The modern workplace analyzed.

ActivTrak’s comprehensive workforce analytics and productivity software, allows businesses to gain valuable insights into their team’s performance, optimize resource allocation, and drive growth. With its flexible subscription plans and range of add-ons, ActivTrak offers a tailored solution for businesses of all sizes, empowering them to achieve their full potential.

Pros

• +Choice of plans including free tier
• +Scheduled calls for open support cases

Cons

• -24/7 support only available through Signature Plan
• -Additional options get expensive

ActivTrak is a company that provides workforce analytics and productivity software that can help teams understand how people work, whether in the office or remotely. It collects and analyzes data from user activity and provides insights that help businesses be more productive and compliant. It was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has more than 9,500 customers and over half a million users of its free version. ActivTrak has notable users that include Allstate, Orangetheory Fitness, and FAM Brands.

ACTIVTRAK: FEATURES

ActivTrak offers various features for payroll, HR, and other services for small and mid-sized businesses. Some of the features that ActivTrak provides include Dashboards which can view a summary of workforce productivity metrics to keep a pulse on issues that impact burnout, engagement and efficiency, Productivity Reports to spot patterns that fuel success and gain valuable insights to increase team productivity, and Location Insights to make data-driven decisions about hybrid work with insight into where employees work — even where they work best.

Taking it up a notch, there is also the Impact Analysis report, to understand how organizational change affects employees’ work habits and well-being, Application & Website Usage to understand which applications and websites employees use to identify adoption gaps, potential risk areas from unvetted tools, and budget correctly for the right tools, and Workload Management to uncover hidden potential and optimize work across people, process and technology. There is also Meeting Insights to obtain full visibility into the workday by integrating with your preferred platform of Outlook Calendar or Google Calendar. To plan ahead, further features are built into Benchmarks & Goals that can set and track workforce productivity benchmarks and goals using historical data and trends.

Going beyond traditional analysis is Personal Insights, designed to empower employees to improve productivity, focus, and work-life balance by providing deep insights into individual work habits. There is also Integrations that can easily combine ActivTrak productivity data with your other software applications to get the deeper insights you need to boost productivity and efficiency in the workplace. Finally, there are Alarms & Website Blocking that can use pre-built alarms- or create your own based on any combination of conditions- to get alerted to events such as file sharing, user deletion and more. You can also block access to unproductive or harmful websites to maximize productivity during “Company time.”

ACTIVTRAK: PRICING

ActivTrak is a workforce analytics and productivity software that offers various features for payroll, HR, and other services for small and mid-sized businesses. It has three subscription plans: Free, Essentials, and Professional.

Ideal for small teams or individual users, the Free plan is a cost-effective way to get started with ActivTrak. The plan however is limited to only 3 users and just 30 days of data history.

Priced at only $10 per user per month, the Essentials plan provides a comprehensive set of features for growing teams. It includes unlimited users, allowing you to scale your team without worrying about additional costs. With this, you’ll have access to 6 months of data history, enabling you to analyze trends and make data-driven decisions. Additionally, you’ll benefit from team productivity pulse, activity classification by groups, and more, empowering you to gain a deeper understanding of your team’s performance and identify opportunities for optimization.

At the top is the Professional plan that costs $17 per user per month and includes everything in Essentials plus 12 months of data history, insights dashboards, coaching, impact analysis, and more. The Professional plan also introduces insights dashboards, coaching, impact analysis, and other advanced features that help you maximize team performance, optimize resource allocation, and drive business growth.

You can also purchase add-ons for ActivConnect, Screen Details, and Data History.

ACTIVTRAK: SUPPORT

If you ever find yourself in need of assistance or support with ActivTrak, there are a multitude of options available to you. These encompass both direct support and self-help resources.

For direct support, you can engage in a live chat with a dedicated Support Advocate by simply logging into your ActivTrak platform and selecting the “Get Help” option. This method is the one to use for the fastest response times, ensuring your issues get addressed promptly.

Alternatively, you can reach out to the support team via email at support@activtrak.com. While some may prefer the convenience of support portals, we genuinely believe that email support offers a more personalized and efficient experience.

Once a support ticket is created, the ActivTrak team offers a remote session or phone call to help troubleshoot more complex issues. Customers can also request a meeting directly with the support engineer working their case.

Now, let’s explore the self-help resources at your disposal. The ActivTrak Support Center is a treasure trove of valuable resources, including webinars, videos, reports, templates, and comprehensive guides. It covers a wide range of topics, empowering you to find solutions and answers independently.

Whether you prefer direct support or self-help resources, ActivTrak has you covered. Their commitment to providing exceptional customer service is evident in the diverse options they offer.

ACTIVTRAK: FINAL VERDICT

ActivTrak is a workforce analytics and productivity software that offers various features for payroll, HR, and other services for small and mid-sized businesses. It collects and analyzes data from user activity and provides insights that help businesses be more productive and compliant.

ActivTrak offers various features including dashboards, productivity reports, and location insights to help businesses understand how people work and improve productivity. It also provides advanced features like impact analysis, application and website usage, workload management, meeting insights, benchmarks and goals, personal insights, integrations, alarms and website blocking. ActivTrak has three subscription plans: Free, Essentials, and Professional. For support, ActivTrak offers live chat, email support, as well as a comprehensive Support Center with resources such as webinars, videos, reports, templates, and guides.

Overall, ActivTrak offers a compelling suite of services sure to benefit many businesses looking for a competitive edge to increase their productivity.

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Zyxel’s WBE660S Brings Fiber-like Performance To Access Points.

The WBE660S lives up to the expectations brought by the arrival of Wi-Fi 7. With three radio channels, the unit supports legacy standards such as Wi-Fi 2.4G and 5ac.

Pros

• +Speedy with an aggregate throughput of 22Gbps
• +Ethernet port supporting 10 Gbps PoE
• +Seamless cloud integration

Cons

• -Expensive
• -Big footprint
• -No power supply

Zyxel’s new WBE660S Wi-Fi 7 access point quickly and reliably brings fiber-like transfer rates to wireless devices in only a few steps. With an aggregated bandwidth of over 22 Gbps, the AP is no longer the bottleneck around the office. The three-radio system, each with four streams, increases utilization by providing a dedicated backhaul channel in a mesh configuration.

Wi-Fi 7 technology increases power consumption. The higher frequency means more energy is wasted as heat, which helps explain the sizable heatsink at the back of the AP. In fact, with its 1.4kg, it is one of the heaviest units we’ve seen at TechRadar Pro. The mobile app makes integration into Zyxel’s cloud infrastructure straightforward. The AP supports up to 8 SSIDs with over one thousand simultaneous clients.

