Do you need a smart mattress cover or a smart bed base? Key differences explained

As more and more people are making sleep quality a priority, smart beds are rising in popularity. 

Employing state of the art technology, smart mattresses go beyond even best mattresses on the market when it comes to meeting your sleep needs and providing a comfortable and restorative night's sleep. Confusingly, many of the best smart beds out there aren't actually beds. Instead they are mattress covers or bed bases packing high-tech features.

Thanks to their cutting edge features, smart mattresses, covers and bed bases come with a hefty price tag. However, the Black Friday mattress deals will begin to drop towards the end of November, which is when many top brands slash MSRPs. That makes now an excellent time to buy.

But what do you need, a smart mattress cover or a smart bed base? We've compared the two in key areas such as price, comfort and support, temperature regulation and sleep tracking to help you decide which is the best buy for you and your sleep needs.  

What is a smart mattress cover?

A smart mattress cover is a high-tech layer that wraps around your mattress like a fitted sheet. However, they are laced with technology that helps you sleep better by tracking your sleep health metrics, regulating temperature, mitigating snoring and adjusting sleep position.

Eight Sleep are the leading in smart mattress production, and are favorited by high performing individuals like Elon Musk. We rate the Eight Sleep Pod 4 as the best smart bed system of the year. Alternatively, you can get smart mattress covers focussed solely on temperature control from brands like Sleep Number and Bed Jet. 

• Read more: Sleeping on the Eight Sleep Pod 4 has taken my sleep score from 59 to 91 — here's how

What is a smart bed base?

Whereas a smart mattress cover sits on top of your mattress, a smart bed base supports it. A smart bed base is a high-tech, adjustable bed frame with sensors to help you sleep better. These bases use technology to provide personalized sleep insights and key features like head and foot lift, USB ports, massage and anti-snoring functionality. 

Our top-rated smart bed base is the Tempur-pedic Tempur-Ergo Smart Base which is powered by an AI sleep tracker which can track your sleep metrics without any wearables. You can get more basic smart bed bases from Purple, which come with adjustable position for a zero-gravity sleep experience, but without individualized sleep tracking. 

Smart mattress cover vs smart bed base: Price & Trial

• Neither come with a mattress included 
• Smart mattress covers tend to be more expensive than smart bed bases
• Some smart bed system require a subscription fee

There's no avoiding the fact smart bed systems are premium products. Compared to complete smart mattresses, smart mattress covers and particularly smart bed bases are cheaper options when shopping a smart bed system. 

You can bag a smart adjustable bed base without integrated sleep tracking for less than $1,000 in a queen size. But if you want sleep health data, you'll have to pay a bit more. The Tempur-pedic Tempur-Ergo smart base starts at $1,899 MSRP without an actual mattress, so it's an investment buy. All the more reason to be keeping an eye on the Tempur-pedic Black Friday mattress sale.

That said, smart bed bases are cheaper than smart mattress covers. The Eight Sleep Pod 3 is the cheapest smart mattress cover offered by the brand with prices starting at a hefty $2,195 without a mattress or bed base. Plus there's a monthly subscription fee to access sleep tracking via Eight Sleep's app.  

Smart mattress cover vs smart bed base: Materials & Design

• Smart mattress covers fit over your mattress
• Smart bed bases support your mattress as a bed frame
• Both are lined with sensors to track sleep metrics

The design differences between a smart mattress cover and smart bed base are pretty obvious – a smart mattress cover wraps around your mattress like a fitted sheet, while a smart bed base replaces your standard bedframe. 

Smart mattress covers are typically attached to a bedside hub and are designed with sensors, cooling technology and machine learning to monitor sleepers. Sensors are woven into the fabric of the cover to track sleep quality and monitor breathing and temperature.

Smart bed bases are made from sturdy materials like steel, but their smartness comes in the fact they are lined with motors and sensors. Adjustable bed bases have motors fitted at joints to lift, recline and contour to different positions, while sensors detect and respond to movements to place you in the most comfortable sleep position and mitigate snoring.

• Read more: Eight Sleep vs Sleep Number: which smart bed should you buy this Black Friday?

Smart mattress cover vs smart bed base: Comfort & Support

• Comfort depends on the mattress you pair your cover or base with
• Smart bed bases offer adjustable positions 
• Smart mattress covers don't offer customizable firmness

Since both smart mattress covers and smart bed bases require you to use an existing mattress, neither will significantly affect the comfort of your bed. Though to get the biggest benefit from the smart technology, we recommend you pair the smart mattress cover or smart bed base with a sturdy, comfortable and supportive mattress. 

That said, a smart bed base can offer adjustable, responsive support in line with your sleep position, body type and sleep needs. Most smart bed bases offer a zero gravity sleep experience by elevating your head and feet to simulate weightlessness and take pressure off the back while you sleep. The Tempur-Ergo Smart Base offers the option of adding lumbar support (of up to six inches). This feature would benefit anyone suffering with back pain through the night. 

