Different people have different preferences on mattress firmness. Hence, finding the perfect mattress with the most suitable firmness is often difficult. However, Sleep Number adjustable air beds are very interesting, as they allow you to customize their firmness levels easily. Below, you can read the detailed comparisons between two of the highest-rated models right now, Sleep Number i8 vs i10.
Read on to understand better about:
- The construction layers of each mattress
- The characteristics of each mattress
- The firmness of each mattress
- The available sizes and variants of Sleep Number i8 vs i10
- Which adjustable air bed that is more recommended for you
Key Similarities
- Each of the two models has a duvet pillowtop with the Outlast temperature-balancing technology and 2” Hypersoft Quilting Foam.
- Each mattress has the PlushFit foam with 7 support zones that are specifically designed to give optimum contouring to the head, shoulders, back, hips, legs, knees, and feet.
- Each mattress’s fabric is made from a blend of polyester and polypropylene, and is soft and breathable.
- Both models have the Sleep IQ Technology, which will track your sleep metrics to help you choose the most suitable firmness setting.
- Both models have the optional FlexFit adjustable bases.
Sleep Number i8 : Sizes and Variants
As a mattress of the Innovation Series, Sleep Number i8 comes with more advanced features compared to the Classic and Performance models. It notably features a plush, comfy duvet pillow top and the Outlast cooling technology.
Sleep Number i8 has more size options and is available with one air chamber or dual air chambers.
This mattress has a total thickness of 13 inches, measured from the base to the highest loft on the top. One nice thing about Sleep Number i8 is that it comes with more size options. The smallest size available is Twin XL, and the largest size is indeed California King. Note that, depending on the size that you choose, you may get a mattress with one or two air chambers.
Besides the standard sizes, Sleep Number i8 has three special sizes, which are FlexTop California King, FlexTop King, and Split King. They have the same dimensions as their standard counterparts. However, a FlexTop model can split at the head, whereas a Split model can split all the way from top to bottom.
These special sizes are meant to be paired with the FlexFit adjustable bases, which can raise the head and/or the foot of the bed. This is very convenient. You can adjust the mattress position for reading, sleeping, or a specific condition.
Sleep Number i10 : Sizes and Variants
Sleep Number i8 vs i10 also comes from the Innovation Series, so it also features advanced features and technologies. For sure, it also comes with a duvet pillow top and the Outlast technology. However, the construction layers are quite different.
Sleep Number i10 is mainly designed for couples. It only has the larger size options, and is only available with two air chambers.
Sleep Number i10 has a total thickness of 15 inches, which is measured from the bottom of the base to the highest loft on the top. The additional thickness comes from the thicker layers, which we will see with more details below.
Sleep Number i10 has fewer size options; it is only available in the larger sizes from Queen to California King. But it does have the special sizes of FlexTop California King, FlexTop King, and Split King.
Note that Sleep Number i10 is mainly designed for couples. It is only available with two air chambers. You can’t find Sleep Number i10 with just a single air chamber. In other words, Sleep Number i10 is not really suitable for single sleepers and those who hate having some sagged area at the middle.
Sleep Number i8 : Design and Construction
If you choose one of the smaller sizes, you will get a mattress with just one air chamber. The Queen size still has a single air chamber. With just a single air chamber, the mattress will not develop any sagging at the middle. This is why Sleep Number i8 is preferred by both single sleepers as well as couples who hate to find a sagged area at the middle of a mattress.
Sleep Number i8 has 3-inch PlushFit foam, breathable cover fabric, and 1-inch base pad.
However, a mattress with two air chambers can benefit from the company’s “DualAir” adjustability feature. This is especially useful for couples with different sleeping preferences. With two air chambers, each person can adjust the firmness setting independently without disturbing the other person’s area. Then again, the middle area where the air chambers meet tends to sag, as it is not supported by any of the air chambers. The hoses for pumping the air chambers are each 4-ft long.
Above the air chamber layer, Sleep Number i8 has a 3”-thick layer of PlushFit foam. This proprietary foam is designed to provide the best contouring to relieve pressure points. To be more specific, the PlushFit foam layer has 7 specific zones that are specially designed to contour the head, shoulders, back, hips, legs, knees, and feet.
The cover fabric is very comfortable. It is made from a breathable blend of polyester and polypropylene. Combined with the duvet pillow top and Outlast technology, you can expect a truly luxurious sleeping experience. The base pad is only 1” thick, though.
Sleep Number i10 : Design and Construction
Above the air chamber layer, there is a 4”-thick reverse foam layer. This layer actually consists of two different kinds of foam. It has PlushFit foam on one side and memory foam on the other side. This layer has two separate pieces for the left and right parts of the mattress. As the effect, each person can pull out and flip the reversible layer to choose their preferred sleeping surface, either PlushFit or memory foam.
Although it may sound gimmicky, the reversible comfort layer is very useful for couples with different sleeping preferences.
That may sound gimmicky. But that is actually very useful for couples with different sleeping preferences. For example, your partner loves memory foam’s precise contouring, but you can’t stand memory foam’s slow response. Sleep Number i10 makes a convenient solution for both of you.
Sleep Number i10 has a similar luxurious feel as Sleep Number i8, due to having the same Hypersoft Quilting Foam plush surface and Outlast technology. It also uses the same polyester/polypropylene cover fabric. So, the comfort and breathability are similar.
