Don’t Let Industry Jargon Ruin You When Buying A Smart Bed

My one pet peeves As a mattress tester for more than six years, I see the names “flexible mattresses,” “flexible frames,” and “smart beds” being used interchangeably. Although they are complementary products that can work together to improve your performance and sleep, each offers different benefits. It doesn’t help that these products are only found in the same search results, which are often listed interchangeably with manufacturers. When this happens, they will be confused. To make matters worse, you may think you have everything you need on the way out, but you may find yourself adding extras that you didn’t plan for.

It’s time to brush up on your profile and change your perspective on all things mattress replacement. Under my wings you go to start this journey.

Updated March 2026: I’ve updated this article to include more information on smart beds, and the brand I recommend.

Adjustable Mattresses

What is a convertible mattress? In short, it was designed to allow users to adjust how soft or firm they want their bed to be. Adjustable mattresses do not follow the same layout as a good mattressbecause they incorporate air chambers or coil adjustment methods that help you achieve the desired stiffness. While the glorious air mattress may come to mind (and, no doubt, that is the case with most convertible mattresses), there is much more to the physical design here. To pump these air chambers, a lot of electronics and tubes are involved. Therefore, it is not a budget purchase.

Depending on the type and style you choose, another common feature among adjustable mattresses is the ability to move the head and foot up and down, as is. Personal Revival. Some models may not include this, depending on the type and frequency, and it also drives the price. This is where adjustable frames and mattresses can get confused, because an adjustable mattress cannot move in different directions without the support of an adjustable frame.

Smart Beds

This is where things get really messy, and where, in my professional opinion, the industry could be better reformed in its terms. In most cases (especially with models I’ve researched, interacted with, and tested), smart beds offer the same mobility capabilities as adjustable mattresses. To pull this off, they need an additional flexible frame. A flexible mattress will rely on a combination of technology to change the overall firmness. Smart beds do this too. However, in my book, what defines a smart bed is how advanced its extra software is.

A good example of this is Bryte Balance Pro. This smart bed provides targeted support by changing coil settings that automatically adjust, even while you sleep. It also has an automatic sleep tracker, showing metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep stages. The bed is fully controlled by an app, with an AI concierge that can help you improve your sleep. This smart bed also offers a “massage” setting that moves in wave-like motions to help you sleep. The Balance Pro is designed to provide this within the mattress itself, while adjustable switches often provide a massage function on other smart beds and adjustable mattresses.