If these foam beds don't catch your eye, check out our guide to the best memory foam mattresses to find a choice for every budget.
Can you put a price on good sleep? I test mattresses for a living so I know that pricier doesn't always mean better, but after reviewing a $949 and a $276 memory foam mattress, I can attest sometimes it's worth spending more.
Because while the Nectar Premier and Zinus rate among the best mattresses we've tested for all sleep styles in my experience, there's a clear winner.
I'll be blunt: the Zinus is great if you're looking for a cheaper alternative to the Nectar but if you have the budget, the Nectar Premier Memory Foam earns the upgrade.
With the Black Friday mattress sales underway there are still plenty of chances to save on your sleep but when it comes to better snooze, here's why I think paying more can something pay off.
The $949 mattress I tested...
This summer I switched my breathable organic hybrid for a memory foam mattress and braced myself to spend the month fighting to get comfortable.
But the Nectar Premier surprised me. Now, it's known that memory foam can sleep hot, but the Nectar, however, stayed surprisingly cool. The foams are soft and body-hugging but they don't feel like sinking into quicksand. And the better-than-expected edge support meant I could starfish without sliding off.
I agree with our Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress review team that this bed is best for side sleeping but I also felt well supported on my back. (Although opinions here were mixed among my testing team. Luckily, there's a 365-night trial to test it out.)
As a stomach sleeper, the Nectar felt too soft for my preferences but on the flip-side, I did find myself naturally moving onto my side. Good news for my sleep posture.
My biggest complaint is that the king-size Nectar Premier is heavy. Putting on a fitted sheet felt like a workout — so perhaps it's no shock I slept well.
The $276 mattress I tested
Before I get into the negatives, let's start with the positives: the Zinus 10-inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress has soft, squishy foams that hug the body to cushion side sleepers.
The motion isolation is also excellent (similar to the Nectar Premier.) Your restless co-sleeper can toss and turn all night on the Zinus and you'll hardly feel them.
If you're on a budget, the Zinus is one of the best cheap mattresses we've tested (and a treat for a guest room.) I had lots of positives in my Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress review.
However, the edge support is weak — I slid straight off the side one morning —and the Zinus traps enough heat that it occasionally woke me up.
These are common complaints of cheaper all-foam beds but upgrading to the Nectar means avoiding these sleep-disrupting pitfalls. In my opinion, it's worth the extra.
3 reasons why I think it's worth upgrading your mattress
1. It has a better balance of contouring and support
There are two factors that make up pressure relief: contouring and support. Contouring means the mattress adapts to your body to evenly distribute weight while support keeps the spine balanced as you sleep.
The Zinus comes out on top in terms of contouring but it's the Nectar that has the better balance of the two features.
By keeping your spine lifted and your arms cushioned, I think the Nectar is the better mattress for side sleepers overall (although if you want to sink into your bed, go for the Zinus.)
2. It has better edge support
One night when testing the Zinus I knocked my phone on the floor. A common occurrence but when I leaned over the side of the mattress to retrieve it, I almost slid straight off the bed.
This is an example of poor edge support. The mattress lacks reinforcement at the sides which, combined with the soft foams, means it's hard to sit or lie close to the perimeter.
While the Nectar Premier doesn't have the edge support of a firm foam bed like the Siena Signature mattress, the sides are stronger than the Zinus.
This increases the sleep surface (good for couples) and gives you a stable surface to push against (helping you get in and out of bed.)
3. It sleeps cooler
Memory foam mattresses have a reputation for two sore spots: sleeping hot and weak edges. The Nectar Premier bucks both those trends.
A mattress with good temperature control can limit heat build-up to prevent uncomfortable sweaty nights. With a 'cooling' cover and gel-infused memory foam, the Nectar Premier has a neutral feel even on hot nights.
But on the Zinus, I would kick off the covers at night and still wake up warm. The foams soak up heat and, as a result, the mattress struggles to cool down.
Which mattress should you buy?
Buy the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress if...
✅ You're on a budget: Shop smart and you can often pick up a queen Zinus 10-inch Green Tea Mattress for under $250. That's impressive value for the quality of the mattress.
✅ You're shopping for a guest room: The pitfalls of the Zinus are easy to dismiss if you're only spending a few nights on the bed. I think you're guests will snooze happily if you upgrade your spare room with the Zinus.
✅ You want extra cushioning: The Zinus is overall softer than the Nectar Premier so if you're after a bed with more of a sink-in feel, it's a good choice. Or if you have a bigger budget, try the Nectar Luxe Mattress ($1,249 for a queen.)
Buy the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress if...
✅ You want more support: The Nectar Premier pairs its cushioned foams with a supportive core that helps keep your spine lifted and straightened. Although for dedicated stomach sleepers, I recommend an even firmer bed, like the Siena Signature Mattress.
✅ You sleep hot: We might not count the Nectar among the best cooling mattresses, but it doesn't trap heat and this neutral feel will be comfortable for most sleepers.
✅ You share a bed: Both the Zinus and the Nectar offer great motion isolation but the Nectar's superior cooling and strong edge support makes it the better choice for co-sleepers.
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