Since the Wi-Fi 7 standard has been out for less than a year, expect the price to be much higher than Wi-Fi 6 or 6e access points. The WBE660S is four times as fast as previous generations, justifying the hefty price tag of $799, which also carries a two-year warranty. The WBE660S is on special right now on Amazon for $499.

ZYXEL WBE660S: TESTING

To thoroughly test the WBE660S access point, we used a BE200 Wi-Fi 7 WLAN card to exercise the new 6GHz channel in both directions. An Iperf Linux server connected to the AP through the 10Gb interface tested clients’ throughput at one meter.

ZYXEL WBE660S: DESIGN

Right out of the box, the Zyxel WBE660S Wi-Fi 7 access point shows many differences from the previous generation. The white oblong-shaped unit has a gray metal back, which doubles as a heatsink. It is twice as wide as the previous Zyxel Wi-Fi 6e model, measuring 31 cm x 17.8 cm x 5.6 cm and weighing 1.4kg. The mounting kit includes a backplate that secures the AP to a wall or ceiling. Another difference from previous APs is that the Wi-Fi 7 model can quickly dismount from the backplate by rotating a blue locking knob.

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: Zyxel WBE660S

CPU: Quad-core Qualcomm 1220 CPU

RAM: 2GB

Storage: 256MB NAND

Radios: One 4×4 for 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 / 6e, One 4×4 for 5GHz Wi-Fi 6, One 4×4 for 2.4GHz

Wireless throughput: Theoretical 22Gbps

Ports: 10Gb Ethernet with PoE, 1Gb Ethernet

Weight: 1.4 kg

Dimensions: 31 cm x 17.8 cm x 5.6 cm

Power Consumption: 17W with one client connected; 41W maximum consumption

The WBE660S utilizes three radios, offering an aggregated bandwidth of 22 Gbps. In addition to the regular 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, the new 6GHz frequency allows 11.5Gbps in optimal conditions by using a channel bandwidth of 320MHz, twice what is available in Wi-Fi 6 and 6e. A 10G Ethernet port supplies power over PoE and the necessary bandwidth to drive such a high data rate. Zyxel offers a secondary 1G Ethernet port on the access point, which can turn the AP into a rudimentary 10G/1G switch.

A single multicolored LED on top of the case provides information about the AP’s operation. Full green means clients are connected, while blue indicates that the AP is boot-up. The built-in antenna offers a maximum of 5dBi of gain, which, together with -104dBm of RX sensitivity, translates into a speedy connection even when located far from the access point. Connected devices can reach throughputs of 500Mb/s at ten meters or more.

The WBE660S features a Qualcomm Pro 1220 chip, which includes a quad-core A73 CPU clocked at 2.2GHz. The platform offers up to 12 spatial streams to sustain the 22 Gbps bandwidth. Coupled with 2GB of DRAM and 256MB of storage, the IPQ9574 CPU can easily accommodate over one thousand clients connected to eight SSIDs. The enclosure, which serves as a heatsink, becomes warm over time, reaching a peak of 50 degrees Celsius.

ZYXEL WBE660S: IN USE

The easiest way to power the WBE660S is through the Uplink port, which provides up to 45W using PoE. Even without a power injector or switch supporting PoE, the device can still be powered through the built-in Type-C connector, requiring 12V at 45W. The AP boots in less than two minutes when connected to a 10G Ethernet port. The front LED slowly blinks green if everything goes well, indicating that clients can connect. With one client connected, the AP consumed only 17W.

Unlike the previous WBE from Zyxel, the new Wi-Fi 7 model is surprisingly more tolerant of regular Ethernet cabling, even at 10G. We had no linkup issue using a five-meter Cat-5 cable connected to a Zyxel 10G switch. The unit does not provide any visual means of knowing the Ethernet speed, so we used the Nebula portal to see if the connection was optimal.

Configuration can be done using Zyxel’s mobile application by scanning a QR code on the back of the unit. Adding the access point to the app is recommended before performing the hardware installation. The Nebula portal allows users to configure and update other Zyxel network devices besides the WBE660S.

ZYXEL WBE660S: PERFORMANCE

The yet-to-be-ratified Wi-Fi 7 standard improves on the 6th edition by having higher throughput per channel and more channels in the 6GHz band. This results in an upper limit of 46 Gbps, more than four times Wi-Fi 6 aggregated bandwidth. We validate the performance of the WBE660S with a BE200 module, supporting a maximum speed of 5Gbps provided by two streams. At one meter, the maximum throughput was 2.5Gbps downstream and 3.7Gbps upstream. Latency is 1 ms with a jitter of 0.1 ms.

ZYXEL WBE660S: THE COMPETITION

The Ubiquity U7 Pro access point offers Wi-Fi 7 connectivity on a budget. At $239, it is one of the cheapest APs available. However, if one invests in Wi-Fi 7 technology, one will likely favor throughput over monetary savings. The U7 Pro has six spatial streams compared to the twelve offered on the WBE660S, resulting in half the throughput. The Ethernet connection is also slower at 2.5Gbps instead of 10Gbps.

ZYXEL WBE660S: FINAL VERDICT

The WBE660S lives up to the expectations brought by the arrival of Wi-Fi 7. With three radio channels, the unit supports legacy standards such as Wi-Fi 2.4G and 5ac. The 6GHz radio sets it apart with four simultaneous streams, each having a higher bandwidth than Wi-Fi 6. The access point does not suffer from range loss since it covers over 1000 square feet with throughput degradation similar to previous generations. Using the WBE600S is straightforward, thanks to its flawless integration into the Nebula ecosystem.

Having an extra channel with higher bandwidth comes with its challenges. The WBE600S uses much power, about twice as much as previous generations. As a result, the metal case is much bigger and heavier. The higher power will also hurt the wallet and increase the electricity bill. This access point remains an excellent tool for applications requiring high bandwidth, such as augmented reality and 8K videos.

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A contemporary project management tool that doubles up as your instant website creator.

Bublup is a modern project management tool with an intuitive interface that’s pretty easy to set up and use. Assigning tasks and collaborating with your team on Bublup is pretty straightforward. However, the platform is more focused on “Rolls” and lacks traditional collaboration tools.

Pros

• +Create a website within minutes
• +AI Creator tool to auto-populate folders
• +Easily collect emails for your marketing needs

Cons

• -Free plan is quite restrictive

Bublup, founded in 2014, is currently one of the fastest-growing project management and organization apps. It not only provides a safe storage unit for your confidential company files but also doubles up as a team management tool with features that allow you to assign tasks and deadlines to your employees.

If you want to find out whether it’s worth your time and investment, this detailed review is for you.

BUBLUP: PLANS AND PRICING

Bublup offers one free plan and three paid plans with both monthly and annual subscription options.

