temperature close to 18.3C (the ideal temperature for deeper sleep). Next up is graphite infused bamboo foam – graphite is known for helping to draw heat away from the body. Finally, the coils are individually encased, which helps to promote airflow.

Score: 4.5 out of 5

Origin Hybrid Mattress Review: Motion isolation

  • Great choice for couples and restless sleepers
  • Scored highly in our motion transfer tests

I tested the Origin Hybrid with a simple drop test with a 6kg weight and an empty wine glass to see how well the mattress absorbed motion. I dropped the weight from around 5in above the mattress, starting at 25in from the wine glass. At this distance the wine glass didn’t move. It was also completely stable at 10in and only wobbled at 5in from the weight dropping.

A weight, a wine glass and a tape measure on the Origin Hybrid Mattress

(Image credit: Jo Plumridge)

These tests demonstrate how little motion transfer there is with the Origin Hybrid, meaning that you’re unlikely to be disturbed by your partner moving about during the night. It’s also a good choice if you’re a restless sleeper yourself. Considering how firm the Origin Hybrid is, it’s a surprise how good motion isolation is, but the plush layers of foam and the HexaGrid do an excellent job.

Score: 5 out of 5

Origin Hybrid Mattress Review: Edge support

  • Better support in the middle of the sides as opposed to the corners
  • Supportive to sit on, providing you stay in the middle

Edge support on the Origin Hybrid was a little mixed. Placing my heaviest weight of 20kg on the edge of the mattress, in the middle of one side, gave me a sinkage of 3.9in. But I did notice that the mattress was slightly firmer in the middle on each side as opposed to closer to the corners.

Edge support on a mattress is important as it helps us get in and out of bed, increases the sleeping area of the mattress, helps prevent premature sagging around the perimeters and allows you to sit on the edge of the bed. While I felt that the mattress was supportive enough to sit on comfortably in the middle of the sides, I couldn’t utilise the full width of the mattress without feeling some sinkage and unevenness in the corners. 

Score: 3.5 out of 5

Origin Hybrid Mattress Review: Setup

  • Low off-gassing
  • Free delivery in the UK
  • Delivered vacuum-packed, rolled and boxed

Origin’s mattress is delivered to the front door in a box, with delivery taking between two and eight days. You can select your preferred date and time slot on the checkout page.

My Origin Hybrid arrived vacuum-packed and rolled in a box. To open it up, place the mattress on the bed base (making sure it’s facing the right way to unroll) and then carefully slice the plastic packaging open with a knife.

Once free from its packaging, the mattress inflated quickly, so make sure you give it space. You can sleep on the mattress after four or five hours, but it can take between 48 and 72 hours to fully inflate. I did notice that the mattress puffed up a little more over the first couple of days we had it in the house.

Off-gassing, where organic chemicals and gases are released from the foam as a mattress expands, is normal and to be expected when buying a mattress in a box. The chemical-like odour that’s produced can last several days with some mattresses. I was impressed by how little the Origin Hybrid smelt and off-gassing dissipated completely within a few hours. 

Score: 4 out of 5

Origin Hybrid Mattress Review: Customer reviews

  • Customers praise the mattress for easing aches and pains
  • The firmness of the mattress results in both positive and negative reviews

Although the Origin Hybrid mattress doesn’t have masses of reviews on UK sites, there are many more from other countries where it’s sold. The mattress is popular, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

As with any review, customer reviews are subjective and what suits one sleeper may not suit another. But I was able to pick out common comments to get a broader picture of what customers thought.

A huge number of positive customer reviews praised the Origin Hybrid for its ability to ease aches and pains, with many people saying that their back pain had been significantly reduced or had disappeared altogether. Motion isolation was also praised, with customers able to sleep even with restless partners and wriggly children in the bed.

Customers liked the plush and soft feel of the mattress, with many commenting on the attractive finish of the Tencel cover and grey cotton sides. Nearly all the reviews mentioned the firmness of the mattress and it was here that customer opinion was split. Some customers loved the feel and others felt that they adjusted to it quickly. But others disliked the firmer feel, particularly side sleepers.

Should you buy the Origin Hybrid mattress?

The Origin Hybrid Mattress in a bedroom

(Image credit: Origin)

The Origin Hybrid mattress has a lot to recommend it. I think it’s particularly suited for stomach and back sleepers, along with those of a heavier weight. Some lighter weight back sleepers may find it a little firm, but this will obviously come down to personal preference. Side sleepers are likely to find the mattress a little too firm around pressure points at the shoulders and hips, although heavier weight side sleepers should sink far enough into the mattress to feel supported, without sinking onto the coils. If you are a side sleeper, read our guide to the best mattresses for side sleepers for more suitable options.

