Emma Performance 28 reviewed

The Emma Performance 28 is the middle depth of Emma’s premium Performance line: the same AirGrid lattice, dual MemoryAdapt foams and zoned springs as the 26 cm model we tested, with 3.5 cm of firmer MemoryAdapt and 5.5 cm of SupportBase instead of 2 cm and 5 cm. It costs £1,349 in a UK double, and Emma pitches it at side sleepers who like a deeper sink.

What the extra 2 cm changes

Emma’s Performance 28 product page says the three Performance depths share every layer and differ only in the thickness of the firmer MemoryAdapt and the SupportBase. The thicker those layers, the more the comfort activates under your weight, so the 28 feels more cradling than the 26. We place it at 5 on our 1 to 10 scale, one step softer than the 6 we gave the 26 after testing it. That is an estimate from the construction, since our hands-on nights were on the 26 cm version.

• AirGrid Tech polymer lattice on top, for pressure relief and airflow
• MemoryAdapt memory foam, then a firmer MemoryAdapt layer of 3.5 cm
• SupportBase foam of 5.5 cm above zoned pocket springs in a foam frame
• A second SupportBase layer underneath to stabilise the core

What we found on the Performance 26

On the 26 cm version the AirGrid layer responded faster than ordinary foam and followed the body without leaving a dip, and it was one of the coolest Emma mattresses we have slept on. The booklet with our test mattress lists 200 kg/m³ for the AirGrid and 55 kg/m³ for the firmer memory foam, both good figures at this price. Those layers carry over unchanged to the 28.

Emma’s own heat claim is for the 26 cm model: a 72% higher capacity to level out temperature spikes than an all-foam mattress, in tests by an accredited institute in Kiel in early 2026. The 28 shares the open AirGrid structure and knitted cover that produce that effect. Sleeping cool is worth paying for, because heat under bedding increases wakefulness and reduces deep and REM sleep, according to a review in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology (Okamoto-Mizuno and Mizuno, 2012).

Emma Performance 28 sizes, weights and prices

Prices are Emma’s regular prices, checked on 28 September 2026. Emma publishes weights for the four UK sizes only. At 56.8 kg in a super king, check that your bed frame is rated for the load, and use slats no more than 7 cm apart, as Emma specifies.

Who the Performance 28 suits

It suits most sleepers and couples who want a cool premium hybrid with a medium feel, and side sleepers who find the Performance 26 a little firm. A systematic review of 24 controlled trials in Sleep Health (Radwan et al., 2015) found medium-firm, self-adjusted mattresses best for sleep comfort, quality and spinal alignment, so avoid going plusher than you need. If you want the deepest cushioning, look at the Performance 30. Emma includes a 200-night trial, a 10-year guarantee and free delivery in 2 to 7 working days.