Smart mattress cover vs smart bed base: Temperature regulation

• Smart mattress covers offer better temperature control than smart bed bases
• Smart mattress covers track and adjust your body temperature 
• The covers use water cooling technology to keep sleepers cool

Smart mattress covers trump smart bed bases in terms of temperature control. Cooling systems can differ between smart mattress covers but most use water-cooling technology that respond to body hear and moisture. For example, the Eight Sleep Pod 3 has tubes connected to a base unit that pump water throughout the surface to heat or cool your bed.  

Meanwhile, smart bed bases don't tend to feature specific cooling features unless paired with a specialised cooling mattress. However, the design of smart bed bases mean the mattress on top shouldn't hold on to heat. They are usually slim designs and should allow airflow from underneath the mattress. 

Smart mattress cover vs smart bed base: Sleep tracking

• Both smart mattress covers and smart bed bases offer in depth sleep tracking 
• Nightly sleep reports are available through corresponding apps
• Both can detect and mitigate snoring

Both smart mattress covers and smart bed bases offer detailed sleep tracking functionality minus wearables. They can even analyse sleepers on each side of the bed separately, offering insights on everything from heart rate to sleep cycles, body temperature and snoring tendencies. 

Users access these insights through connected smart phone apps, where they can also get sleep coaching tips and set your ideal bedtime, deep sleep and REM temperatures. 

Smart bed systems use these metrics to adjust through the night. For example if snoring is detected, smart mattress covers vibrate to wake you and smart bed bases adjust your head position to open airways for easier breathing.

With similar offerings, smart mattress covers and smart bed bases are on par in terms of sleep tracking.

Smart mattress cover vs smart bed: How to choose

1. Consider your budget

Smart sleep systems are for big budgets. But smart bed bases are generally the cheaper option when compared with smart mattress covers. If you have a good quality existing mattress you can give it a smart lift with a Tempur-pedic smart bed base for under $1,000, while you will pay a premium for models, like the Tempur-Ergo, complete with AI sleep tracking. 

Smart mattress covers come in more expensive and require app subscription fees which you should also factor into your budget.

2. Think about your sleep needs

Your individual sleep concerns will depend what functions you need most from a smart bed. If you're a year round hot sleeper or menopausal woman plagued by night sweats, a temperature regulating smart mattress cover should be just what the sleep doctor ordered. 

On the other hand, if back pain is keeping you up at night, the adjustable position of a smart bed base can help you find the most comfortable angle to catch pain-free ZZZs. 

3. Factor in your existing mattress

Neither smart mattress covers or smart bed bases come with a complete mattress. You either have to purchase a mattress separately or use your existing mattress. Therefore, it is essential to consider the compatibility of the mattress you are going to use. 

While both covers and bases are usually compatible with most mattresses, there are some caveats.  So be sure to thoroughly check manufactures' specific requirements before purchasing. 

Smart mattress cover vs smart bed base: Which should you buy?

Buy a smart mattress cover if...

✅ You sleep hot: Smart mattress covers have specialized temperature control and are able to adjust through the night to keep you at the optimal sleep temperature. 

✅ You want a sleek looking bed frame: Smart bed bases are basic in terms of aesthetics, with limited colour and design options. If you want a bed base that matches your decor, opt for a smart mattress cover instead. 

✅ You want a silent alarm function: Smart mattress covers can wake you up via vibrations rather than a blaring alarm. This means you can keep your mobile away from your bed to boost sleep quality even further.

Buy a smart bed base if...

✅ You suffer with back pain: Smart bed bases with zero gravity can take pressure off your back muscles during the night, preventing strain on them.  

✅ Adjustable comfort is your priority: If you want your partner have different sleep positions and body types, the option to adjust firmness on each side of the bed is a blessing. 

✅ You like the touch of your existing mattress: Smart bed bases mean you still sleep on top of your existing mattress without the smart layer interfering.

The 3 top smart mattress cover and bases to shop today

1. Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Ergo Smart Bed Base: from $1,499 at Temper-pedic
If you're in the market for a top-rated smart base, the Tempur-Pedic Ergo Power Smart Bed Base is our recommendation. Although not currently discounted, it is good value at full MSRP with a queen at $1,599, and is compatible with most existing mattresses. But for the biggest saving, bundle your base with a mattress and receive $300 credit instantly in your account.

2. Eight Sleep Pod 4 Ultra: was from £4,699 from $4,599 at Eight Sleep
Sales are a rare occurrence at Eight Sleep, but there's currently $100 off their most advanced smart mattress cover complete with nightly sleep reports, automatic temperature adjustments, snoring mitigation and vibration and thermal alarms. The Pod 4 Ultra is down to $4,599 in a queen size (was $4,599). Although this isn't a massive saving, it is a pretty standard discount from Eight Sleep, so it's worth grabbing while you can.   

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3. Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Ease Power Base: from $899 at Tempur-Pedic 
The Tempur-pedic Tempur-Ease power base is the affordable younger sister of the Tempur-Ergo smart bed base. While it doesn't offer sleep tracking or temperature regulation, it excels at giving you a zero gravity sleep experience. You control this via a wireless remote rather than a mobile app, making it a good choice for the less tech-savvy who want adjustable comfort. It is good value without discount with a queen at $999 MSRP, plus free white glove delivery. 

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