I was impressed by the HexaGrid, which is both soft and supportive with the zoned support adapting as needed. The HexaGrid is also infused with cooling particles and this, combined with the graphite infused bamboo foam, Tencel cover, Australian wool and well-spaced coils, means that the mattress does an excellent job of keeping sleepers cool at night. Those who share their bed with a restless sleeper will appreciate the excellent motion isolation on the Origin Hybrid, which ensures that you won’t be disturbed throughout the night. This is a well-made mattress that should appeal to a wide range of sleepers.

Origin Hybrid Mattress Review: also consider

How I tested the Origin Hybrid mattress

I slept on the Origin Hybrid for three weeks during early spring. My bedroom was around 14C overnight and I was using a 10.5 tog winter duvet. I shared the bed with my husband and he and I are of average and light builds respectively.

To gain a wider perspective and views on the mattress I asked friends of various builds and heights to either lie on the mattress in different positions or, in some cases, to sleep on the bed for a night or two. I also ran standardised tests to objectively assess softness, edge support and motion isolation.

Avocado Green Mattress review 2023
5:13 pm | January 22, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

Avocado Green Mattress review in brief

  • 100% certified organic mattress
  • Ideal for back sleepers, heavier sleepers, and co-sleepers
  • May be uncomfortable for side sleepers or lightweight sleepers

The Avocado Green Mattress is among the most popular organic mattresses available today. The brand sets itself apart by prioritizing eco-friendliness and sustainability, putting in the time and effort to get many certifications to back up their claims. Avocado also takes pride in its high-quality materials and craftsmanship; each Green Mattress is needle-tufted by hand.

We tested a queen-sized Avocado Green Mattress for three weeks across all sleeping positions. We took care to test its performance in all major areas (pressure relief, motion isolation, edge support, cooling, and ease of set up), which you can learn about in more detail in the following sections.

The Avocado Green mattress on a bed

(Image credit: Michele Ross)
Avocado Green Mattress at a glance

Best for: back sleepers, heavier sleepers, co-sleepers, sleepers who run hot
Type: mattress in a box
Firmness: medium-firm (7/10)
Materials: 100% organic Dunlop latex, wool, and cotton; coils
Depth: 11 inches
Weight: 76-158 lbs
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king

By the end of our testing period, we believe that the Avocado Green Mattress—which clocks in at 7 out of 10 for firmness—is a quality option for organic mattresses, but specifically for back sleepers, heavier sleepers, and co-sleepers in these categories, as it will offer the support these types of sleepers require. We also appreciate that this mattress is very breathable, so sleepers who run hot will enjoy this feature. On the other hand, side sleepers and lightweight sleepers will likely want to look elsewhere; this mattress is unlikely to provide enough cushioning and support these sleepers need.

As far as the value for money goes, we believe that it’s a great mid-market organic option if you're shopping for the best mattress in a box. However, certain costs can run up quickly—namely if you add on the pillowtop option (for a firmness level of 6 out 10), factor in standard shipping (starting at $99), and/or if you opt for white glove delivery (for $249). Yet even with these extra costs, it’s still a good value for money when reviewed against its biggest organic and luxury competitors.

Be sure to read the TechRadar best mattress buying guide before you purchase this mattress, or any other. 

Avocado Green Mattress review: materials and design

  • Hybrid mattress with three layers of support
  • 100% organic cotton and wool

The Avocado Green Mattress is organic and hybrid. It comprises three layers: a cover, a comfort layer, and a base/support layer. The cover is soft and breathable, and boasts 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and wool. It doesn’t trap heat on account of its moisture-wicking properties, which is a terrific benefit for sleepers who run hot at night. In addition, the wool used is antimicrobial and won’t retain dust mites, so sleepers with allergies and/or those who worry about buildup can rest easier. The wool also acts as a natural fire barrier. (If you’re hoping to buy an organic hybrid mattress that avoids animal products entirely, consider buying the Avocado Vegan Mattress, which is PETA-certified. It boasts the same qualities and features as the Green Mattress, but skips the wool in favor of cotton only.)

Two inches of Dunlop latex are used in the comfort layer of the mattress, and one inch of it is used in the base/support layer. The latex is GOLS-certified organic and is used to fend off wear and tear over the years. The base/support layer also has 1,414 coils across five ergonomic zones, as well as a perimeter of steel. This construction helps to limit motion transfer and provide edge support.

