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The mattress world truly never stops. Even when we thought Emma had mastered its range of mattress designs, and questioned what more there really was to innovate on, it’s returned with a redone version of its Premium Mattress. Now called the Emma NextGen Premium (a bit of a mouthful to get used to), the differences with the old design aren’t huge, and at first glance, things look pretty similar. Unfortunately, with so many new and ‘exciting’ mattresses now emerging on the market all the time, a revamp of something that we didn’t think really needed a change wasn’t quite enough to get us excited while we anticipated lugging another vacuum-packed mattress up the stairs. But for once, we were happy to be proved wrong.
According to Emma, it’s the little things that make a huge difference. Improved cooling technology (something that’s definitely been put to the test in the recent warm weather), an extra two zones of support, and a slightly softer, and bouncier finish than the original design were all on the list of promises, but we didn’t expect to really notice any of these to too high a degree. Trialing it over the course of a month, we took on the task of seeing how next-gen the NextGen truly is. We’ve rated it on overall feel and design, its edge support, and how effective the materials used inside. But most importantly, we’ve assessed its simple ability to help us successfully sail into a slumber come dusk - and keep us soundly asleep at night.
Does it measure up?
So what makes the Emma NextGen Premium mattress worth getting into bed for? In short, its design has been carefully considered so it has extra cooling features and more zonal support than the existing Emma Premium Mattress. The NextGen Premium has 7 zones of extra tall 18cm pocket springs to support and adapt to each part of your body, compared to Emma Premium’s 5 zones of 12cm pocket springs, for example.
Both mattresses provide a comfortable and reliable surface on which to sleep and while it’s hard to tell the difference between the zonal support simply by laying on top, we think this subtle difference may become more apparent over time. It's worth noting just how well the NextGen Premium did at encouraging spinal alignment, as it kept our backs relaxed and well-positioned for comfort. And with good pressure relief, our body felt well supported without the sinking feeling you can sometimes get with a mattress that includes memory foam.
When it comes to edge support, the NextGen isn’t the most supportive we’ve tried, it has to be said. This may be something to do with the pocket springs that reach right up to the edges as - unlike the Emma Premium it doesn’t have extra foam edge supports. This isn’t too noticeable and we were able to comfortably get in and out of bed in the morning without the sides collapsing like they can with some hybrid designs. It also doesn’t detract from the fact that the NextGen Premium offers excellent surface balance, however, and did a great job at keeping us feeling rested and supported when we lay on top of the mattress.
Medium firm but fair
In terms of firmness, the NextGen Premium is rated 5 out of 10 compared to Emma Premium’s 6.5 out of 10. We found the difference subtle, with the NextGen Premium giving you just a tad more bounce, while still remaining supportive. But if you do like your mattress with a bit of give, this is something you’re going to appreciate.
A layer of Airgocell inside the NextGen Premium mattress is included to enhance the pressure relief and reduce motion transfer, which is an important feature to consider if you or your partner are restless sleepers. While we can’t say that every movement didn’t go unnoticed when co-sleeping, we can say that the motion transfer technology on the NextGen is pretty good.
And breathe
This leads us to the final, and most exciting part of the redesign. Emma has engineered the NextGen Premium springs with an increased height to help provide better airflow around the mattress - to improve the temperature regulation of the mattress so that you keep it at an optimum temperature at night. Having slept on the NextGen in the hotter summer months, we were impressed at just how well the mattress did at keeping our body temperature comfortable. The Emma UltraDry cover is also designed to wick away moisture from the body and can also be removed for convenient cleaning. All in all, it was cooler than the previous version, something which made a noticeable difference.
The sustainable cherry on top
Our qualm with the Emma Premium, which we had previously stated in our best mattress guide, was that the brand didn't seem to be making enough strides towards better sustainability. It’s good to know that the NextGen Premium is made with this in mind, with recycled steel and 79% less foam than previous models. They haven't reinvented the wheel, but it just might give you some peace of mind and more of a chance at getting a full 8 hours of interrupted sleep.
And so?
With the Emma Premium set to be imminently discontinued, the NextGen Premium looks to be the most enticing premium offering from the brand. With improved breathability, more zonal support for all parts of the body, and as a more sustainably-made mattress, we think it’s a worthy addition to your wish list. What’s more, Emma’s 200-night trial may just make your decision a whole lot easier.
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