Here are Bublup’s pricing details:

Standard (free plan)

You can get started without paying a single penny, but note that you can only add your employee as a guest. They will be able to join collaborative and secure group folders and receive task assignments, but apart from that, there’s hardly anything you can do on this plan.

Premium (priced at $7.99/month)

This plan is the first of the lot that gives you any sort of control within the platform. You also get access to an AI writer and the ability to tag team members upload files to storage, add a custom logo and branding, create and share group folders, add links to them, and more.

It also comes with 100GB of storage, which is going to be more than enough for personal use.

Pro (priced at $9.99/month)

This plan is ideal for small businesses. It comes with everything in the Premium plan plus email collection, a centralized billing system, permission to add up to 10 new members, the ability to create teams, and 1TB storage to store all your files and documents, among others.

Teams (priced at $24.99/month)

If you have a large organization with different departments and/or a large team, the Teams plan will fit your bill. Apart from everything in the Pro plan, you get 5TB of storage and the ability to add up to 20 members from your organization.

It’s worth noting that some features, such as data security, folder image picker, unlimited shareable rolls and themes for rolls, and password protection and analytics for rolls, are common in all of the above-mentioned paid plans.

Also, every user qualifies for a free 7-day trial. You might not find it on the pricing page but if you log in without selecting a plan, you’ll see the free 7-day trial option.

Additionally, Bublup does not offer any refunds for the remaining months/years in your plan if you change your mind post-purchase, so I’d recommend making full use of the trial period to test out the tool risk-free before you commit.

BUBLUP: FEATURES

Bublup is much more than an organization and collaboration tool. Here are some of the best features of Bublup:

1. Rolls

The best thing about Bublup has to be its “Rolls.” Rolls are basically small custom websites that are created from the data in the Bublup folders. Simply put, every folder can be converted into a Roll and whether you set it for public or private view is up to you.

Two other features work perfectly with Bublup Rolls – analytics and password protection. Bublup lets you integrate with Google Analytics so that you can see how viewers are interacting with your Rolls. You can see how many visitors it gets, how much time they spend on average, and more.

If you want to prevent unauthorized viewers from accessing your rolls, you can simply add a password to it. Another way to prevent unauthorized use is to disable downloads. What’s more, you can be creative with Rolls by adding different fonts, themes, or even a custom domain.

2. AI Creator

Bublup’s AI Creator feature allows you to auto-populate your folders with AI responses. Let’s say you’re creating a folder on the “best places to visit in Paris.” For this, click on the AI Creator button in the top right corner.

Next, type a prompt for the AI. You can also select the type of prompt from a list of options that include Travel, Top 10, Companies, Best Practices, and more. You can then add the response to your folder. However, it’s important to note that this feature only works in English.

3. Folder Image Picker

Bublup has made managing multiple folders simultaneously a cakewalk, thanks to the Folder Image Picker feature. This tool lets you integrate with Unsplash and then pick a custom image for your folder. It’ll be like an icnn for your folder and it will help you differentiate between folders with similar names.

4. Email collection

One of the most important things in business is building quality connections with your clients and the best way to do that professionally is email marketing. However, manually copying your client’s email information from the files is too time-consuming, and that’s where Bublup’s email collection tool comes in handy.

It extracts all email-related data from the folders and helps you store them in a separate database—meaning you’ll have a list of connections ready for use without much trouble.

5. Team and work management

Bublup is more than just a static organization tool. It also helps you delegate tasks to your team. For instance, you can use the Assign Tasks tool to delegate a certain task to one of your team members.

This tool also lets you add a due date to it. The chosen team member, on the other hand, will have the option to mark the task as completed once they are done with it. Communicating through Bublup is quick and efficient.

Group Folder is another example of Bublup’s easy collaboration. You can share any folder with a particular team or a few selected employees (as per your need). All group participants can view the folder in real-time, add an emoji reaction, or leave feedback for others to see.

BUBLUP: INTEGRATIONS

Bublup offers a decent number of integrations to make your life easier. In addition to the Google Analytics and Unsplash integrations that were mentioned above, it also seamlessly integrates with Google Docs and Google Calendar. Integration with Google Docs allows you to directly save your work in Bublup instead of having to manually upload the links.

Next, Google Calendar lets you set reminders and deadlines from within Bublup. To increase team efficiency, you can also mark certain items (especially the ones needed in tasks that are currently ongoing) for offline access. This way, your team will be able to access all important material even without WiFi—no more excuses for missed deadlines.

BUBLUP: SETUP

Getting started with Bublup is as easy as it gets. Here’s how you can go about setting up this modern project management software:

Step 1: Go to their official website and click on the “Get Bublup” button. You can also choose one of their paid plans before beginning.

Step 2: You’ll be directed to a new window where you’ll be asked how you want to log in – Google, Facebook, or Email.

Step 3: Once you have chosen your preferred sign-up method, you’ll be directed to a new window where you can confirm the email ID/ Facebook ID you have chosen.

Step 4: Wait for a few minutes and you’ll see your account being created, and within just a couple of minutes, your dashboard should be ready.

BUBLUP: INTERFACE AND EASE OF USE

As soon as your account is created, you’ll be given a quick tour of your dashboard. During this tour, you’ll be taught to create a new folder, name it, and add links to it. Once you are done with the tour, you’ll be free to use the dashboard.

The first thing you’ll notice about the dashboard is how vibrant and colorful it is. There are two main menus, one on the top header and the other on the left-hand side.

There’s another collapsable menu hidden under the three dashes on the left column of the page. Here, you’ll find the options to create and edit folders. You’ll also find a trash can icon on the bottom left corner of your page that contains all of the items you have deleted.

In short, the interface is very easy to navigate. Almost every function you need is within your reach. Even if you’re a newbie, you’ll only need a few minutes to familiarize yourself with all of the features.

Also, don’t worry if you are having a hard time figuring something out – there’s a help button on the top right of the page. You’ll find video tutorials and keyboard shortcuts, as well as a quick startup guide and a video on how you can use Bublup in different ways.

BUBLUP: FINAL VERDICT

At this point, it must be pretty clear that Bublup is not only a collaboration tool but also the ultimate document management platform for remote teams that need quick and easy access to every file and limitless interaction within the group. With features like Email Collection and Folder Image Picker, it can significantly reduce the time it takes for your team to manage data.

On the other hand, functionalities like Assign Task and Custom Permissions allow you to control how your team members interact with each other and company files. Now, while the tool is pretty affordable, the stripped-down free plan is not a value-packed solution and it can be looked at as an extended free trial of the tool.

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This thick, cushiony foam topper will transform any old mattress.

At 9cm thick, the Emma Premium Topper is deep enough to transform the feel of any mattress, masking any number of lumps and bumps beneath. The internal foam layers are squishy and sumptuous – to be honest, perhaps a little too much so, as I felt unsupported when lying on my back, and found it a bit difficult to change position. I’d recommend it to lightweight people, some side sleepers, and anyone who knows they love a super-soft mattress.

