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Tom’s Guide

Technology

Ruth Jones

Save or splurge? I tested a $1,700 mattress and a $250 alternative — this is the one you should buy for Black Friday

Saatva Black Friday (Topic) Siena (Organization) Luxury

A split picture: on the left, mattress testers Nicola Appleton and Ruth Jones sit on the Saatva Classic mattress in our Sleep Lab with a laptop. On the right, mattress tester Eve Davies sits on the edge of the Siena Signature mattress in our Sleep Lab.

Saatva's flagship Classic mattress has a reputation for luxury comfort and after extensive testing, I have to agree that it's the best mattress you can buy online in 2025, especially with $400 off all sizes at Saatva this Black Friday.

But I've recently been sleeping on the Siena Signature Mattress and this low-budget bed has been impressive me with its outstanding support. With a queen Siena now only $244 in Amazon's Black Friday sale, can it possibly compare to the Saatva Classic?

Okay, this isn't an entirely fair fight but if you've been trying to decide whether to splurge or save in the Black Friday mattress deals, I hope this Saatva vs Siena head-to-head will help you make the right choice.

So let's dive in: how does the best luxury mattress we've tested weigh up against the our favorite cheap mattress — and which should you buy?

Where the Saatva Classic wins

Straight out the packaging, the Saatva looks like a sumptuous mattress, finished with gold trim and a satiny soft touch. Plus, it comes delivered flat, and is set up in your room and ready to sleep on from the get go (the Siena is a mattress in a box and needs a few hours to expand.)

At $1,739 for a queen in the Black Friday mattress sale, the Saatva Classic is a premium mattress but it's also the best I've tested and the luxury build and incredible support are worth the investment.

Weightless, luxury comfort

The Saatva Classic has a cushioned pillowtop that immediately contours to my body; from the moment I lay down I could feel the Saatva respond to fill the gaps between me and the bed.

The result is weightless pressure relief. It feels like my body is being gently cradled, rather than exerting any force on the mattress.

And because the Saatva Classic is responsive (our tests show the surface bounces back near-instantaneously when you remove pressure), I enjoyed weightless relief any time I changed position or moved on the mattress.

Support in every sleep position

Okay, that covers the top layer, so let's dive a little deeper into the Saatva Classic.

The Classic features two layers of springs to keep your spine lifted and aligned, while the zoned foam and quilting at the lumbar adds extra support where your body needs it most. We think this is the best mattresses for back pain you can buy.

No matter whether I lay on my stomach, back or side, I could feel the Saatva Classic holding every inch of my body straight, reducing pressure on my spine to prevent pain.

I tested the Luxury Firm feel but the Saatva comes in three firmness levels. At home, I'd maybe opt for the Firm (as a stomach sleeper, it would give my hips that extra boost.) Side sleepers, on the other hand, might prefer the Plush Soft. Either way, Saatva has you covered.

Breathable and cool

I avoid turning the thermostat up before bed for as long as possible because as much as I hate climbing onto an icy mattress, few things ruin my sleep as fast as a sweaty night.

That's not a problem on the Saatva Classic mattress. The breathable design keeps air circulating, for a neutral feel whatever the weather (I recommend the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress, however, for chronic hot sleepers.)

What I didn't like about it

I don't have many complaints about the Saatva Classic — it earned 5 stars in our Saatva Classic mattress review for good reason — and the multiple firmness options makes it a more versatile mattress than most.

So let's talk about the price. $1,739 for a queen in the Saatva mattress sale is, in my opinion, a great price for the quality of the bed and I always recommend investing in the best mattress you can afford.

But to be frank, I can't afford the Saatva Classic. So let's look at the cheaper bed that impressed every member of the Tom's Guide sleep team.

How does the Siena mattress compare?

The Siena Signature is the best cheap mattress we've tested and it simply ran away with the title. In the Amazon sale the Siena is now the lowest price I've ever seen — just $244 for a queen with 20% off.

My body is lifted and aligned but there's light cushioning at the hips

Compared to the Saatva, the Siena mattress has a simple design, consisting of just two foam layers and a breathable cover. But it packs a lot into that basic packaging, including firm support that blew me away during testing.

The Siena's support is exceptional, particularly as a stomach sleeper. My body is lifted and aligned but there's light cushioning at the hips, courtesy of those contouring foams.

Siena describes the Signature as "medium-firm", but my Siena Signature Mattress review team agreed it's a firm mattress — that's great for stomach sleepers and good news for back sleepers as well.

Testing motion isolation on the Siena: our accelerometer noted minimal disruption from our slam ball drops (Image credit: Future)

The Siena mattress also has incredible motion isolation (it actually beat the Saatva here.) Absorbing all vibrations from our drop tests in an average of 1.14 seconds, it deadens movement before it has a chance to bother you. If you share a bed, you won't be disturbed by your partner's movements.

After sleeping on the Siena Signature Mattress for a month, I think it's one of the best memory foam mattresses you can buy. But, inevitably, it has its flaws.

What I didn't like about it

I often roll onto my side during the night and on the Siena, that means waking up with a numb arm. For dedicated side sleepers, the Saatva is undoubtedly the better choice (the Luxury Firm is one of our favorite mattresses for side sleepers but the Plush Soft is another option.)

The Siena also lacks the Saatva Classic's breathability. The dense foams just can't circulate air like the Classic's multiple spring layers.

I do think the Siena is among the best cooling mattresses for people on a budget — you'll struggle to find better at this price — but warmth can linger, which might get uncomfortable for hot sleepers.

There's also the question of durability, which is a tough one to answer. I suspect the Saatva will maintain support for longer than the Siena and the benefits back me up (Saatva offers a lifetime warranty compared to 10 years at Siena.)

Without actually sleeping on the mattresses for that long I can't say for sure — but it's something to keep in mind when choosing a bed.

The mattress I'd buy in the Black Friday sales

Having tested both, it's impossible to deny that the Saatva Classic is the better mattress all-round. But the Siena puts up a good fight for a cheaper bed.

The Saatva suits pretty much every person and the weightless support really does make sleep a luxury experience. It's the best hybrid mattress we've tested and if you have the money to invest in the Saatva Classic, I think it's worth it.

The Siena is an excellent budget pick for back and stomach sleepers

But if you don't have the money, the Siena is an excellent budget pick for back and stomach sleepers. I felt supported all night long on the Siena, a feeling I rarely get on a cheap mattress.

That said, I don't recommend the Siena if you:

Sleep on your side: The Siena is comfortable for short bursts of side sleeping but all night on your side is going to result in aching shoulders. In contrast, the Saatva cushions your arm and hip to prevent pressure build up (the DreamCloud Classic Hybrid mattress is an affordable alternative for side sleepers.)

Often wake up sweating: For the price the Siena is surprisingly breathable but in my experience, it can trap some heat. The Saatva Classic, however, effectively kicks out excess warmth for a cooler sleep experience.

Want to invest in a luxury sleep experience: We spend roughly a third of our lives in bed and on the Saatva Classic, you're really making the most of your time. While the Siena has a reliable, sturdy build, I doubt it offers the indulgence and longevity of the Saatva.