However, Sleep Number i10 comes with a thicker base. The base pad is 2” thick. The thicker base together with the thicker support layer creates a higher mattress profile, which will make it easier for you to get into or out from the mattress. The thicker base also makes the bed more durable, as the base is able to withstand higher loads.
Sleep Number i8 : Firmness and Support
Of course, the firmness of Sleep Number i8vs i10 depends on the setting of the air chamber that you choose. The air chamber will inflate or deflate according to the firmness level, alias “Sleep Number”. The level actually indicates how much air that is contained in the air chamber. A higher Sleep Number puts more air into the air chamber, and it will make the mattress firmer.
The overall feel of Sleep Number i8 is quite soft with nice contouring. However, it doesn’t offer much support.
Sleep Number i8 has the Sleep IQ Technology. This feature tracks your sleep metrics and analyze them to help you choose the most suitable firmness level that can give you quality sleep.
Nevertheless, the overall feel of Sleep Number i8 is quite soft. This is because of the Hypersoft Quilting Foam that is sewn into the duvet pillow top. In addition, the PlushFit comfort foam is indeed soft. It can contour your body curves very nicely.
Even so, Sleep Number i8 does not offer much support, or at least not as much as Sleep Number i10. This is because it only has the PlushFit comfort foam. It does not have any memory foam. While the contouring is great to relieve joint pain and pressure points, you may want to choose a more supportive mattress if you experience back pain.
Sleep Number i8 also has less deep compression support. In other words, this mattress is not really recommended for a heavy sleeper. Well, the 13” profile is quite thick, but the relatively slimmer and softer layers will let a heavy sleeper sink deeper into the mattress. You may feel some discomfort if you sink deep enough to reach the solid air chamber.
Sleep Number i10 : Firmness and Support
As mentioned above, since this is an adjustable air bed, the firmness of this mattress depends on the Sleep Number setting that you choose. Sleep Number i10 is also equipped with the Sleep IQ Technology, so it can assist you in determining the best Sleep Number setting.
Sleep Number i10 is firmer and more supportive than Sleep Number i8. It has better deep compression support.
However, the overall feel of Sleep Number i10 is firmer and more supportive than Sleep Number i8. Sleep Number i10 is noticeably firmer because of the memory foam layer. Even if you don’t put the memory foam layer facing the top, it is still there to provide support. If you are a heavy sleeper, it may even mold a little to accommodate how the PlushFit foam is pressed.
And Sleep Number i10 is certainly a good choice for a heavy sleeper. The deep compression support is much better. This mattress has a thicker comfort layer, and the memory foam layer can provide more support before the sleeper can reach the solid air chamber.
Sleep Number i8 : Reasons to Choose
Sleep Number i8 is great if you only sleep alone, if pressure relief is your top priority, or if you want a more affordable option.
If you only sleep alone, Sleep Number i8vs i10 definitely makes a more suitable choice. You will not get much of a benefit from having dual air chambers (except if you plan to invite another person to your bed and you want to impress them with your adjustable mattress). The second air chamber will be redundant if you are sleeping alone. With just a single air chamber, you can already enjoy the luxurious comfort.
Sleep Number i8 makes a great choice if pressure relief is your top priority, and you don’t have any back pain issue. The PlushFit comfort layer can effortlessly give the best contouring to the seven zones of your body. It is especially beneficial to prevent joint pain that is caused by excessive pressure during sleeping.
And, of course, Sleep Number i8 makes an ideal choice if you want to get a luxurious sleeping experience without breaking the bank. Well, compared to some other luxury mattresses in the market, Sleep Number i8 is still considered expensive. But, hey, it is considerably more affordable than Sleep Number i10! The difference with the sibling here is about $1,500 or so.
Sleep Number i10 : Reasons to Choose
Sleep Number i10 is more expensive, but it is worth the money if you sleep with a partner. It can also give better support to prevent back pain.
Sleep Number i10 is quite more expensive, but it is worth the money if you have sleep with a partner. With two air chambers, you and your partner can customize each own side of the bed without disturbing the other side. Besides adjusting the firmness level, you can also choose the comfort layer that you want, either PlushFit or memory foam.
Sleep Number i10 is also great for couples because it has very low motion transfer. Even if your partner moves a lot in their sleep, you will not be bothered very much. This is because each side of the bed is supported by each own reverse foam layer and air chamber.
Sleep Number i10 is not really as firm and supportive as the more standard models. But it is relatively firmer and more supportive than Sleep Number i8, while still having good contouring and a plush sleeping surface. As the effect, Sleep Number i10 can be a more suitable choice if you can’t compromise on support, especially for preventing back pain.
Sleep Number i8 vs i10
| Sleep Number i8 | Sleep Number i10 |
|---|---|
| - 13” total thickness | - 15” total thickness |
| - 1” foam base under the air chamber | - 2” foam base under the air chamber |
| - 3” PlushFit foam | - 4” support layer with memory foam and PlushFit foam |
| - Has more size options, from Twin XL to FlexTop California King | - Fewer size options, from Queen to FlexTop California King |
| - Available with a single air chamber or dual air chambers | - Only available with dual air chambers |
| - Relatively more affordable | - More expensive |
Conclusion
Sleep Number i8 vs i10 have different advantages and disadvantages. They are suitable for different sleepers. If you only sleep alone, you don’t need to have two air chambers, soSleep Number i8 gives the best value for the money. However, Sleep Number i10 is more recommended for couples. Sleep Number i10 is also more customizable and has better deep compression support.