Pros

• +Super soft and squishy
• +Thick enough to mask bumps
• +Temperature-neutral
• +Cover washable at 40C
• +Grippy base fabric keeps it in place

Cons

• -No straps
• -Lacks support for some sleepers
• -Will likely require deep sheets

EMMA PREMIUM TOPPER: TWO-MINUTE REVIEW

The Emma Premium Mattress Topper is a chunky, 9cm-deep foam topper that promises to boost in-bed comfort without trapping heat. I slept on this topper for two weeks to see if it could deliver on those claims, as well as to judge how it compares to the rest of the best mattress toppers on the market. We rate Emma to be among the best mattress brands on the market (discover the reasons for this in our Emma mattress review and Emma NextGen Premium review), so I was excited to see how this topper performed in practice.

Overall, I was impressed. While it isn’t the right fit for me specifically, I believe it will be the ideal topper for certain groups of people. The two layers of foam deliver a plush, squashy feel that’s great for lightweight people, some side sleepers, and anyone who is already a fan of a soft mattress. It’s also thick enough to totally transform the feel of your existing bed. It’s less well suited to heavier individuals and back or stomach sleepers, who (like me) might find the feel too soft, and lacking in support.

Price is another potential sticking point; it’s fluctuated quite dramatically while I’ve been testing and writing this review, although it has remained in the premium price bracket. The quality and the fact it’s thick enough to transform your existing mattress go some way to justifying the higher price, but there are plenty of cheaper options for those on a budget. Read on for my full Emma Premium Topper review.

EMMA PREMIUM TOPPER REVIEW: DESIGN

• Thick, 9cm depth topper with two different layers of foams
• Polyester cover can be removed and washed at 40C
• No straps or elasticated skirt to keep the topper in place

The Emma Premium Topper has a generous depth of 9cm. Unless your current mattress is pancake thin, it will probably require the purchase of extra-deep sheets. I added it to a 28cm mattress, with the topper taking things to slightly comical heights (I almost had to hop up into bed, and I’m not a short person).

Inside, you’ll find two layers of foam: a thinner top layer of ThermoSync foam and a thicker bottom level of comfort foam. The uppermost foam is infused with graphite, to aid with temperature regulation (it also features in Emma’s cooling mattress, which you can read about that in our Emma Luxe Cooling mattress review).

The cover is made from 98 per cent polyester and 2 per cent elastane, and it can be removed using the zip and washed at 40C – which isn’t quite hot enough to kill off dust mites, but still helpful if you’re prone to spillages. The cover isn’t suitable for tumble drying, bleaching or ironing. I’d still be tempted to add one of the best mattress protectors, for even easier cleaning.

The base is made from a textured, slightly plasticky material. The topper is described as being flippable, but I’m pretty sure that’s an error – I certainly wouldn’t want to sleep on that base fabric. Although it’s no good for lying on, the textured surface feels nice and durable, and does a good job of keeping the topper in place on the bed. This is good news, since there are no straps or other method of attaching it to your bed.

During my review, I topped it with a mattress protector with an elasticated skirt, and used a fitted sheet. All that, combined with the grippy base, kept the topper in place effectively. It all felt secure, and I never once had to reposition it during the two-week test period. I’m not sure how well it would fare just with a flat sheet, though.

The Emma Premium Topper is available in UK single, small double, double, king, and super king sizes. At the time of writing, there’s one other topper in the Emma range – the Flip Topper, which is thinner at 6cm and can be flipped to give a softer or firmer feel. It’s also very pleasing to say out loud.

EMMA PREMIUM TOPPER REVIEW: PRICE & VALUE FOR MONEY

• Sits in the premium price bracket; price has fluctuated
• At maximum price, almost as expensive as a full mattress
• Thickness and quality of materials somewhat justifies higher pricing

Since I started writing this review, the Emma Premium Topper’s pricing has changed quite considerably. At time of my original draft, a double cost £330, but by the time I was ready to publish, this had shot up to £419. Our premium price bracket for toppers is anything above £200 for a double, so it’s definitely a pricey option. There are regular Emma mattress sales, but the toppers aren’t usually discounted.

At time of publishing, here are the RRPs for the main sizes:

Single: £289

Small double: £349

Double: £419

King: £459

Super king: £509

The topper is thick enough to justify being in that premium bracket; it feels very well made, and it will totally change the feel of your bed. However, I’m not sure it’s worth over £400. Some of today’s best cheap mattresses cost less than that – in fact, a double Emma Original mattress is only slightly pricier.

EMMA PREMIUM TOPPER REVIEW: COMFORT & PERFORMANCE

• Squishy, sink-in, contouring feel
• Thick, so will make your sleep surface feel unstable
• Best for side sleepers and those who love a soft mattress

Emma’s Premium Topper has a plush, squishy feel, and that softness is enhanced as a result of its thickness. The Emma brand is known for making some of the best memory foam mattresses around, and you’re getting some of that magic here. The foam contours gently around the sleeper’s joints, gently cushioning and relieving pressure.

Although the feel of a topper will be affected by what’s beneath it, because this one is so thick, it has a pretty transformative effect. It’s chunky enough to mask any lumps and bumps in an existing mattress – and if your bed is far too firm, then it will sort that right out, too.

I’m 5ft 8in tall, of average build, and typically go to sleep on my back but switch to my side in the night. I found this topper too soft to lie on for long periods on my back, as my hips sank too far in and left my back unsupported. It was more comfortable when lying on my side.

That all makes sense: the best mattresses for side sleepers are often a little softer, to prevent pressure from building up in the hip and shoulder while continuing to keep the spine aligned; back and stomach sleepers need something firmer, however, to maintain that neutral spinal position.

Some memory foams have a “quicksand” feel, where they’re slow to respond to changes in pressure. That’s not really the case here – if I press on the surface and remove my hand, it springs back quickly, and I’m not left with an outline of a handprint in the surface. However, the softness of the foam layers and the overall thickness of the topper mean that the sleep surface can feel a bit unstable, making it slightly tricky to change position.

I would be wary of recommending this topper to heavier individuals, since I often felt that I wasn’t quite supported enough. This lead to aches and pains in the morning – maybe the result of shifting about on that slightly unstable surface, perhaps ending up twisting in a sub-optimal sleep position. However, if you’re of lighter body weight, or generally just know you get on well with a softer mattress, then this plush topper may prove perfect for you.

Note, too, that the softness and thickness of the topper is particularly noticeable around the edges. Many mattresses come with edge reinforcements; that’s never really a feature on a topper, with most shallow enough not to matter. If you need a sturdy edge to push up off when rising in the morning, you might get on better with a thinner or firmer topper.

