A note from Seán, your reviewer
Lead tester · 80 kg · hot sleeper · combo back/side · ordered this 28
I've been reviewing mattresses for MattressReviews.ie since 2022, and the Original Elite is still the only one I asked to keep after a test ended. It lives in our spare bedroom in Drumcondra. My brother-in-law still fights us for that room. When Emma put a new Performance collection on emma-sleep.ie, I wanted the improved grid, not another night on the old one. So I ordered the 28. It is not in the house yet.
Mid height. Emma's FAQ is blunt enough: it adds more contouring depth for side sleepers and those who prefer a deeper sink-in feel than the 26. I am 80 kg, combination sleeper, I run hot. That line is aimed at me. Aoife ordered the 30. She gets the guest-night veto once mine lands, if my shoulder story is rubbish.
I will tell you if the new grid is actually cooler than the Elite. I will not pretend I already know. The 200-night trial is the safety net you should actually use, not just a marketing line.
Quick verdict for Irish buyers
Buy the 28 if you want the new AirGrid stack with more contour than the 26, and you will wait for a 200-night trial. That is my brief at 80 kg, combination, running hot. Buy it on emma-sleep.ie. I could not find it in Harvey Norman, EZ Living, or DID.
A single is €1,079 on emma-sleep.ie. Emma currently shows 2 to 7 days on every 28 size, so this one should land first.
Best for, on paper
- Side sleepers who found 26 too shallow
- Hot combination sleepers who want the new grid at mid height
- Anyone who already knows first-gen AirGrid and wants the improved stack
Skip if
- Stomach sleepers who want less hip sink. See the 26
- You want an eight-week score before you spend. Come back in September
- You want Emma's deepest cushion. That is still the 30
Who ordered this mattress, and why
Seán · 80 kg · combination sleeper · runs hot · Drumcondra
Ordered the 28. Chose the mid height for more contour than the 26, and because he already knows first-gen AirGrid from the Elite test. He wanted the improved grid on this one. Emma showed 2 to 7 days, so it should be the first of the three to arrive.
Aoife · 65 kg · side sleeper · shoulder injury · guest nights
She ordered the Performance 30. Guest nights on my 28 once it lands, for a first side-sleeper read only. She is not moving in on this one.
Inside the 28: seven layers, quoted from Emma
Emma published 3.5 cm of firmer MemoryAdapt and 5.5 cm of SupportBase for this height. That's the number they gave. Their FAQ also mentions two MemoryAdapt layers, but the walk-through only names one. I am not inventing the rest until we cut one open.
Cool-knit cover
Soft, cool to the touch, with those little micro-dots Emma likes. The top half zips off and washes at 40°C. No tumble, bleach, or iron. The bottom cover is dry clean only.
Improved Emma AirGrid Tech
The open polymer grid. Emma's line is pressure relief, airflow, and snap-back when you roll. Same grid as the 26 and 30. This is the bit I already know from Elite, now in a new recipe.
MemoryAdapt
3.5 cmThe first cushion, mid height in the collection. Emma wrote this extra depth for side sleepers who want more sink than the 26. That line is aimed at me.
SupportBase
5.5 cmThe transition into the springs. Emma says it supports without letting you sink. I'll tell you in September if that is true at 80 kg.
Zoned pocket springs + foam edge frame
Zoned springs for support and less partner bounce. The foam rail around the edge is new. The Elite I kept in Drumcondra does not have it.
Second SupportBase
Emma's words: grounds the spring core so the structure stays stable.
Bottom cover
Single-sidedKeeps the mattress on the base. Rotate 180°. Do not flip.
Emma put the same AirGrid in all three heights, then published a cooling number on the 26, not on this one. I run hot. I'll tell you in September if the new grid actually beats the Elite I already sleep on.
How 28 differs from 26 and 30
Same recipe. Different foam depth. Emma says taller means plusher. Firmer MemoryAdapt and SupportBase go 2 cm / 5 cm on the 26, 3.5 cm / 5.5 cm on the 28, 4.5 cm / 6.5 cm on the 30. I ordered the middle. Aoife ordered the 30 because she is light and needs the extra MemoryAdapt to get a shoulder in.
| 26 | 28 | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 26 cm | 28 cm | 30 cm |
| Firmer MemoryAdapt | 2 cm | 3.5 cm | 4.5 cm |
| SupportBase | 5 cm | 5.5 cm | 6.5 cm |
| Emma's who-it's-for | Balanced, all positions | More contour for side sleepers | Deepest cushion, broader shoulders |
| Irish single, 90×190 | €649 | €1,079 | €849 |
| Who ordered it | Oisín, Ciarán | Seán | Aoife, Siobhán |
As of 31 August 2026 the Performance 28 is currently listed above the 30 on emma-sleep.ie.
What we'll actually test
I have not slept on this 28. It is on its way to Drumcondra. The night it lands, I start: heat, the extra MemoryAdapt versus the Elite I already keep, and whether I still want to flip the duvet at 3am.
Aoife gets a guest night once it's here. If her shoulder hates it, that is the answer, not a press release. September is when I put numbers on it.
Irish prices
Quoted from emma-sleep.ie on 31 August 2026. Emma prices move. Check again the morning you order.
| Size | Price | Delivery Emma currently shows |
|---|---|---|
| 90×190 (Single) | €1,079 | 2–7 days |
| 120×190 (Small Double) | €1,309 | 2–7 days |
| 135×190 (Double) | €1,509 | 2–7 days |
| 140×200 (140×200) | €1,659 | 2–7 days |
| 150×200 (King) | €1,809 | 2–7 days |
| 160×200 (160×200) | €1,949 | 2–7 days |
| 180×200 (Super King) | €2,149 | 2–7 days |
Emma currently shows 2 to 7 days on every 28 size. The 200-night clock starts when it arrives. Klarna and Alma sit on the Irish checkout. That does not change the trial.
Trial, warranty, setup
200 nights, free collection, full refund, no argument in Emma's wording. Warranty is 10 years on springs, foams, and the new AirGrid against sagging or deformation in normal use. Delivery and returns are free. Email is support@emma-sleep.ie.
It arrives rolled. Give it 24 hours to stand up. Air the room for up to 72 hours. Single-sided, so rotate 180°. Slats no wider than 7 cm. Emma says check the bed frame because this one is heavy.
vs the Original Elite
Elite is 27 cm. It is the old Hybrid AirGrid with a new badge. I already tested that mattress, and I still keep one. Performance is a new lineup. Elite has first-gen AirGrid and Airgocell. Performance 28 has improved AirGrid Tech, a foam edge frame, and no Airgocell named on the layer walk.
If you already like the Elite on a sale, you are not looking at a rebadge. You are looking at a new mattress at a new Irish ticket. Wait for our September notes before you pay €1,079 to "upgrade" an Elite you already sleep on. Read the Elite buyer's guide if you actually want the mattress we have already slept on for eight weeks.
Important: health disclaimer
This page describes testers' plans, not clinical outcomes. A mattress is not a medical treatment. If you have chronic back pain, sciatica, or other musculoskeletal conditions, talk to a physiotherapist or GP. See our best mattresses for back pain guide.