After a few weeks of testing, the only signs of wear we noticed were some superficial wrinkles concentrated around the area of the bed where our hips rested. While we didn’t find this to be a major point of concern, some reviewers note that dips get more pronounced and permanent within a few years of use, and have led to discomfort.

If you’re considering different types of mattresses aside from organic and hybrid varieties, consult the TechRadar best memory foam mattress guide. 

Avocado Green Mattress review: comfort

  • 7 out of 10 for firmness
  • Offers wonderful support for back sleepers
  • Latex foam layer offers only a slight amount of give

Since we had recently switched from testing mattresses and toppers that were closer to a 6 out of 10 for firmness, it took a few nights to adjust to a firmer option—even though it was only one point up on the firmness scale. Moreover, our relatively lightweight reviewer is a combination sleeper most prone to side sleeping. They found that this position wasn’t ideal for this mattress since it didn’t comfortably contour the shoulders and hips. (Note: If you’re a side sleeper set on purchasing an Avocado Mattress, you may want to opt for the pillowtop upgrade. It brings the firmness level down to a 6 out of 10. However, we didn’t test this add-on for this specific review.)

A hand pressing down on the Avocado Green mattress

(Image credit: Michele Ross)

However, our reviewer had been interested in making the switch to back sleeping for personal reasons. Once they did so, the Avocado Green Mattress proved to be much more comfortable within a few nights’ time. (They had previously tested out back sleeping on softer but still medium-firm mattresses, which sank too much around the hips.) We also tested stomach sleeping on this mattress, which was more comfortable than side sleeping.

All things considered, we believe that the Avocado Green Mattress offers the most comfort for back sleepers in particular.

Avocado Green Mattress review: support and pressure relief

  • Great neck and back support
  • Comfortable enough for stomach sleeping
  • Pressure will likely build up while side sleeping

Again, the Avocado Green Mattress is a 7 out of 10 for firmness. This places it on the firmer end of the medium-firm scale. To test its support and pressure relief for ourselves, we put a 55-pound kettlebell in the middle of the mattress. This allowed us to simulate the weight of the densest part of a sleeper’s body (i.e., hips) to see how much it would sink. We measured the amount of sinkage to be two inches, which is relatively small and adequately reflected the brand’s 7 out of 10 firmness rating.

The Avocado Green mattress on a bed with a weight on it

(Image credit: Michele Ross)

The only time that we felt pressure build up was while side sleeping; our shoulders and hips got tense, as it didn’t offer contouring. However, back sleeping was a different story. We found that the mattress provides a perfect amount of support at the hips especially, and we didn’t struggle with any pressure around our neck and shoulders either. Stomach sleeping also proved to be comfortable as the mattress was firm enough for this position.

Want more options? We had recently reviewed the Helix Midnight, which offered great pressure relief for side sleeping. We recommend checking out the review if you’re a side sleeper open to non-organic hybrid mattresses. Otherwise, an organic competitor known for its benefits specific to pressure relief is the Nolah Natural 11 Mattress, which t uses Talalay latex. According to Nolah, this type of latex boasts 33% more pressure relief than other varieties, including Dunlop (which Avocado uses) and synthetics. 

Avocado Green Mattress review: temperature regulation

  • Breathable cotton and wool
  • Moisture-wicking properties promote a cool, dry night’s rest

It’s important to consider temperature regulation when buying a new mattress. Breathability should be a key factor in your final choice, especially if you run hot at night and tend to sweat in your sleep.

Our reviewer sleeps hot every so often, and was pleased to find that the Avocado Green Mattress performed very well in terms of temperature regulation and breathability. It didn’t trap body heat and we didn’t feel as though we overheated or woke up sweating at any point during the testing period. Moreover, the mattress feels cool to the touch. (We were impressed by Avocado’s prowess in this section, especially when compared to other bed-in-a-box options we’ve tested in the past.)

The use of breathable organic cotton and wool allow the Avocado Green Mattress to have these beneficial properties; they promote airflow and wick away moisture should it build up. It’s also worth noting that we used linen sheets throughout the testing period. Linen one of the more breathable fabrics available for bedding, so note that use of less airy materials can impact how hot you will run while sleeping.

Avocado Green Mattress review: motion transfer and edge support

  • Minimal motion transfer is great for co-sleepers
  • Terrific edge support

We performed a motion transfer test to gauge how much movement can be felt in different areas of the bed; this simulates how much a co-sleeper may be impacted if you change sleeping positions or they make any movements in bed. A mattress with minimal motion transfer is key, especially for co-sleepers who are fidgety and/or wake easily.