A common issue with memory foam is that it can cling on to body heat, but I’m pleased to report that I didn’t have any problems with the Emma Premium Topper running hot. I found it warmed to a neutral body temperature and stayed that way. I will add the caveat that during testing it was about the coldest overnight temperatures ever seen in my part of England – around -1C, or sometimes colder – so not the best conditions in which to test this properly. Even with that considered, I think the cooling properties of this topper are solid.

EMMA PREMIUM TOPPER REVIEW: CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

• Free delivery and returns, 100-night trial and 10-year guarantee
• Vacuum-packed and rolled for delivery, but still heavy to move

The Emma Premium Topper arrived rolled and vacuum-packed in plastic, and in a box. I was surprised at how big and heavy it was. Many would be right to assume that a topper will be very portable; but at 9cm thick, it adds up to quite a volume of foam (I tested a double size).

Sometimes, foam bed-in-a-box mattresses give off an odour known as off-gassing when released from their wrappings. While harmless, it can be unpleasant. However, there was no reason for concern here: if I stuck my nose right into it, there was a faint “new mattress” smell, but nothing overpowering. Note that experiences can vary from person to person, even with the same product.

The trial period is generous at 100 nights. That’s in line with the shortest full mattress trial periods.

SHOULD I BUY THE EMMA PREMIUM TOPPER?

Buy it if…

You want your mattress to be much softer: This topper is thick, and plush. You could probably lie it on a concrete floor and happily sleep on it.

You’re a lightweight side sleeper: This level of squishiness is best suited to side sleepers and those of light body weight. When lying on your side, the foam contours around your joints and prevents pressure building up in the shoulder.

You have a bumpy old mattress: At 9cm thick, the Emma Premium Topper is deep enough to mask all manner of ills beneath it.

Don’t buy it if…

You lie on your back or stomach: This topper is likely to be too soft for most back or stomach sleepers, especially if they’re on the heavier side. Generally, those positions require a medium-firm or firm feeling bed to keep the spine properly supported.

You have mobility problems: The depth and plushness of the Emma Premium Topper means it will make your mattress super squishy, as a result making it difficult to change position. It will also make the edges of your bed softer and less supportive, which might be an issue if you like to sit on the edge of the bed or use it to push up off when getting up in the morning.

You already have a deep mattress: At 9cm thick, this is one deep topper. Add it to an already thick mattress (such as mine) and your bed quickly starts to look ridiculous. You’ll need deep sheets to cover both the topper and your mattress – and, depending on how tall you are and the height of your frame, you genuinely might have to end up having to hop into bed each night.

HOW I TESTED THE EMMA PREMIUM TOPPER

I slept slept on the Emma Premium Topper every night for two weeks. I added it to a Brook + Wilde Elite mattress (firm feel) and used a thin mattress protector and fitted sheet, along with a duvet and cotton bedding. It was winter during my review period, and very cold overnight – temperatures dipped to -1C on occasion. The temperature in my flat was pretty warm, however.

The post Emma Premium Topper Review appeared first on Review Products.

Edit PDFs like a Pro.

Adobe Acrobat Pro has a few additional tools in its arsenal that Acrobat Standard lacks, and most of those would be a very useful addition to a professional workflow. It’s definitely worth trying out, but it’s also likely most customers won’t need anything more than the Standard version.

Pros

• +Polished interface
• +Good number of tools
• +Advanced tools for business use
• +Good redaction and security tools

Cons

• -Best for professionals and businesses
• -Some tools really belong in Acrobat Standard

Adobe Acrobat has evolved since its early days as a PDF all-in-one, growing into three separate multi-platform apps:

Acrobat Reader, Standard and Pro.

Each software adds an increasing number of features, so, if you just need to view a PDF document, Acrobat Reader is ideal. Acrobat Standard and Pro are best for PDF creation and editing, electronic signing, and a lot more document management options. In most cases, and in our experience, Acrobat Standard is the best PDF editor for most people, while Acrobat Pro adds a few more tools for the business or professional user.

We’ve already taken a look at Reader and Standard – you can check out our Adobe Acrobat Reader review and the Adobe Acrobat Standard review for more. It’s time to finish this PDF trilogy by exploring the capabilities of Adobe Acrobat Pro.

ADOBE ACROBAT PRO: PRICE & PLANS

Pro is the most expensive version of Acrobat, but it’s also included in Adobe’s All Apps Creative Cloud bundle.

It’s not going to be a surprise to learn that Pro is the most expensive Acrobat version – $19.99 / £19.97 a year paid monthly (monthly and annual upfront subscriptions are also available).

Unlike Acrobat Standard though, you can opt for a seven-day free trial, if you’d like to check its features out, but it does involve you initiating a subscription, so don’t forget to cancel it in time if you decide the app’s not for you.

There’s also an alternative way to grab a copy of Acrobat Pro: by getting an All Apps Creative Cloud subscription. It’s more expensive, but bundles the PDF editor with dozens of other apps like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, that all integrate seamlessly. This means that if you already have a subscription to handle your professional creative work (or you need one), you already have the most full featured version of Acrobat.

Pricing & plans: 4/5

ADOBE ACROBAT PRO: INTERFACE & EXPERIENCE

The interface is the same as for Reader and Standard:

clean, simple and efficient

Very elegant and well designed interface, offering you various ways of performing the same action, which gives you the flexibility of using the one that suits you best.

Just like Reader and Standard – and just as you’d hope, expect, dream – Acrobat Pro’s interface is clean, simple, well-designed. We found the tools are easy to locate and use, offering you various ways of working.

All told, this creates a highly flexible interface that works for you. Acrobat Pro doesn’t force you to alter your workflow, to do it the Adobe way or else. It’s a fantastic piece of design, particularly for Standard and Pro. We did find Reader’s interface felt more like an advert for Adobe’s superior PDF editors.

Interface: 4/5

ADOBE ACROBAT PRO: STANDARD TOOLS

All the features available in the Standard edition are present and correct in Pro’s comprehensive toolkit

As you’d expect, all the tools available in Standard can be accessed in Pro. This means you’re able to comment on a PDF, share it with others and track the progress of those files. You can change a PDF’s format, and export it as a Microsoft document (Word, Excel or PowerPoint), turn a PDF into images, convert it to HTML, edit it, change the embedded text and images, create PDFs from scratch, fill in and sign PDFs (it’s some of the best eSignature software we’ve ever tested), and there’s plenty more besides.

You also have the ability to combine multiple PDFs into a single file, reorder pages, and delete some. When it comes to security, adding a password to protect a PDF’s content and prevent others from editing it is a cinch. This is all done in a very intuitive way, and even though you might select a specific tool, you’re able to effortlessly access others without having to leave the confines of said tool.