To assess motion transfer, we dropped a 10-pound kettlebell at different measurements away from a wine glass that stood upright at the center of the bed. This test helps to assess how much disruption a co-sleeper may experience when their sleeping partner moves at various distances away from them.

The Avocado Green mattress on a bed with a weight on it

(Image credit: Michele Ross)

The wine glass shook a few times, but didn’t fall over, when we dropped the 10-pound weight four inches away from it. The glass shook even less when we dropped the weight 10 inches away from it. Finally, the glass didn’t budge on the first bounce when we dropped the weight 25 inches away from it, though it shook on the next few bounces from the kettlebell. From this test, we concluded that the Avocado Green Mattress performs well in terms of motion transfer. Co-sleepers will appreciate this feature.

We then performed a different test to gauge edge support. Edge support indicates how firm and sturdy the mattress will be to support your weight when you sit on the side of the bed, move around the perimeter of your bed, and get out of bed. Strong edge support also reduces the risk of sagging.

In order to measure the edge support for the Avocado Green Mattress, we placed a 55-pound kettlebell on the side and bottom perimeters of the bed. The weight sank only two inches, which was equal to the measure of sink at the bed’s center. We also sat on the edge of the bed to tie our shoes, as well as rolled around on the mattress (all the way to the edges) to check if we felt in danger of rolling off. It performed well in these regards, too.

We weren’t surprised at the positive results from this test, as the Avocado Green Mattress boasts a layer of pocketed coils strategically spread out across ergonomic zones and a reinforced steel perimeter along its edges.

Avocado Green Mattress review: price and deals

  • Avocado Green is the brand’s mid-range mattress option
  • Sits in the middle price-wise in the wider organic mattress market
  • Best to wait for deals to save 10% or more

In terms of cost, the Avocado Green Mattress sits squarely in the middle of the company's range. It’s nearly twice the cost of its “super affordable” Eco Organic Mattress, but still around half the cost of its Luxury Organic Mattress. Note: Prices will increase by $400 to $600 if you opt for the pillowtop upgrade.

In the wider organic mattress market, it’s also approximately in the middle from a price standpoint, but trends a bit upwards of that compared to hybrid mattresses that use synthetic materials.

A queen-sized Avocado Green Mattress currently costs $1,999 without any sales or promotions. However, the brand offers discounts from time to time—usually at around 10%—which can mark down the price by a few hundred dollars. During our testing period (shortly after Black Friday mattress deals and Cyber Monday promos were live), Avocado featured slightly lower RRPs combined with a 10% off sitewide sale. During that time, a queen Avocado Green Mattress retailed for $1,900, then dropped to $1,710 after the discount.

Here are the prices for all sizes of the Avocado Green Mattress:

  • Twin size RRP – $1,399
  • Twin XL size RRP – $1,499
  • Full size RRP – $1,699
  • Queen size RRP – $1,999
  • King size RRP – $2,599
  • California king size RRP – $2,599

Similar to Avocado, many of its competitors also offer deals throughout the year. Ultimately, any savings you’ll get from one brand to the next will depend on when you buy it; the upcoming Presidents' Day mattress sales are likely to be your next opportunity for a solid discount, but be sure to consult the TechRadar mattress sales guide to keep tabs on deals.

If price is no object, you’re a fan of the Avocado brand, and you prefer medium mattresses, you may want to upgrade to their Luxury Organic Mattress (starting at $2,799 for a twin and $3,899 for a queen). It’s 5 out of 10 for firmness and comprises 17 premium layers of organic and natural latex, wool, silk, hemp, and cotton. It also has 3,136 individually pocketed coils for superior comfort. If you’re on a budget yet want an organic hybrid mattress, check out the Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress. Whether or not it’s on sale, it will still be at least a few hundred dollars less than the Avocado Green (starting at $799, up to $2,198 during promotional periods). 

See the Avocado Green Mattress from $1,399 at Avocado
Back sleepers, heavier sleepers, sleepers who run hot, and co-sleepers in these camps are the key categories of people who will enjoy the Avocado Green Mattress the most. Avocado offers a 1-year trial period and a 25-year warranty (full coverage through year 10, limited coverage through year 25) for this mattress. View Deal

Avocado Green Mattress review: setup

  • Ideal to unbox with two people
  • Minimal odor upon unboxing, but low off-gassing risk

Standard shipping for boxed mattresses up to 150 pounds starts at $99. The brand calls this doorstep delivery, meaning they’ll place it at the doorstep of your house or at the bottom of the stairs if you live in a unit on an upper floor. (We tested the queen mattress, which is 114 pounds though the shipping label listed the package weight at 130 pounds.)

The Avocado Green Mattress product page notes that the mattress will be ready to ship within three to five business days. Once it’s ready, you can select your preferred date and time window for shipping.

The Avocado Green mattress rolled up in plastic

(Image credit: Michele Ross)

For review purposes, we were given the option of white glove delivery (aka in-home delivery, per Avocado), which we proceeded with. Customers can choose this option—with which deliverers will unbox the mattress, place it on your bed frame, and dispose of your old mattress and the shipping materials—for $249.

(Some mattress brands will offer free shipping, whether standard or white glove. For instance,  purchase of the luxury organic Saatva Zenhaven comes with complimentary white glove delivery, but the mattress is sold at a significantly higher price point.)

The delivery arrived within our pre-selected time frame on the date of our choice. The packaging included the recyclable outer box (made of 50% post-consumer content), a tight layer of opaque plastic, and one additional layer of thick plastic. The packaging was minimal, as was expected from an eco-friendly, Certified B Corporation brand. The two delivery people could push the box into our apartment unit with ease. However, the first layer of plastic was wrapped more tightly (and seemed to be stickier) than other bed-in-a-box wrappings we had recently reviewed.

The Avocado Green mattress in its plastic wrapping on a bed

(Image credit: Michele Ross)

Once they cut open the second/thick layer of plastic, the mattress fully expanded (and was ready to rest on) within a minute—making a loud hissing sound in the process. We could also perceive an odor from up to 2.5 feet away for about an hour after the mattress expanded. (We left our bedside window closed in order to fully notice and smells.) 

Since Avocado uses natural and organic materials, toxicity and off-gassing aren’t major concerns, especially compared to other mattresses that use synthetic materials. The smell dissipated fully by nighttime, which was less time compared to other mattresses we’ve reviewed.

Avocado Green Mattress review: customer reviews

  • Some customers love its medium-firm to firm support, while it’s too firm for others
  • Some customers complain that it loses durability within a few years

The Avocado Green Mattress boasts a 4.7 out of 5 star rating from over 16,000 reviews (at the time of writing). Avocado is the only online retailer for its mattresses, so we couldn’t pull user reviews from other sites.

Common points from positive reviews include that the Avocado Green Mattress offers a great level of firm support, provides pressure relief, and absorbs weight well (especially for heavier sleepers). Customers also like its temperature-regulating quality, and most of them were happy to upgrade to this mattress from their old ones. Others also believed that the mattress was a good value for the cost, and some prized the brand’s values and quality too.

Customers who left negative reviews often noted that the mattress was too firm for what they wanted or expected. (Remember, softness and firmness are subjective, must be considered based on your own body weight and sleeping position, and will ultimately vary from one person to the next.) Some experienced shipping issues and getting their needs met through customer service, even if they ended up liking the mattress. Perhaps the biggest concern worth noting is that some customers wrote that the mattress sags over time, which contributes to body aches and poor sleep quality.

Should you buy the Avocado Green Mattress?

The Avocado Green mattress on a bed

(Image credit: Michele Ross)

Given major points of consideration—ranging from firmness and comfort to price and the competition—we recommend buying the Avocado Green Mattress under certain conditions. It gets our seal of approval for back sleepers, heavier sleepers, sleepers who run hot, and co-sleepers in these categories above all. We also believe that it’s a good value for the cost of the mattress, especially given its organic and high-quality materials and when compared to competitors in the organic and hybrid spaces (even with shipping costs).

However, side sleepers and lightweight sleepers will be better served by looking for another organic/hybrid mattress. Yet if they’re set on purchasing an Avocado, they will likely benefit from paying $400 to $600 extra for a pillowtop add-on (additional cost varies by mattress size) to cradle their shoulders, hips, and knees. Anyone seeking a soft or medium-soft mattress should also look elsewhere.

As a reminder, another option similar to the Avocado Green Mattress is the Nolah Natural 11 Mattress noted above. It offers 6 out of 10 firmness (making it suitable for back and side sleepers alike), may provide greater pressure relief, and potentially save you a few hundred dollars, depending on whether you buy it during a promotional sales period.

Hands-on review: Sony NEX-6
4:33 pm | September 25, 2012
Author: admin | Category: Cameras | Tags: , , , | Comments: None

Hands-on review: Sony NEX-6

Overview and features

Although rumours suggested that Sony would also place its full-frame a99 (and RX1) sensor in the NEX series, the NEX-6 has arrive[……]

Read more