It’s a very comprehensive, even impressive, feature-set – and that’s just the tools you get in Acrobat Standard.

Tools: 4.5/5

ADOBE ACROBAT PRO: PRO TOOLS

Use Acrobat’s Accessibility tool to check if your file meets the accessibility compliance standard.

Some very useful and obviously professional tools, coupled with others that should really be considered mainstream by now.

While the ‘as-Standard’ tools feel weighty, essential for a PDF power user, we couldn’t shake the sense that some tools labelled as “Pro”, don’t really feel that they belong in a “Pro” category.

Take the ability to turn a scanned paper document into a searchable PDF. Although it’s undoubtedly highly useful to be able to do that, some of the best free PDF editors, and even modern hardware, have been offering such a feature for a while now. Take your iPhone camera: you can take a photo with it and any text contained within it becomes selectable – and all without having to pay a subscription.

Another one which is more understandably a Pro feature, is the ability to create and validate PDFs to meet accessibility standards. This is a very important feature for any business, and once you check a document, you’re given a list of issues to fix to improve a document’s accessibility. Some can be resolved automatically, while others may require a little more work. But, we find it baffling why this is restricted to the Pro version? Wouldn’t this feature be of greater benefit if the Standard version had access to it as well?

Adobe Acrobat Pro during our review process

Redacting sensitive information is so easy to do with Acrobat’s ‘Redact’ tool

Be that as it may, as with other features included with Acrobat, it all works well and is easy to understand. There’s even a menu called ‘Explain’ which sends you to a webpage telling you why there’s a problem, and why it’s important to fix it.

Something that makes more sense in the Pro arena is the ability to compare two versions of a document. Acrobat will give you a summary of the disparity through a visual representation, and even gives you the ability to filter those results to make it clearer what has changed. We could see this as an invaluable tool in anyone’s workflow.

Redaction can also prove highly useful when there’s sensitive information on a PDF you’d rather not share with others. As you’d expect, the way it works is incredibly simple: just highlight all the problematic sections, and once you’re done, click on ‘Apply’.

In addition to blanking out certain passages and images, there’s another little highlight here. You also have the option of automatically removing a document’s metadata, embedded URLs, comments, and more. Adobe calls it ‘sanitising’ and if you’re into not passing on too much data, it’s a one-click wonder.

It’s clear that Adobe Acrobat Pro’s market is much more of a niche one than who they’re aiming for with ‘Standard’. It’s highly likely most people will be more than satisfied with Standard, even though Pro is the one included with the All Apps Creating Cloud subscription. However, if those additional tools are crucial to your workflow, you’ll find them extremely well implemented and easy to use in Acrobat Pro.

SHOULD I BUY?

Have different versions of the same file? ‘Compare Files’ will look at them both and tell you what’s different about them (Image credit: Adobe)

BUY IT IF…

You need advanced PDF editing tools, including redaction, and accessibility compliance, or you already subscribe to Adobe’s Creative Cloud package, which includes it by default.

DON’T BUY IT IF…

You want a simple way to view or make basic alterations to a PDF – in our experience, Pro is equipped with more features than most casual users will need.

ADOBE ACROBAT PRO: ALTERNATIVES

We’ve tested out man of the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives if Pro isn’t for you.

If Acrobat Pro is a bit more than you bargained for, we recommend checking out Adobe Acrobat Standard – it’s a great choice for most people’s PDF needs.

For some other top apps, see our pdfFiller review for a browser-based PDF editor that’s surprisingly full of features. For a free alternative, see our PDF24 Creator review – it’s our favorite free PDF tool and it’s packed full of essential document management tools.

The post Adobe Acrobat Pro (2024) Review appeared first on Review Products.

The Zoma Hybrid mattress is designed to promote physical recovery.

The Zoma Hybrid mattress is a springy, bouncy hybrid that combines coils and memory foam. The firm feel won’t suit everyone – I found it much too solid for comfortable side sleeping. However, back sleepers should appreciate the supportive surface. The temperature regulation is excellent, too.

Pros

• +Firm support, good for back sleeping
• +Sturdy edges
• +Excellent temperature regulation
• +Sustainable manufacturing (UK only)
• +Free old mattress removal

Cons

• -Too firm for most side sleepers
• -Bulky and no handles for moving
• -Bed-sharers may roll inwards
• -Thinner than advertised

ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS REVIEW: TWO-MINUTE REVIEW

The Zoma Hybrid mattress is a 12-inch (30cm) tall hybrid mattress with memory foam and pocket springs, and is available in both the US and the UK. The brand is geared specifically towards using sleep for recovery, and promises ‘cutting-edge sleep technology’. For this review, I slept on a UK king-size for four weeks, alongside my husband. I also ran several objective tests for performance aspects like pressure relief and edge support. The aim was to cut through the tech-talk and see how this model really matches up against the rest of today’s best mattresses.

The overall feel is firmly springy. There is memory foam here, but it’s paired with a bouncier foam layer and the overall feel is responsive, with minimal contouring. There’s no indication of firmness on the Zoma website but I’d say it’s around an 8.5 out of 10 (with 10 being the firmest). Myself and my husband (5ft 8 and 6ft 4 respectively, with a combined weight of  190kg) both found it far too firm for side sleeping, and it caused pressure to build up uncomfortably in our shoulders. It’s far more comfortable for back sleeping, where the foams and coils help distribute weight evenly and keep the spine aligned.

Elsewhere, the mattress performed well. The edges are nice and sturdy, so if you, like me, end up pushed to the side of the bed by a toddler in the middle of the night, you shouldn’t have to worry about rolling off. I was also impressed by the temperature regulation; I had no issues with overheating during my review period.

In terms of price, this mattress is almost always discounted (in the UK and the US) and generally sits in the mid-range price bracket. That’s a good price for a hybrid model, but if it’s a competitive bracket and there are cheaper models in our best hybrid mattress guide that offer similar quality.

At time of writing, Zoma isn’t a particularly well-known brand in the UK, but it has a following in the States with some high praises from athletes. I was impressed by some of the brand’s sustainability practices in the UK – it offers free old mattress recycling and it has a ‘zero waste to landfill’ policy in its factories. For more details on these points, read on for my full Zoma Hybrid mattress review.

ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS REVIEW: PRICE & VALUE FOR MONEY

• Never sold at full price; consistent discounts in both US and UK
• Sits in the mid range, and well priced for a hybrid
• … although there is strong competition in this bracket

At ticket price, the Zoma Hybrid is getting into the premium mattress space. It is, however, very rarely sold at full price. In the US, expect $150 off all sizes, and in the UK there’s usually £250 off. Based on the typical prices you’ll actually pay, it sits in the mid-range price bracket in both the US and the UK.

Here’s the pricing for the Zoma, alongside the discounted price you can expect to actually pay.

In the US:

• Twin: MSRP $749 (usually sold at $599)
• Full: MSRP $949 (usually sold at $799)
• Queen: MSRP $1,149 (usually sold at $999)
• King: MSRP $1,349 (usually sold at $1,199)
• California King: MSRP $1,349 (usually sold at $1,199)

In the UK:

• Single: £749 (usually sold at £499)
• Double: £849 (usually sold at £599)
• King: £949 (usually sold at £699)
• Super king: £1,149 (usually sold at £899)

Overall, the mattress feels well made, and that’s a decent price for a hybrid (most of today’s best cheap mattresses tend to be all-foam models.). I have tested mattresses that suit my sleep style better and that I think are better value for money (read more in the alternatives section) but it’s competitively priced in the wider market.

Although mattress sales happen year-round and Zoma’s discounts tend to remain consistent most of the time, there are some events where you’re more likely to see a bigger discount. The big one is the Black Friday mattress sales, which take place on the last Friday of November each year. In the US it’s also worth checking the Memorial Day mattress sales in May, the 4th of July mattress sales, the Labor Day mattress sales in early September, and the Presidents’ Day mattress sales in February.

Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS REVIEW: DESIGN & MATERIALS

• Hybrid mattress with several types of foam and pocket coils
• Breathable mesh fabric cover, not removable and no handles
• 12″ (30cm) tall, on all sizes, although review model was a bit shorter

The Zoma Hybrid is a hybrid of different foams and pocketed springs, and it’s made in the US or UK (depending where you reside). The top layer is a memory foam that has been designed to provide targeted support and relieve pressure on joints. It’s infused with gel to promote cooling. A layer down is something Zoma calls ‘Reactiv’. It’s designed to be responsive and bounce back quickly.

Underneath these two types of foam is where you’ll find the hundreds (no specifics given) of 19cm pocketed coils. These are there to add stability and support, and will also allow air to move through the mattress, aiding with breathability. It looks like there may be a layer of base foam beneath the coils (there’s reference to a ‘high-density base layer’ but again, no specifics are given). If you’re not bothered by having coils, there’s an all-foam version of this mattress available too.

Zip on side of Zoma Hybrid mattress

The Zoma Hybrid is wrapped in a soft, breathable cover that it calls ‘AirCloth’. This knitted material is designed to wick away heat and moisture. It’s not removable or washable – there is a zip, but that’s for manufacturing purposes only – and there’s no non-slip gripping anywhere that I can see to help keep the mattress firmly on the bed base. It also doesn’t have handles, which could be a problem if you need to move it at any time because it’s pretty heavy.

Officially it’s 12 inches (30cm) tall, but I measured by review model in a few spots and it was only 11.2 inches (28.5cm). Regardless, it’s still on the thicker side, so you’ll probably need some deep-fitted sheets.

Design score: 4 out of 5

ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS REVIEW: COMFORT & SUPPORT

• No firmness indicated on Zoma website, but I rate it 8.5 out of 10 (firm)
• Most comfortable in a back sleeper position
• Springy, responsive feel, with minimal contouring

I’d describe the Zoma Hybrid as having a ‘firm bounce’. There is memory foam here, but it’s paired with a bouncier foam layer and the overall feel is responsive. The foams contour slightly around the sleeper, but don’t expect a body-hugging feel. The upper foam layers are thick, so you can’t feel the coils through them. When the pressure is removed from the surface of the mattress, it returns to shape almost immediately.

To test the firmness I placed my 10kg weight in the middle of the mattress; it sunk by 1.5 inches. Unusually, there’s no indication on the Zoma website of how firm this mattress is. I emailed a rep and the rating they gave me was in our ‘soft’ bracket, but I’d completely disagree with that. Although it did soften up a bit over the course of our testing period, it’s definitely a firm mattress – I’d rate it around an 8.5 out of 10 on firmness (with 10 being rock-hard). It’s a contender for TechRadar’s best firm mattress guide.

Throughout the testing I found that I was most comfortable laying on my back, even though I am naturally a side sleeper and it took me a while to adapt to this new position. This was the same for my husband. When laying on my back it felt like my weight was more evenly distributed, and helped to realign my spine after hunching over a computer all day.

However, laying on my side quickly became uncomfortable – I woke a couple of times in the night during testing with pins-and-needles on the side I was lying on. My husband experienced a similar thing. For reference, we have a combined weight of 198kg, and are taller than average; I’m 5ft 8 and my husband is 6ft 4.

That’s not really a surprise – the best mattresses for side sleepers tend to be a bit softer (between 5 and 7.5 out of 10 on firmness), to allow the shoulder to sink in a bit, and prevent pressure from building up in this area. Even though we typically like quite a solid mattress, my husband and I found it was far too firm for us.

Zoma says there’s no real weight limit on the mattress, but the general industry recommendation is 115kg per sleeper. However, I found myself rolling inwards towards my partner, who’s the heavier of the two of us, in the night.

ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

• Great temperature regulation – no issues with overheating
• Some motion transfer but only an issue for light sleepers
• Excellent edge support

As well as taking into account the comfort and pressure relief of the Zoma Hybrid, for this review I have also focused on: temperature regulation (how hot or cool one feels on the mattress), motion isolation (how well it absorbs movements on the surface) and edge support (how sturdy the edge of the mattress is). Read on for my findings…

Temperature Regulation

Memory foam can have a habit of clinging on to body heat, and many brands use fancy terminology to make it sound like you’re getting a cooler option. The only way you’ll know if it actually works or not is to either try it out, or read a review.

The memory foam in the Zoma Hybrid mattress is infused with gel, with the aim of aiding temperature regulation. Whether it’s down to the gel or not, I found the Zoma did a great job of keeping me at a comfortable temperature.

I was in the middle of a new home renovation during my testing period, so I slept on the Zoma in cold UK winter temperatures either with no heating or with raging heating while waiting for a thermostat. I didn’t wake once feeling hot during the night, which is a sign that this aspect of the mattress spec was performing as it should.

Temperature regulation score: 4.5 out of 5

Motion Isolation

This is about how movement transfers across the mattress. If a mattress has poor motion isolation, you’ll feel it when your bed-sharer turns over or gets into or out of bed. If you’re a restless sleeper and/or share a bed, it’s worth paying attention to this aspect of performance.

To try out the Zoma Hybrid for motion isolation I bravely put my 10kg weight next to a pint-sized glass with some water in it. The glass (almost) fell over at 3.5-inches, wobbled at 8-inches but was safe at 12-inches away from the weight.

I also tested out the motion isolation in the real world, by moving around in bed, and asking my husband to move around too. The bouncy feel means there is a bit of motion transfer. I could feel my partner changing position and getting in and out of bed, and vice versa, although there wasn’t enough movement for it to bother either of us. If you’re a particularly light sleeper, you might want to look for something with more complete motion isolation, however. It’s also worth noting that the mattress tended to cause me to roll inwards towards my partner (who is heavier than I am).

Motion isolation score: 3 out of 5

Edge Support

Edge support is an important factor to look out for because a sturdy edge means that you’ll be able to comfortably sit on / push up off a mattress when getting up, as well as being able to sleep right up to the edge. To test the Zoma Hybrid for edge support I placed my 10kg as close to the edge as possible – it sank 2 inches, which is slightly less than the centre. That’s a good result.

I also tested out the edge support in a real-world scenario. I felt well supported when sitting on the edge of the bed, and also when lying right near the edge of the mattress when our toddler decided to squeeze into bed with us. Overall, I was impressed with the edge support here.

Edge support score: 4.5 out of 5

ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS REVIEW: CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

• Mattress delivered vacuum-packed and boxed; free delivery to door
• Standard 10 year warranty and 100 night trial
• Free old mattress removal in the UK

As a bed in a box mattress, the Zoma Hybrid is delivered vacuum-packed and rolled (if you’re new to this kind of bed, read about the difference in our mattress in a box vs traditional mattress explainer). Zoma offers free delivery, but only to your front door. I can only speak for the UK delivery setup, but I was impressed with the company’s communication – I received text messages a week prior to delivery (confirming delivery date) and then the day before delivery (with a more specific time slot).

It’s a shame there’s no option to upgrade to a delivery that includes setup – some bed brands offer this as a paid-for extra, and a handful even include it for free. Although the box was much more compact than a non-vacuum-packed mattress would be, it was still mega heavy and definitely needed two people to lift it.

There were no instructions or little pamphlets or even a little cutting tool to break the mattress free from the plastic wrapping. I found some scissors, and scored down the side of the plastic. The pressure of the vacuum-sealed mattress helped to force it out. Within a few minutes, the Zoma Hybrid was unwrapped and on the Livingstone Bed Base (also on review). It was pretty much ready to use straight out of the box, although the official advice from Zoma is to wait 4-6 hours before sleeping on it. There was no off-gassing.

If you’re not entirely satisfied with your new Zoma Hybrid then you can return it, for free, after a 30-day period until the 100-night sleep trial ends. This 30-night mark stands because Zoma wants you to try it out for a minimum of a month to allow your body enough time to get used to it. Should you wish to return it within a month, you’ll be charged $99/£79 shipping fee.

The 100-night trial is about the minimum offered by any of the big bed brands, although still long enough to try your mattress out thoroughly. Trials of 200 nights are fairly common now, and a few brands like Nectar give you a full year.

All Zoma mattresses also carry a 10-year warranty, which again is acceptable but not especially generous. During this time you’re covered for a full repair or replacement, but the warranty only covers workmanship and structural defects – so no accidents.

An unusual perk is that Zoma offers free old mattress recycling. Old mattress removal is generally a paid-for extra, if it’s offered at all, so this is good to see. In the UK, it’s part of Zoma’s commitment to sustainability – there, it repurposes all excess foam so there’s zero waste to landfill. Any returned mattresses are recycled or refurbished. (This does not appear to be the case in the US.)

Customer experience score: 4 out of 5

ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS SPECS

• Materials: Memory foam, other foam, pocket coils
• Cover: 97% polyester, 3% spandex. Technically removable but not encouraged.
• Handles: No
• Height: 12 inches / 30cm (NB: I measured under this)
• Trial period: 100 nights
• Warranty: 10 years
• Price bracket: Mid range

Price (US) Queen: MSRP $1,349 (usually sold at $1,199)

Price (UK) Double: RRP £949 (usually sold at £649)

Sizes (US) Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king, split king

Sizes (UK) Single, double, king, super king

Delivery Free to porch or hallway, no option to upgrade. Free old mattress recycling if required.

Returns Free

ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS REVIEW: OTHER REVIEWS

• 4.8* average over 1,217 reviews (Mar 2024), US / UK reviews combined
• High praise for comfort, breathability and motion isolation
• Some complaints of it being too firm

At the time of writing, Zoma mattresses hadn’t been available to UK customers for very long, so all the reviews that we’re available to sift through are from the US. As of March 2024 there were a total of just over 1,200 reviews, the majority of which were 5 stars, and all sang the same tune about comfort and coolness. It’s ordered highest scores to lowest, so you’ll need to head to the latter pages for any complaints.

Here, I found a few reviews echo what I found. There are a few reviewers who found it too firm and uncomfortable for side sleeping, and found in led to aches and pains. One likened it to sleeping on a too-full air mattress.

SHOULD YOU BUY THE ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS?

Buy it if…

You’re a back sleeper: The Zoma Hybrid relieved pressure on achy muscles and joints when laying on our backs, with no sinking.

You like a super-firm mattress: This is one of the firmest mattresses I’ve tested, rating 8.5 out of 10 on firmness. If you want a super-sturdy bed, this is it.

Environmental impact is important to you: All Zoma mattresses are either made in the US or UK, depending on where you reside, and (in the UK at least) the brand has some admirable sustainability practices.

Don’t Buy it if…

You’re a side sleeper: The firm feel means most side sleepers will end up with pressure building up in their shoulder. I found it uncomfortable for side sleeping, and ended up having to shift onto my back. Other reviews reflect a similar experience.

You weigh more than average: I found myself rolling towards the (heavier) weight of my husband in the night. If you share a bed and one or more of you is heavier in body weight then this isn’t a great choice – our guide to the best mattresses for bigger bodies has some great specialist models.

You want a joint-hugging feel: There’s not much contouring here. If you want that body-hugging sensation, our guide to the best memory foam mattresses has plenty of recommendations.

ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER

Rem-Fit 400 Hybrid mattress

The closest rival that I have tested to the Zoma Hybrid is the Rem-Fit 400 Hybrid. You’ll usually pay around £450 for a UK double, so it’s a fair bit cheaper than the Zoma. It stands for a similar purpose to the Zoma which is to help users ‘recover’. I found that this mattress was far more comfortable for a side-sleeper, with reduced motion transfer compared to the Zoma.

Simba Hybrid Original mattress

I also vouch for the Simba Hybrid (UK-only). It’s typically a bit pricier than the Zoma but worth every penny: fabulous edge-support, good motion isolation and superb support. Head to TechRadar’s Simba Hybrid mattress review to find out more.

HOW I TESTED THE ZOMA HYBRID MATTRESS

Myself and my husband slept exclusively on the UK king size Zoma Hybrid for four weeks. The review period coincided with a new house renovation, and the testing process was during February when there were some cold nights in the UK (when we had no heating) and warm nights (when the heating needed some fine-tuning). I also ran a series of tests to measure the edge-to-edge support and motion transfer.

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